By Matthew Sims
Residents are angered by Casey Council’s plan to allow for the construction of a new 160-plus dwelling estate on Green Wedge land in Manuka Road in Berwick.
The council has scheduled to consider the Manuka Road Development Plan at its upcoming meeting on Tuesday 16 May.
The development of the Manuka Road Precinct may provide for about 165 new lots or dwellings to be developed across 18.78 hectares of land, bounded by Manuka Road to the west, Allan Street to the south and the Cardinia Creek Parklands to the north and east.
Planning Scheme Amendment C231 to the Casey Planning Scheme was gazetted on 20 May 2021 and resulted in the rezoning of the land to the Neighbourhood Residential Zone and the application of a Development Plan Overlay.
Casey Council has been working with Veris Town Planning and Parklea Developments to investigate future development of the Manuka Road Precinct as part of the plan.
Cardinia Catchment Landcare Group president Glenn Brooks-Macmillan said he believed the community had not been consulted appropriately on the development.
“We need a clear reminder that the decision (to rezone) was made on the right merits,“ she said.
“The plan did not have quality information available for transparency and opportunity for meaningful comment.
“I’m disgusted how the council did not inform us of this development.“
According to Casey Council, community consultation on the draft plan occurred over seven weeks in December 2022 and January 2023, where residents were encouraged to make submissions via the council’s engagement platform Casey Conversations.
Updated background reports were also added to the Casey Conversations page on 23 December, with residents encouraged to review these as part of their submissions.
The council held an information drop-in session at the Berwick Leisure Centre on Manuka Road on 14 December and notices were sent to 110 owners and occupiers of affected and adjoining properties prior to the start of the consultation.
Public notices were published in the Berwick Star News, as well as the council’s social media channels and council staff continue have been engaging with the community in response to direct inquiries.
Public consultation closed at 11.59pm on 29 January 2023, with council receiving a total of 86 submissions.
Save the Casey Foothills Association convenor and southern ranges Green Wedges Coalition delegate Rosalie Counsell said concerned residents were still waiting for several updated background documents.
“If these documents have since been received by council, they have not been made available to us,“ she said.
“Moreover, council appears to have reneged on the promise that we would be able to update our submissions in light of the information or arguments contained (or not included) in these documents.“
Ms Counsell said Allan Street residents advocated for council to significantly lower the proposed lot density, protecting and enhancing remnant vegetation and enforcing bushfire setbacks in line with the 2018 panel recommendations.
“The damaging repercussions of climate change, land clearing and relentless urbanisation of metropolitan rural fringes are now well understood and accepted,“ she said.
“The resulting degradation and loss are not confined to the natural environment.
“Now all we can do is to try and persuade Casey Council to limit the damage.“
Resident and local environmental volunteer Anne Savige said council staff had assured updated reports would be made available to the public and submissions would be able to be updated.
“That should be transparent to the public,“ she said.
“There’s quite a bit that needs to be done.“
Casey Council planning and building manager Tania Asper said the plan aimed to establish high-quality housing in the area which is “generally consistent“ with the area.
“If adopted, the Development Plan would provide guidance to council on future planning permit and subdivision applications in the Manuka Road precinct,“ she said.
“It also creates new open spaces connecting to nearby parklands and protects the precinct’s heritage sites.“
Local residents’ concerns included the impact on the amount of native vegetation which would be retained as part of the plan and the impact removal of vegetation would have on bushfire management.
Ms Asper said the plan outlined a number of trees would be retained as part of the plan.
“Significant trees and vegetation have been identified for retention throughout the precinct,“ she said.
“While there are plans to remove some trees, the tree and vegetation protection measures included in the plan will ensure the area maintains the green character of the surrounding Berwick neighbourhood.
“Bushfire controls in the plan have been informed by recommendations from the Country Fire Authority (CFA) and include minimum standards for construction and required setbacks to address bushfire risk.“
Mr Brooks-Macmillan said to lose any vegetation would be “absolutely unacceptable“ for the community, who had worked hard over a number of years to preserve and develop the precinct’s vegetation.
“We’ve got an issue that all of the good work…will be at jeopardy,“ he said.
“To meet the bushfire management overlay, vegetation will have to be lost.“
Mr Brooks-Macmillan said council should not be encouraging people to live near areas of high fire risk.
“I do not see how this proposal is a sustainable solution,“ he said.
“The council should work with the community.
“Let’s wait until we get a council back.“
Residents’ concerns also included the amount of additional traffic the development would bring to the area and add further pressure to Manuka Road, which already becomes congested during peak periods of traffic.
Casey Council has proposed to seal and upgrade Allan Street as part of the development, as well as installing right-turning lanes along Manuka Road at the entrance to Allan Street and the new northern access street.
However, the council has not proposed a vehicle connection between Allan Street and Cardinia Street.
Ms Savige said residents were “quite emotional“ about the issue of extra traffic.
“The traffic congestion at Manuka Road at the moment is pretty bad,“ she said.
