Whitehorse Council reverses approval of 310-home development in Hay St, Box Hill South

PEOPLE power has persevered in Box Hill South with objectors to a 310-home development convincing Whitehorse Council to reverse approval of the project.

Hay St, Box Hill South. This site is set for a big development, which is going before a panel next month after council decided it couldn't make a decision.

PEOPLE power has persevered in Box Hill South with objectors to a 310-home development convincing Whitehorse Council to reverse its approval of the project.

In February the council gave the green light to Canaan Holdings’ proposal for the former St Leo’s College site in Hay St, adjacent to Wembley Park.

But on Monday, March 16, the council rescinded its original decision to grant a planning permit and voted to reject the project, which included a mix of apartment buildings of up to seven storeys, houses, townhouses and a retirement village for the 4.94ha site.

Neighbour and objector Tracey Suidgeest said residents were “over the moon” with the council’s change of heart.

Ms Suidgeest said more than 60 objectors had grave concerns over the safety risk the increased traffic could have posed to children in the neighbourhood.

“It feels like a huge weight has been lifted off us because we had serious fears about the safety of our kids,” she said.

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Councillor Sharon Ellis.

Riversdale Ward councillor Sharon Ellis was unable to take part in the original approval decision in February, which prompted Cr Philip Daw to successfully move and pass the recession motion at Monday’s meeting.

In rejecting the development, Cr Ellis criticised council and independent planning panel reports for being “written from a distance”.

“I’m the only councillor who has the full history of this site,” Cr Ellis said.

She said the proposal was excessive, out of character with the area and would create widespread traffic issues in surrounding streets.

“Let’s send the developer back to the drawing board to come up with something more palatable,” Cr Ellis said.

Cr Ben Stennett said he had changed his mind since the approval in February after lobbying from residents.

But Cr Helen Harris backed the project, urging colleagues to give more weight to experts’ reports than to the emotion of residents.

“No matter how many abusive emails I’ve got in the last month, I will stick to my guns,” Cr Harris said.

Canaan Holdings declined to comment.

DID YOU KNOW?

A councillor may propose to rescind a resolution of the council provided the resolution has not been acted upon, and provided the notice of rescission motion is signed by three councillors and delivered within 24 hours of the original resolution being adopted.