A building company will go back to the drawing board in its bid to develop a Kurunjang site, after an unfavourable ruling by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
Keilor Park-based Nostra Homes applied for a permit to build four single-storey dwellings on land in Rivette Street about two years ago.
Melton council refused the application because it was “inconsistent with numerous elements of Clause 55 of the Melton Planning Scheme”, according to acting planning and environment manager Steve Finlay.
“It was also considered … that the proposal represented an over-development of the land,” Mr Finlay said.
Nostra Homes will work with its client to see if a different design is possible on the site.
“The client, in this case, was trying to maximise his return [as is his right as the land owner] by applying for a permit to build four homes on the subject site,” Nostra Homes marketing manager Mario De Petro said.
“The permit, had it been granted, would have provided further options for affordability and diversity of product within the area.
“In this case, VCAT and the council did not agree with the original application so we have to go back to the drawing board with our client to come up with a better solution … we respect the referee’s decision.”
VCAT member Cindy Wilson cited carparking, streetscapes and neighbourhood character as reasons for the application’s rejection.
“I agree that the type of dwelling proposed will contribute to diversity of dwelling type and add to the number of dwellings,” she said.
“But I am not persuaded the review site is well located for access to services and facilities or to numerous modes of transport.”
The Melton Planning Scheme can be found at planningschemes.dpcd.vic.gov.au/schemes/melton.
