Pask Group’s new Greenvale development rejected by Hume City Council

A community campaign to prevent the next stage of a Greenvale development has notched a major win. But the battle is far from over.

Renders of the proposed development at Garibaldi and Montenegro Rd in Mickleham. Picture: Supplied

A determined group of residents in Melbourne’s northern suburbs have had a win over controversial development but the battle is not over yet.

Pask Group was seeking approval for 56 dwellings including three-storey townhouses and two-storey houses as well as a waiver for 11 visitor car parking spots at 1040-1090 Mickleham Rd in Providence Estate.

The developer described the estate as the “new benchmark” in residential living.

The development had received 79 submissions opposing it, with some claiming the developer was “misleading” residents over the plans for the site, which they thought would be a shopping centre they were promised more than a decade ago.

Resident Con Papadakis said his family brought their nearby block of land under the belief the proposed development site would include the shopping centre.

“We paid a premium price for our block on these conditions and for the lifestyle we were promised by Pask Group,” he said.

“Pask has not committed to any of its promises … its residents have been lied to and deceived.”

Pask says the application is only related to an adjoining site and not the shopping centre which it says it is still committed to building and it will bring 400 ongoing jobs and 700 while it is being built.

“Pask is continuing to work through planning issues with Hume City Council to realise this vision,” the comapny said in a statement.

GRA vice president Caroline Dowling said residents were also concerned by the developer’s desire for a waiver on 11 car parking spaces with traffic already congested due to the works on Mickleham Rd.

“The development of the high density housing complex will compound the traffic problems, traffic flow and car parking within the estate,” Ms Dowling said.

“The proposal that no visitor car parking spaces are proposed within the plan and that they’ll be absorbed into the street will exacerbate the car parking issues.”

The developer has taken the plans to VCAT for determination as the council did not decide on the proposal within the statutory 60 days. The council has rejected the development and presented their case at the tribunal.

Mayor Joseph Haweil voiced his concerns with the development

“The developer has continuously treated the Greenvale and Hume community with contempt and they continue to do so with this proposal,” he said.

“It beggars belief that the developer has taken such a heavy handed approach to further its own interests, having spent more than a decade not delivering on its commitment to the Greenvale community.”

Pask said it was “disappointed” with the council’s rejection.

“This application is in line with the approved development plan and was established to set a new benchmark of design and provide an accessible housing option to buyers looking to purchase within the tightly-held Greenvale area,”