VCAT approves 26 townhouses for Winyard Drive Mooroolbark

Four Mooroolbark neighbours struck gold after teaming up to sell their properties to a developer. But locals are fuming about the townhouse complex that’s now in the pipeline. SEE THE DESIGN.

The four houses will be replaced with 26 townhouses.

A housing estate containing 26 townhouses and a total of 66 bedrooms is set to go up in place of four houses in Mooroolbark’s centre.

The series of two, three and four-bedroom houses are headed for 47, 49, 53, 55 Winyard Drive after Yarra Ranges Council lost a battle against the developer at VCAT.

The 3457sq m site will be significantly excavated to make way for the double-storey houses, which will be built in four groupings, with 41 car spaces located underneath in two basement carparks.

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Tribunal Member Bill Sibonis issued a permit for the $5.5 million build earlier this month, with the council having refused to do so in September 2018.

Yarra Ranges Council argued the design was not respectful of the area’s character.

The council said the proposed “excessive building scale” was “not respectful of the existing or preferred neighbourhood character” and did not reinforce the area’s environmental values. “This proposal sets a dangerous precedent for this part of Mooroolbark which has not seen such an intense multi-unit development of this kind,” the council said when it rejected the application.

The houses will be built in four groupings.

But with the land being part of the Mooroolbark Neighbourhood Activity Centre — in walking distance to Mooroolbark station, shops and services, on May 9 Mr Sibonis found the development was appropriate for the area.

The previous owners of 47-55 Winyard Drive sold their houses together in December 2016.

Mooroolbark resident of 42 years and Mooroolbark History Group president Marion Stott said the ruling was “seriously disappointing”.

“The magnitude of the development is just wrong for the area,” she said.

She said traffic was already “ridiculous” on Winyard Drive before people the 26 houses were built, and before the nine houses going up next-door at 57-59 Winyard Drive were inhabited.

Mrs Stott said cars already had to pull over to let oncoming traffic pass.

“The extra traffic will really impact that street,” she said.

The development will include two four-bedroom houses, 14 two-bedroom and 10 three-bedroom.

It comes after the four neighbours who previously owned 47-55 Winyard Drive teamed up to sell their properties to the one developer in December 2016.