By Cam Lucadou-Wells
PERHAPS the best way for a David to beat a Goliath is to find another Goliath.
Residents in Moondarra Drive, Berwick, – with the colossal help of Melbourne Water – toppled a proposed two-storey 12-apartment building that was set to mar the adjacent wetlands.
Melbourne Water brought a pending Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal appeal to an end when it bought the vacant site at 75S Moondarra Drive from developer Grandrise.
Settlement occurred on 20 September and Melbourne Water retained the floodplains land as public open space.
Residents Brian and Helen Millgate celebrated the news with about 100 neighbours on the wetlands on 17 September.
The couple saved them from having to look out on a “great wall” rather than on idyllic wetlands that hosts nests of pelicans and ducks – as well as the occasional endangered freckled duck.
“We could not believe it,” Ms Millgate said.
“We heard that in 87 per cent of cases knocked back by the council, VCAT rules in favour of the developer. It is really a miracle.”
Mr Millgate – who had prepared a campaign kitted with Eureka flags – said the game-changer was when he told Melbourne Water of the development plans.
“They told me there’s no way known that’s going to happen.”
Ms Millgate said the site had been sold to an overseas buyer for about $1.5 million who she said had hoped to double their money within 12 months.
Melbourne Water property manager Peter Morison said the property was “not appropriate” for residential development.
“(We) purchased the land due to the close proximity to the adjacent wetland and retarding basin, which reduces the risk of local flooding.
“Wetlands also perform an important environmental function – they function like nature’s kidney by removing pollutants from stormwater runoff.”
The apartments’ proposal had been refused by Casey council in April, primarily due to Melbourne Water’s objection.
Among the water authority’s criticisms was the reduction in the retarding basin’s flood storage capacity due to the development’s inadequate setback.
The council also noted that the site was subject to Aboriginal cultural heritage.
