OPPONENTS of a multi-story development at Blackburn Lake Sanctuary have made their dissent clear with a record 920 objections lodged with Whitehorse council. The Blackburn Lake Sanctuary Action Group, whose membership has swelled to 400 in the past week, will meet with councilors and developers, the Regis Group tonight in the council chambers. Group spokesman Ian Packer said the community was pretty stirred up” and wanted answers from the developer. He said the group disputed the developer’s traffic survey and environmental statement and would conduct its own, self-funded surveys. Re added that planning changes announced last week by Steve Bracks and  Planning Minister Mary Delahunty didn’t go far enough.  The State Government announced it would create a new zone to provide councils with the option of imposing a mandatory height limit of 9m(three stories) In sensitive residential areas. The changes are believed to have been prompted by public outrage

over the controversial Colombo St Tower development at Mitcham no one wants three storey at Blackburn lake, we don’t want two storey Mr Pack said. The Regis Group has lodged a planning Permit application with the Council for a dual development comprising a five-storey nursing home and aged care centre with one hundred trees to be removed from the site next to the sanctuary. After the Governments announcement, the council immediately  applied for height controls to the development at 1 Lake Rd. The application is understood to be the first under the new zoning changes. The Premier’s announcement came three day after councilors determined to impose a monatorium on approving buildings greater than three stories in all areas other than Box Hill, a nominated principal activity centre under Melbourne 2030, and provide full protection to all urban municipal land from multi-storey (three and above) high density development except where completed structure plans encourage high density development