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“The Peak” Wheelers Hill Development Rejected

The Minister for Planning announced recently his decision on ‘The Peak’ development at Wheelers Hill. It is a victory for the Residents and for the Monash Ratepayers Association who fought against such a high density nine storey development that would have changed the landscape of Wheelers Hill forever. Monash Council also rejected the development as inappropriate and have sought an interim planning amendment that will cap developments in the Wheelers Hill Activity Centre to a nine metre height limit until a proper study has been undertaken. The Monash Ratepayers Association argued at the Priority Development Panel Hearing that this nine metre limit should be maintained until a structure plan for the activity centre is complete. This could take a year to complete. We are also of the view that the structure plan should retain a height limit of close to 9 metres when it is completed.

 In the statement released by Minister Hulls he said that “Melbourne 2030 is not about one size fits all, it’s about ensuring each development is treated on its merits and that community concerns are also taken into account.”

Monash Ratepayers Association objected to the development as inappropriate for the site. The MRA made substantial submissions to the Priority Development Panel.

Our associate member Dr. Bob Birrell of Monash University also made a submission to the panel on this development on behalf of the MRA and his presentation, along with the main MRA submission, can be found on our website. We believe the MRA submissions, together with that of Ian Lionie of Clayton Utz for the Council, played a crucial role in the Panel Hearing’s recommendation to the Minister that the development not proceed in its proposed form.

The Minister directed that the Council and developer enter into discussions on a more appropriate development. The MRA will watch very carefully the progress and outcome of these discussions.

The MRA has concerns about high density developments that are happening throughout the city. Whilst we recognise that Melbourne 2030 encourages high density and higher rise developments in Principle Activity Centres and Major Activity Centres, we believe that the process is in danger of becoming indiscriminate in its location and scale. In some areas it has already become so. It is also becoming all too apparent that the process is developer driven with not enough control by Council and little or no input from the community, save for a rear guard action when a firm inappropriate development proposal is put forward. Whilst Melbourne 2030 encourages high density and higher rise developments in some types of activity centres, there remains an issue regarding the size, bulk and mass of some development proposals which may lead to the MRA opposing some such developments.

The MRA is willing to work with Council to get better outcomes for all concerned residents and ratepayers, and developers should they seek our advice.

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