RESIDENTS have expressed their concerns about the impact that the new development in their Corinella neighbourhood is going to make, directly identifying the safety issues, infrastructure problems, and the loss of character with the once rural township.
Duncan Watkins has lived in Bass Coast for over 40 years and is worried about the town's unique identity being lost, and his neighbour Jacky Veltman - a Corinella resident for the past 20 plus years has highlighted the lack of safety for new families.
Together the neighbours have assembled to raise their concerns about the absence of public transport and even the limited footpaths for families to safely walk to the foreshore and to and from school.
“Over-development on subdivided blocks will change the character of the place,” said Duncan. “As a community we need to speak up and emphasise the need to preserve open space and historical significance in our town.”
The main subject of interest is the proposed planning permits for Hamilton Street, Corinella.
The first sub-division, 2-4 Hamilton Street is at planning stage with a proposal to sub-divide the land into six lots.
The subsequent block is, 6 Hamilton Street – with a prospective sub-division of three homes, and thirdly, 8 Hamilton Street - also proposing a further three homes.
“That’s 12 houses on three blocks,” said Jacky. “Not to mention the lack of carparks - these streets are not wide enough to have residents and visitors lining the curb. This is a fishing community, the vessels need sufficient space - it’s an accident waiting to happen,” Jacky accentuated.
Jacky, Duncan and his wife Sandy Watkins with neighbour Anne Caulfield requested the Bass Coast Shire Council to address this issue – with Deputy Mayor Cr Rochelle Halstead visiting the address to see the issue firsthand.
Anne shared that they are not asking council to stop development altogether, we’re just asking for them to put a stop to over-developing sub-divisions.
Anne wrote to council stating that the proposal of 2-4 Hamilton Street, Corinella needs further alternatives.
“Corinella has no public transport and the outcome of this is that all homes have two cars at least, depending on how many people are in each location! Then, some residents have boats and caravans!”
In this proposal, there is no thought given to the housing of these additions! In nearby Heritage Bay and Moorhouse Street, extra vehicles are permanently parked on roadway/nature strips.
“I would like the planning team to consider that this development should be a total of four larger allotments to cater for this,” said Anne.
“Hamilton Street is a through road and is already very busy for a country road, catering for many pedestrians, with no footpaths! I am unable to support this plan as it is!”
The Bass Coast Shire Council have recently released their Neighbourhood Character Study and Housing Strategy to help manage housing growth within the shire over the next 15 years and these residents are urging their community to stand up and have their say.
There is then the removal of native vegetation, that Jacky expressed is devasting. “We worry about the trees – also a part of the rural feel - what about the lorikeets nesting, the magpies, noisy miners and wood ducks that nest here every year - the removal of native vegetation is just changing the distinctive landscape of Corinella.”
Jacky shared that she moved to Corinella for the rural appeal. “There is no consideration for those who have lived here for 20, 30 and 40 plus years.”
Cr Rochelle Halstead shared that it was lovely to have met residents in Hamilton Street, Corinella to discuss their concerns with development in their street.
“Planning is heavily regulated by state government legislation and since my election I have been advocating for a Bass Coast Shire local Housing Strategy and Neighbourhood Character Study to provide Council with some tools to protect neighbourhood character that currently has little to no protection,” Cr Halstead says.
“These two policies were held up while council awaited the outcome of the state government Distinctive Area and Landscape Policy that has still not been finalised by the minister,” she said.
“Thankfully, council officers have been doing the work alongside the DAL in order that these documents will be ready to go.”
Cr Halstead addressed the lack of affordable housing in the shire, and said council adopted a higher level of officer delegation to streamline planning by now requiring 15 objections before an application can be presented to council. This, alongside the changes to state government legislation has seen a significant reduction in planning applications being presented to council.
“I will continue to advocate for the continued work and eventual adoption of the Housing Strategy and Neighbourhood Character Study that I see as two crucial documents that will outline the distinct characteristics of our towns and provide the tools to protect them.”
In the Neighbour Character Study, Hamilton Street, Corinella falls under ‘Minimal - Coastal Contemporary’ which outlines that subdivision and multi-dwelling developments will be discouraged.
The character study is open for public consultation on the Bass Coast Engage website until March 24. Find out what is proposed for your property at Neighbourhood Character Study and Housing Strategy | Engage Bass Coast and have your say!