Bacchus Marsh residents clapped and cheered as Moorabool councillors rejected plans for a Bunnings in the town centre last week.
Almost three years ago, Bunnings applied to build a warehouse at 101 Gisborne Road, requiring the land to be rezoned from residential to commercial.
Moorabool council received about 200 submissions to the proposed rezoning and permit application – 189 of those were against the plan.
Residents cited location and economic impacts, proposed planning controls, traffic, neighbourhood character and “residential amenities” as key issues.
At a special council meeting last week, about 20 Bacchus Marsh and Maddingley residents spoke against the application, while a gallery of 200 applauded their efforts.
Michael Crawford, of the Clifton Park estate, said he lived only 20 metres from the Gisborne Road site and he was worried about the repercussions of an industrial warehouse in the area.
“It was some 20 years ago myself and my young family decided to purchase a block in the Clifton Park estate,” Mr Crawford said.
“It was the most sought-after estate, [but] we now find this residential estate is under threat of being rezoned and developed for commercial purchases.
“This will only benefit multinational companies, [but] will have a dramatic and long-lasting impact on Bacchus Marsh, myself and my family.”
Residents who spoke on the night pleaded with Moorabool councillors not to overlook the social and visual impacts of a Bunnings close to homes, schools and the town centre.
Some considered the “bulky green shed” an eyesore at the entrance to “our beautiful country town”, while others worried about the ripple effect of Bunnings on local traders.
But almost all residents raised traffic concerns.
In its traffic assessment report, Bunnings had proposed to fund roundabouts at Gisborne Road, in an effort to alleviate traffic congestion.
Councillors Tonia Dudzik, Pat Toohey, John Spain and David Edwards voted in favour of abandoning the rezoning and permit application.
Cr Tom Sullivan voted in favour of the proposal, Cr Paul Tatchell abstained, and Cr Allan Comrie declared he “may be perceived to have a conflict of interest”, so left the chambers.
Bunnings general property manager Andrew Marks said the council’s decision was “disappointing”.
“The new Bunnings warehouse development would have represented an investment of $24 million and provided jobs for more than 85 local residents, injecting more than $2 million in wages into the local community each year,” Mr Marks said.
“Bacchus Marsh remains an area of interest for Bunnings, and we hope to be able to bring a convenient offer to local residents in the future.”
Cr Dudzik said the permit refusal could not be appealed.
