Dingley residents oppose Satterley development on former sandbelt golf course
The Premier has been accused of rubberstamping a 900 unit development on a former golf course despite the project having 96 per cent opposition from locals.
South East
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Angry locals fighting a plan to build 900 residential units on a former golf course in Melbourne’s southeast have won the right to have their say on the development.
The local council has also been given an extension to review and respond to the confidential plans Dingley Village residents believe will turn their suburb into a “ghetto”.
Kingston Council was sent the plans by the state government for the proposed residential development at the former Kingswood Golf Course site on January 17.
The state government wanted council feedback on the plans by February 14, giving a time frame of less than a month.
A fierce community backlash about the secrecy surrounding the plans and the timeline for the council forced the state government to grant an extension.
“People power wins again,” Kingston councillor Caroline White said.
“Community consultation will begin at the end of the month.
“A big thank you to everyone who got behind the campaign.
“Together we can make a difference!”
At the council’s most recent meeting on February 3 developers said 900 units would be built on the block.
But 96 per cent of the approximately 10,500 Dingley Village residents have opposed the development according to former developer AustralianSuper — which had previously planned to build 800 units on the site.
AustralianSuper bought the golf course in September 2014 for $125m and fought decade-long battle with residents before it was purchased by Perth-based Satterley in early 2024.
Save Kingwood Group Inc president Kevin Poulter accused the state government of pushing ahead with the project despite the near-unanimous opposition from locals.
“Now Jacinta (Allan) has obviously rubber-stamped the worst development – beyond our most horrific dreams, a ghetto in Dingley Village,” Mr Poulter said.
“It will destroy Dingley Village forever.”
The proposed development would increase Dingley Village’s population by nearly 25 per cent.
Significant housing developments worth more than $50m in Melbourne could be streamlined and fast-tracked under the state government’s housing statement which aimed to deliver more homes to Victorians.
Councillor Caroline White questioned how that many units would fit on the proposed land, predicting they would be 4m wide.
“To put this into perspective, the old workers cottages in places like Port Melbourne and Balaclava are six metres wide”, Cr White said.
“Planning minister Sonya Kilkenny’s department hasn’t been particularly responsive to our requests for more information either. Given the unprecedented scale and impact to our area, it’s only fair and reasonable that our community is properly consulted.”
Cr White called on Clarinda state Labor MP Meng Heang Tak and Isaacs federal Labor MP Mark Dreyfus to intervene.
Kingston City Mayor Georgina Oxley also drafted a formal letter to the state planning department, asking for more time to discuss with residents to offer preliminary feedback.
Mr Poulter’s research, assisted by a former Kingswood Club Captain and others, shows there is half a billion litres of flood water not accounted for in the development.
Satterley paid about $215m for the rezoned site, and estimated it could generate more than $350m in total lot sales.
Peninsula Kingswood Country Golf Club is now located in Frankston, 15 minutes from its former site.
Ms Kilkenny and Satterley’s were approached for comment.
