Yarra Valley Water compulsory acquisition of Maroondah Highway Coldstream property
Coldstream’s community was heartened when a key 176ha parcel of land hit the market as a possible future hotel, winery or function centre site. But then a water company stepped in, sparking outrage among locals pushing for the town’s expansion.
Outer East
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A small Yarra Ranges town has had its last hope of expanding flushed away after Yarra Valley Water compulsory acquired 176ha of land on its western border.
The Coldstream community has lobbied authorities for years to increase the town’s population of 2300 by allowing residential development but to no avail.
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Now, the property they hoped would one day become housing will be used to store recycled water.
The enormous piece of land on the Maroondah Highway hit the market for the first time in 25 years in September.
The green wedge property was being spruiked as a possible site for a hotel, winery or function centre before Yarra Valley Water stepped in to compulsory acquire it just days later.
Coldstream is hemmed in by green wedge zones, which means the urban growth boundary cannot expand, and both Labor and the Liberals have so far refused to consider changes.
Backers of the population push believe it would be a boon for the town’s economy with more retailers moving in and a boost for schools, sports clubs and social communities.
Yarra Valley Water acting managing director David Snadden said there were no plans to build a sewage treatment plant on the property.
Mr Snadden said Yarra Valley Water bought the site for future expansion of services including recycled water and improving access to the existing sewage treatment plant at Lilydale.
But Coldstream Voice member Sean Bethell criticised the water authority’s land grab.
“Coldstream is just (treated as) the arse-end of the Yarra Ranges,’’ he said.
“Every other town in the shire that borders on to a major highway has some sort of option for further expansion except Coldstream.”
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Yarra Ranges Cr Fiona McAllister said she could understand the community’s disappointment.
“It happened so suddenly and it was not on the radar,” Cr McAllister said.
“The biggest challenge for that site has been no support from either side of government to expand the urban growth boundary.”
She said Coldstream’s urban growth boundaries were difficult, with housing on one side of the road and farming on the other.
“It’s like a hand around the ankle for the growth of the town,” Cr McAllister said.
“Now the opportunity has been lost forever.”
Compulsory acquisition laws give the government — or its agencies — the power to acquire land without the consent of the owner.