Supermarket second chance

By Rebecca Fraser
A WELL-KNOWN Casey property developer has been given a second chance by council to try to push for a new supermarket development in Berwick.
Edrington Ward councillor Mick Morland moved at the last council meeting of 2005 that Sam Mondous be given another chance to present his application for a small supermarket to council on 24 January.
If the development is approved, council officers would need to rezone the north west corner of Berwick-Cranbourne and Greaves Road.
Cr Morland said the last time the development came to council the application had narrowly been defeated.
He said he had not decided whether to support the development but believed the project could bring benefits to Berwick and Narre Warren South residents.
Cr Morland said he believed the application warranted more consideration as the Clyde Road area continued to develop.
“I put up to council that we have another look at the application,” he said.
“Councillors voted six to five last time against it and a few realised afterwards that they had voted the wrong way.
“The applicant asked me to resubmit his application again. I have done this, and council will make a decision.”
Cr Morland said the development would include an ‘Aldi type’ of supermarket and could give the thousands of homes between Narre-Cranbourne Road and Clyde Road a shopping alternative.
“The bottom line is this is valuable land that he wants to develop and it is my job as a councillor to make sure the land is developed for the best possible scenario for the community,” he said.
Mr Mondous has experienced a long and often controversial relationship with council over the past 20 years, with some of his proposed developments attracting community and council criticism.
In October last year, council approved Mr Mondous’ plans to build a Mitre 10 hardware store in Endeavour Hills.
The decision was a small step forward for Mr Mondous, who owned the parcel of land since 1984 and had unsuccessfully tried to build a hotel with poker machines and a convention centre there in the past.
Deputy mayor Rob Wilson said the developer’s latest proposal was an interesting one.
He said Narre Warren South residents living west of Clyde Road had to cross a busy road to go to the Eden Rise shopping centre and there was justification for a second supermarket nearby.
He said there were already numerous restaurants at the proposed site and some different types of development should be allowed.
“People are having to risk going across a busy intersection just to duck in and grab a few things,” he said.
Both councillors said there was also some concern about the mounting rubbish on the vacant land.