Medical attention

Narre Warren North residents met to discuss a proposed medical centre on Saturday. (Front) Cr Rosalie Crestani and Cr Rafal Kaplan, residents Michelle Harris and Scott Slater, children Shaelyn and Kaye Harris, Sienna, Ethan and Chenel Herbert, Cohen Hendrix, Charlie and Brodie Heib and Brenton Potter. 97651 Picture: DONNA OATES

By LIA SPENCER

RESIDENTS are thrilled that a planning application for medical centre in Narre Warren North may be withdrawn after they raised concerns about its design.
A community meeting was held at the site of a proposed medical centre, on the corner of Robinsons Road and Ripplebrook Boulevard, after residents learned the proposal would not fit the characteristics of its surrounding Narre Warren North township.
Narre Warren North resident Scott Slater called the meeting, and about 140 residents attended and discussed the lack of consultation between them and the developer and Casey council, their concerns about the proposed narrow road entry and the size of the centre which did not fit with neighbouring properties.
Mr Slater said he wrote to Casey council expressing his concerns and suggested more appropriate sites for the medical centre.
Narre Warren North MP Luke Donnellan agreed.
He said that while the area needed more GPs, the proposed location was not appropriate for the large scale development which would have been built on five residential allotments and provide car parking for up to 77 vehicles, all accessed from a narrow boulevard.
Michelle Harris was one of the concerned residents and said she was pleased to hear following the meetings that the developer decided to withdraw the application.
Ms Slater said that he would be grateful if the application was withdrawn, but would not be satisfied until he saw it in writing.
“It would be very pleasing if that was the case,” he said.
“There has been great development in that area, so it would be a shame if the medical centre went ahead.”
A spokesperson for the real estate agency representing the developer confirmed that he originally made the application to the council believing a medical centre would be beneficial to Narre Warren North residents, but withdrew the application following their concerns.
Casey council cound not confirm before deadline whether the application was withdrawn.