Subdivision for 96-house Oakleigh South development given go ahead

A MELBOURNE council has come out swinging at an “awful” 96-home development on a former school site in Oakleigh South, where more than half the lots will be no wider than the length of a family car.

MONASH councillors have roundly condemned an Oakleigh South development approved by VCAT that “is exactly the sort of development we should be rejecting”.

But the developer said it was suitable for the area.

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The former Clayton West Primary School site on Alvina St in Oakleigh South has been given the go-ahead for a massive 96-home development on just 2ha of land.

The council was forced to approve the subdivision after fighting the application through VCAT, the Supreme Court and VCAT again before the state’s planning tribunal made its ruling.

But councillors made their opinions clear, describing the application as “awful”, with “dog box” houses, and a “terrible” outcome for the community.

Mayor Paul Klisaris laid the decision to allow the subdivision squarely at the tribunal’s feet.

“It (the application) has never been supported by council or its officers,” he said.

“Through both the application process and subsequent VCAT process, council continued to oppose a raft of issues.”

Predominantly three and four-bedroom houses, more than half (50) of the blocks will be 5m wide at most, while only 11 lots are wider than 7m.

Councillor Josh Fergeus said the situation was “absolutely ridiculous”.

“It is possible to make a good development … this simply isn’t it,” he said.

“This is exactly the sort of development we should be rejecting.

“(Residents) are saying ‘we are open to development on our site, we are open to having more people come into our community, we just want it done in a sensible and sustainable matter’.

“It’s not too much to ask.”

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Spire Group development manager Beau Cong said the tribunal’s decision was consistent with the developer’s intentions.

“It is a good result from our perspective,” he said.

“The next step is to deliver this project.”

Mr Cong said it was targeted at owner-occupiers.

“We believe it will be good for the community, especially families to meet demand for three or four-bedroom properties and that’s what we’re trying to deliver — high-quality finishing products,” he said.

Regarding criticism to the size of the lots, Mr Cong said that was the nature of the development plan overlay.

“It is going to be changing the character of the neighbourhood — that’s what the DPO tries to do — because of the population and affordability of the area,” he said.

“It is something that is happening everywhere in Melbourne.

“I understand the neighbours would prefer a school, but the population has been increasing and we have to provide enough properties for young families.”