Protecting the "green and leafy Knox": Councillors refuse 24 townhouse development citing impact on neighbourhood character

Knox Council made its message to developers hoping to build 24 townhouses in Wantirna loud and clear, unanimously passing a motion on Monday to refuse the permit application.

The permit application proposed the construction of 24 dwellings at 276 Wantirna Road in Wantirna, consisting of six two-bedroom dwellings, 17 three-bedroom dwellings and one four-bed dwelling.

Despite a decision to grant the permit being recommended by officers, councillor Chris Duncan moved an alternative motion to refuse the application during the April 28 Knox Council meeting.

What is the history of the site and what were developers proposing?

Formerly the site of the Wantirna Road Maternal and Child Health Centre, as well as a childcare centre, Knox Council decided to sell the 3227-square-metre site in February 2023.

The developer, who was not named in the council documents, consequently bulldozed the buildings last year, leaving the site empty.

The proposed 24 townhouse development would feature a western half filled with double-storey developments and an eastern half with triple-storey developments. Planning proposals showed a maximum height agreement of 10.07 metres.

The two-bed dwellings included single garages attached, while all other dwellings included two parking spaces, with some of these being double garages.

Why did locals oppose the proposed development?

Across two calls for public consultation on the permit application, the council received a total of 246 objections.

Objections focused on inappropriate traffic access from Bellbird Drive, resulting in an amendment to the initial application to allow for access via Wantirna Road.

Other concerns included traffic congestion, environmental impact, not meeting minimum vegetation requirements, loss of privacy to nearby residences and not being in line with the current neighbourhood character.

Why did Knox council oppose the proposed development?

Councillor Duncan said he made the decision to bring the refusal in front of council as he believed the proposal does not meet the neighbourhood character, lacks in diversity of dwelling types and misses the mark in accessibility for disabled people.

“I’d like to preface this by saying that I’m not against the development of this site and neither do I think that residents of the area are,” he said.

“I do believe that the proposal does not sufficiently comply with the Knox Planning Scheme in order to be granted a planning permit at this time.

“I think this application goes too far.”

All councillors supported the refusal, with Duncan hoping the developer would take the issues raised back to the drawing board.

“This application gives us a really good opportunity as a new councillor group to effectively draw a line in the sand and say to developers that enough is enough,” he said.

“It also shows a united stance that we’re not going to sit idly by and let these type of developments continue and overtake the streetscape of our green and leafy Knox.

“This also sends a very clear message to our residents that we’re actually sitting here and we’re listening to you and we’re taking your concerns on board.”

What’s next?

The applicant is able to appeal the review in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal if an application is made within 60 days of the refusal.

Alternatively, the applicant could instead review the application and make a new proposal.

Evidently, locals and the council will wait with bated breath to see what the future of this site holds.