By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Scores of residents in a prime Narre Warren hilltop estate are set to fight against a proposed 32-unit development described as being akin to the Berlin Wall.
Irate neighbours say the two-storey units planned for a 9000-square metre block on Ryelands Drive is out of character with the estate.
It is also a betrayal of the vision pitched to them when their homes were built and bought on part of the historic farmstead Oatlands 15 years ago, they say.
According to sales documents at the time, blocks would be limited in number to “preserve the nature of the original homestead”.
The block minimum sizes – on average about 850 square metres – would be enforced by covenants.
Resident Rob Grever compared the design in which the semi-detached units just metres from his fenceline would be like staring into a tall wall.
“I used to live near the Berlin Wall and I don’t want to see The Wall again.”
Michael Ellis said he and many of the estate’s residents bought in at a “blue-chip price” on the basis of large lot sizes of average 850 square metres.
Few residents had since left the “tight community”, he said.
Mr Ellis believes 80 residents had lodged objections to Casey ouncil by a 28 January cut-off despite having less than a fortnight’s notice during the holiday season.
About 50 further objections were expected to be sent, he said.
As well as loss of privacy, the proposal would also lead to further congested traffic on narrow streets and impede neighbours’ panoramic views, opponents said.
“The infrastructure of the estate wasn’t designed for this,” Mr Ellis said.
“It won’t be able to cope.”
Despite Casey council being yet to grant a permit, the proponent Premium Builder’s Group has listed individual units for sale from $550,000 as part of the development.
Its application includes an exemption to allow building next to a council-listed significant tree at the highest point of the site.
The original Oatlands villa, built in 1892, its caretaker cottage, cool stores, stables and a mature garden including an enormous Moreton Bay fig are preserved and listed on a local heritage overlay.
An avenue of mature elm trees leads to its front gates.
The farm had once been an orchard. Under the ownership of former BHP managing director Sir Ian McLennan, it became a Hereford stud farm in the late 1960s.
