Banyule Homestead Heidelberg saved from wedding venue conversion under VCAT orders
A PLAN to turn a sweeping 172-year-old homestead in Heidelberg into a boutique wedding venue has been quashed by VCAT.
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A PLAN to turn Banyule’s most prestige homestead into a boutique wedding venue has been quashed by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
Owners of the 172-year-old Banyule Homestead — at 60 Buckingham Drive, Heidelberg — bought the property for $5.2 million in 2015, and applied for a permit to host up to 160 people, obtain a liquor license, build 48 car parks, convert an existing garage into a kitchen and provide acoustic fencing.
The Voeux would operate between 9am and 10.30pm Monday to Friday, and 9am to 11pm on weekends.
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But after a mammoth 12-day hearing, the plan was dumped by VCAT members Bill Sibonis and Ann Keddie.
Banyule councillor Tom Melican said at least 30 residents went to the hearing and paid thousands of dollars for consultants to give evidence.
Cr Melican said the “brilliant” submissions shone a light on how the plan would impact the residents, leaving the VCAT members with “no choice” other than to refuse.
“You could hear people screaming when this was announced,” he said.
“They’ve preserved what is the most significant house in Banyule that this city was named after … this is a huge achievement.”
Residents argued the carpark and building works would severely impact the neighbourhood amenity through traffic and noise issues on the suburban street.
One resident filmed a short clip showing how difficult it was to weave through the street with cars parked on both side of the road.
Mr Sibonis and Ms Keddie agreed with the objectors.
“What we conclude is that the complexity of the conditions highlights the inherent incompatibility of the proposed use with the surrounding neighbourhood and is a clear indicator that the use, in the form proposed, is not suitable in this location,” the pair stated in their VCAT findings.
“Adding to this is the uncertainty regarding the effective management of the patron noise impacts and the patron carparking, both of which have the potential to unacceptably impact the amenity of the neighbourhood in a significant manner.
“The unacceptable visual impact of the structures proposed to manage the noise impacts is a further reason why the proposal should not be approved.”
Back in April 2017, the council refused the application before the Toorak family took it to VCAT.
Banyule Homestead’s venue manager Claudia Lee hasn’t responded to the Leader’s request for comment.
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