Lifestyle Communities Tyabb village knocked back by Mornington Peninsula Council
Supporters of Tyabb Airport are celebrating a rare win after Mornington Peninsula Shire rejected a plan to build hundreds of houses alongside the airfield. But the fight to stop the proposed village may not be over.
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A community fighting fund is on the cards to help defend a Mornington Peninsula Council decision to reject a planned housing estate in Tyabb.
The council last night knocked back a bid by Lifestyle Communities to build a 242-house residential village near Tyabb Airfield.
The developer of affordable accommodation for downsizing Baby Boomers wanted to create “resort-style luxury living” similar to existing villages in Hastings and Bittern.
Some of the two and three-bedroom houses would have been just 300m from the runway.
Peninsula Aero Club (PAC) president Jack Vevers said it was “inevitable” the ruling would be contested at VCAT.
He said the club had a team of expert planners it could call on to support the council if the decision was challenged.
“The plan would be to mount a joint defence with the council,” Mr Vevers said.
He said it was likely club members and the wider community would make financial contributions to the cause.
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“Our club members are also locals and this is something people feel very strongly about,” he said.
Mr Vevers said he agreed with the village concept, just not the location.
“Introducing that many new residents to a small pocket of Tyabb would have stretched the area’s limited resources and amenities and impacted all residents, not just the airport and its users,” he said.
The PAC has spent the past 12 months fighting with the council over its push to amend the planning scheme and also temporarily cancelled its hugely successful airshow during a spat over a planning permit for the event.
Mr Vevers said it was nice to be able to agree with the council on something.
“The councillors have certainly made the right decision this time,” he said.
Council officers had recommended granting the planning permit but included 59 conditions including a Section 173 Agreement that meant any future resident of the village had to be told about the airport nearby.
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They also had to be warned that there was a greater risk of disturbance from the airport.
Despite praising the applicant for being “flexible” and acknowledging the development would include a much-needed upgrade for Stuart Rd, Cr Julie Morris convinced her fellow councillors to reject the plan.
She said it was too large for the site and too close to the airport.
The council received 202 objections and 36 letters of support about the proposal.
Lifestyle Communities has been contacted for comment.