AustralianSuper unveils plan for 823 houses at Kingswood Golf Course
Locals have reacted to the latest blueprint for an old Kingston golf course. And they didn’t mince words.
South East
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A bid to build hundreds of houses at a former golf course in Melbourne’s southeast is “a recipe for a ghetto” say angry locals.
Superannuation giant AustralianSuper unveiled its plan for the 54ha Kingswood Golf Course site at Dingley Village on Monday.
The proposal includes 823 “low to medium density residential blocks” and 14ha of open space featuring a large park.
Save Kingswood Group Inc. president Kevin Poulter said the proposal was “beyond our wildest nightmares”.
“We are outraged that the developer could even dream of such an insidious plan,” Mr Poulter said.
“Micro housing, narrow streets and not enough parking is a recipe for a ghetto. Plus hundreds of extra children with insufficient schools and no high school.”
He said the plan indicated 823 lots less than 300 square metres each and a reduction in carparking “plus many more nasties”.
According to the plan, which was released online via the Department of Environment Land Water and Planning, wetland would be created to support local biodiversity and up to 2685 tress would be added to the 850 already on the site.
Planning Minister Richard Wynne has already decided to refer the proposal to rezone and redevelop the land to the State Government’s new Golf Course Redevelopment Standing Advisory Committee (SAC).
The move has disappointed Kingston Council which rejected a 2018 plan to rezone the golf course for residential development after receiving about 8000 submissions – 97.5 per cent against the proposal.
Kingston Mayor Steve Staikos said Mr Wynne’s recent decision meant the council would not have the final say about the site’s future.
He said the council would be making a comprehensive submission on behalf of the community and encouraged locals to also have their say.
“It is really important that the community also adds its voice and lets the Committee know how it feels about the proposed rezoning and development application for the site,” Cr Staikos said.
AustralianSuper Senior Investment director for development Fiona Dunster said the latest design for the new neighbourhood had been developed using feedback from residents gathered over the past five years.
“The new proposal supports a range of housing that will appeal to families, downsizers, first-home buyers and those on lower incomes,” Ms Dunster said.
“Importantly it will help younger Dingley people stay in the area where they grew up and older people to stay near friends and family as their needs change.”
She said blocks would vary in size from townhouses overlooking open spaces to large family blocks that provide for a generous private garden.
Townhouse blocks would be contained to the centre of the site, with substantial buffers to existing established homes.
Mr Poulter said the group was prepared to fight again to protect the open space.
“The group will fight this totally unacceptable application with all our might,” he said.
“The owners should never have purchased land zoned Special Use Golf Course, so now they want to impose their mistake on all of Dingley Village.”
The plans can be viewed online via the Department of Environment Land Water and Planning website.
Submissions are now open and can be lodged here.
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