Melbourne development: The latest planning applications in the outer east

Whether it's a gin distillery, a super servo or apartments, plenty of new developments are coming to the outer east. See if any could be built near you.

Gin distilleries, wineries, and service stations with fast food outlets could all soon be built in parts of Melbourne’s east.

The Yarra Valley could slowly be emerging as a destination for gin as well as wine, with plans afoot for another distillery to open in the region.

Plans to create the Yarra Glen Distillery at 973 Melba Highway were lodged by applicants Retox Distilling Co in March, with its public advertising period set to close on Monday, July 4.

The company, believed to be based in Melbourne’s north, registered the business name in July 2021, and wants to operate a cellar door and manufacture products on site.

Retox has a website selling its own gin and vodka varieties, which are both listed as ‘sold out’.

If approved, the distillery would join the booming Four Pillars in Healesville that recently underwent a $7m expansion, and Morgans Winery and Distillery in Seville as gin destinations in the region.

The company was contacted for comment, while a Yarra Ranges Council spokesman said no submissions had been received so far and a decision on the application was likely in early August.

Here’s some of the other noteworthy development applications lodged with councils in Melbourne’s east in recent months:

BAYSWATER NORTH

A revived push to create a super-servo on a busy corner site in Bayswater North has been lodged with Maroondah Council.

The plans for 154-156 Canterbury Rd, on the corner of Dorset Rd, include a service station, two restaurants, a car wash and various alterations to part of a road.

The council and VCAT rejected plans last year by applicant Jasbe Bayswater North for a similar application at the site, citing concerns over fuel tanker access, layout and traffic flow.

Jasbe’s application indicated Guzman Y Gomez and Carl’s Jr restaurants would be built at the site, which is opposite a Shell service station and restaurants including Hungry Jacks, KFC and La Porchetta.

It is unclear if Jasbe is behind the new application, of which the council has requested further information from the applicant.

The council’s communications team did not respond to repeated requests about the application.

RINGWOOD EAST

Locals could soon be getting a new medical clinic in the heart of the Ringwood East shopping strip and right near its railway station.

A planning application is under assessment by Maroondah Council for the clinic to open at 28 Railway Ave, in the home of an old dry cleaners.

According to planning documents, the clinic is proposed to have six consulting rooms, a pathology room and a treatment room with three beds.

YARRA GLEN

Heading back to Yarra Glen, and a prominent winemaker wants to create a new destination spot on the winery trail, complete with a huge aluminium Yarra Valley sign and a pond out the front.

Pettavel Wines, which has roots in the Geelong region but also a vineyard in Yarra Glen, lodged its plans last month with Yarra Ranges Council for wine making facilities, a cellar door and a restaurant at 1157 Melba Highway.

Drawings submitted to the council also show a playground, outdoor decks and parking for 86 cars, three tourist buses and 12 bikes included.

The estimated cost is unclear, but according to its website, Pettavel has been planning the project for quite some time, with original artist impressions first created way back in 2004.

The application is listed as “under assessment” on the council’s planning register.

MONT ALBERT NORTH

A service station complete with a dog wash could be built on Whitehorse Rd, just a few years after a Caltex at the same site was knocked down.

Plans have been lodged with Whitehorse Council and went out for public comment on June 29.

The project is estimated at $1.8m and will include six fuelling spots, a car wash and dog wash, and a convenience store.

BORONIA

An empty block on the edge of Boronia could become home to Knox’s newest apartment complex.

The council received a planning application for a three-storey building with 25 dwellings at 285-289 Dorset Rd on June 30.

A council spokeswoman said the project was estimated at $7m and more information would become available as the application progresses through the assessment process.