A Day at VCAT for No 71 Kathryn and 72 Anne Road.

Yesterday David and Valerie Chaney, Iren Fullarton, Joyce Ward and Ian and Maree Simpson attended a VCAT hearing for No 61 Kathryn and 72 Anne Road, opposite the shops. Council was represented by a private Consultant Town Planner.

We presented our arguments exceedingly well, covering removal of vegetation, traffic congestion especially with three driveways opposite the shops, the overdevelopment of the proposal, the damaging effect on Knoxfield’s wildlife, safety aspects for children walking to school and parents to the kinder establishment and sustainability of the development.

It was really interesting to learn that the Knox City Traffic Department, didn’t oppose the development as a traffic or parking concern. Neither did the Knox Council oppose the removal of the vegetation from the site, but preferred an Onset Agreement to replace existing trees lost by this development. How do we get them to understand that the wildlife of Knoxfield cannot wait another 15 years for these trees to grow? What about the effect on our environment in a time of climate change when up to 16, 100 year old trees are removed. Where do the parrots find new hollows to nest in? The questions flood to mind, but it seems that no one cares. We all thought and felt proud that Knox was committed to keeping our suburb, leafy green and a welcome place for our wildlife. The way things are going there will not be any old urban forest canopy trees left in Knoxfield. I wonder what the council’s report into the unique character of Knoxfield’s trees will report. Sorry we couldn’t find any trees.

The council didn’t find need to oppose the removal of vegetation, or concern with traffic problems but the developer was so concerned that he employed three expert witnesses to counter our arguments. Valerie and David Chaney researched and refuted the claims of the expert witness for traffic. His claims of available parking, dangers for local traffic with the development were counted expertly, but after lunch he arrived late with new counts of parking spaces available and traffic measures to permit traffic access to the site. Irene Fullarton and Ian Simpson tackled the vegetation removal and landscape problems so well, the expert witnesses were sometimes finding it difficult to counter the arguments presented. Joyce Ward in her excellent style, presented arguments to demonstrate this development was not child friendly and created dangers for children living onsite and those passing to school. Joyce also mentioned that the current infrastructure was hardly coping with the current population. David Chaney in his usual professional style brought the attention of the tribunal to lack of adherence to the Rescodes, especially to set backs on Kathryn Road.

The tribunal Chairperson is to make a site visit and we will learn of her decision in the near future.

On the 30^th March at 10.00am we return for the hearing on No 40 Kathryn Road. This is we must win to prevent double storey townhouses lining Kathryn Road all the way to the Knoxfield shops and 60 double storey townhouses on the six acre blocks. Please try to make it to VCAT we need people at the hearing. Yesterday 6 objectors attending out of 114 initial objections did not look good at the tribunal and certainly wouldn’t have pressured the chairperson to favour our arguments, especially when the council didn’t support them.

Ian Simpson

Future Hearings at VCAT - Help

 The future hearings at VCAT are for the following planning applications:

·    15^th March at 10.00 am – Nos 61 Kathryn and 72 Anne Roads

·    30^th March at 10.00 am – No 40 Kathryn Road

·    20^th May at 10.00 am – 30 Kathryn Road

If you have time to attend or present a case at VCAT for any of these applications we would appreciate your assistance.

Maybe you would just like to assist us in collecting evidence, such as traffic counts on Anne and Kathryn Roads, searching evidence for retention of trees in a Vegetation 3 Overlay Protection Zone, researching wildlife numbers, researching parking problems at the Anne Road shops or by contacting David and Valerie Chaney or Ian and Maree Simpson at 28 and 30 Kathryn Road.

Looking forward to your assistance. Together we’ll win this fight. Remember 10 Valetta Close and 50 David Street may well be next at VCAT.

Ian Simpson

VCAT Hearing for No 44 Kathryn Road - 5th March 2009

 Today seven residents attended and presented submissions to VCAT for the No 44 Kathryn Road Hearing.

Madam Chair Fong presided over the hearing and provided a fair hearing for all that attended. Mr. Simon Skinner, a consultant town planner, represented the Knox City Council. Simon presented the Knox Council case in a clear and precise manner and generally covered many of our concerns.

David Chaney led our case strongly with concerns about non-adherence to ResCodes, and planning issues that did not meet Knox Council Planning Guidelines. David presented a case for 8 single storey dwellings on this site.

Valerie Chaney’s case centred on evidence collected that double storey townhouses does not meet the landscape of Knoxfield and therefore cannot be considered as neighborhood character. Out of over 2,000 properties studied only 65 were double storey. Valerie suggested that 7 single storey dwellings would be a good result.

Ian Simpson’s case centred around the quality of life and mental well-being of Knoxfield residents, how two storey townhouses destroy the open space and contrast with the leafy green image of the environment of Knoxfield, Vegetation 3 Overlay Protection of trees in the area, sustainability, community support via two petitions, the effect on wildlife, safety of children, increase in traffic, the fact that 4 developments are to be considered by VCAT all from a short distance in Kathryn Road and then presented an alternative plan for 6 single storey houses.

Joyce Ward’s case centred around the needs of children in a development of this type, problems with infrastructure in the area, visitor car parking and increasing traffic on Kathryn Road.

In conclusion Simon Skinner, on behalf of Knox Council presented an alternative plan to reduce the plan to 8 single storey dwellings without the two double storey houses. The council plan incorporated many of the residents objections to the plan and all respondents present considered this plan to be a worthy compromise. Obviously the developer did not agree.

Madam Chair Fong concluded by stating that she would make a site visit in the future and present her findings at a later date.

I’m confident and hopeful that the Knox Council proposal will be accepted by VCAT. Well done to everyone that presented and attended in support.

Ian Simpson

Justin Madden's response to the petition of 1,543 signatures from Knoxfield

The response is exactly as I anticipated. Justin Madden has interpreted the petition to his own advantage. What we wanted him to do was to impose a moratorium on development in Knoxfield, to save the trees, so the study would in fact have trees to study. At the current rate of tree removal the council report will have no effect on retaining the indigenous canopy trees the Vegetation 3 Overlay is suppose to protect.

Justin Madden stated that it was up to the council to request a moratorium on development in Knoxfield. 1,543 signatures has had no affect on the Minister.

Save Knoxfield - Maintain the fight

I believe we are having an impact on development in Knoxfield, as the rush to develop tied with the economic times has created a downturn in interest. Maybe it's also because we fight every over-development.

We must keep up the fight against double storey townhouses and over-development.

If Planning Applications are posted in your street let us know through our email

saveknoxfield@ozemail.com.au

Together we can over come this challenge.

Next month we have three applications to be heard in VCAT. These are for No 62, 40 and 44 Kathryn Road.

David Chaney at No 30 Kathryn Road will keep you posted with information also on his notice board.

Keep our councillor Andrew Walter informed on your concerns about over-development, increased traffic and removal of valuable indigenous trees.

Ian Simpson

Planning Consultation Meeting - 50 David Street

 Congratulations to the residents of 50 David Street that presented a passionate argument against the over-development of 50 David Street with three double storey townhouses.

Immediate neighbors were incensed that their privacy ought to be invaded by this terrible development. Other issues included:

increased traffic congestion on an already heavily congested minor road,

removal of vegetation,

safety of children,

car parking and rubbish bins,

character of Knoxfield consists of single storey houses with gardens,

visual impact and the affect on wildlife,

increased noise,

salinity caused by impervious surfaces,

density of the development over 60% of site, and the

failure to adhere to Rescodes.

Most people that attended had the opportunity to speak at a well conducted meeting. Thanks must go to the Planning Department on the organization for the meeting tonight.

 

 

 

 

The Value of Trees

This article was published in The Age today Thursday 19^th February 2009. These are issues we need to keep reminding ourselves about. The development of double storey townhouses  in a time of climate change and global warming is ridiculous. Councils need to re-assess the value of trees to the environment especially the Knoxfield environment.

 

Doctor's plea for trees

VICTORIA has lost 12 per cent of its trees during the drought, with up to 50 per cent under threat if it continues, a leading arboriculturist has warned.

Dr Greg Moore, a special guest at a water crisis symposium being held tonight in Melbourne, is concerned the economic, health and environmental values of trees are seriously underestimated.

Trees and urban vegetation have been assets for years and their benefits should not be taken for granted, he said.

A study of trees in South Australia showed they had a value of $200 each in shade and carbon sequestration, Mr Moore said. "If there are 70,000 public trees in Melbourne, that's $14 million worth of value to the city. I'm worried that if we don't understand these benefits it will be at our peril. Suddenly you'll find Melbourne is not the liveable city it was because our trees, green spaces and vegetation have been lost."

He said localised warming due to the increase in paved and dark-coloured surfaces reduced significantly when cities had adequate green belts.

This meant the appropriate use of resources was needed to maintain these assets, such as water, especially in a drought.

Mr Moore said most councils had acted quickly to protect their parks and gardens, even though they faced hostility from residents opposed to such a "waste" of water.

"Melburnians can be wonderfully self-righteous yet the councils have stood their ground. Turf too has had a terrible time and yet it's an effective ecosystem in its own right and good at holding carbon.

"I'm worried about our obsession with water, and it's a justified and reasonable obsession, but sometimes it blinds us to other components in this overall environmental equation. It's glib to the point of dangerous to say we've got problems with water but we're not going to look at these other elements."

While most of Melbourne's trees are shedding their leaves early to survive, other trees are being removed for high-density developments, he said.

"There are pockets dotted around Melbourne where housing density is so great that you can't plant a tree of any substantial size in gardens."

Mr Moore said Sir William Guilfoyle, the second director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, understood that his creation had a functioning role as the lungs of the city.

Many Melburnians, though, consider trees to be ornaments rather than environmental protectors, Mr Moore said.