Local Residents Threatened by Apartment Buildings
Along Burwood Highway, multiple apartment complexes are emerging, spurring concerns from residents that these apartments will disrupt their quiet suburban homes in Vermont South.
An apartment building near tram stop 74 Stanley Rd/ Burwood Hwy on tram route 75 in Vermont South
Vermont South, is a part of the Whitehorse council area comprising of 12,505 residents. This number is expected to grow to 15,120 residents in 2041 according to the Whitehorse population forecast.
Burwood highway runs through the entirety of the suburb, being the main link to multiple shopping complexes such as Vermont South Shopping Centre, Burwood One, Forest Hill, The Glen and Westfield Knox Shopping Centre.
Many local schools reside in this area such as Emmaus College, Weeden Heights Primary School, Holy Saviour Primary School and Vermont South Special School.
Burwood Highway runs along the 75-tram route from Vermont South to Etihad Stadium Docklands. Multiple bus routes are also in the vicinity. These public transport options make it easy to travel to either one of the local train stations, Glen Waverley, and Nunawading.
Tram route 75 along Burwood Hwy in front of an apartment complex on Stanley Rd
Vermont South overall is a central location to many essentials, making the suburb so desirable to medium income earners.
These conveniences also explain why three apartment buildings have been built in this suburb in recent years, with more proposed developments soon to be built.
One of these development sites is 412 – 414 Burwood Highway Vermont South 3133. The 4 story 33-unit apartment complex was proposed in 2016 by Burwood Highway Projects Pty Ltd under Taylors Urban Development firm. This was the first proposed site of its kind in Vermont South.
This site is adjoining to the recreational Billabong Park and had residents concerned that their privacy would soon be invaded.
Rough sketch of proposed apartment site from the point of view of someone at Billabong Park
I talked to Mrs Alison, a local resident who lives in Allawah Court, situated directly behind where development was proposed to occur. She and other residents banded together to fight the development of this apartment being constructed in their backyards.
‘I first noticed the apartment proposal when I was on a walk around the local neighbourhood and spotted a notice on the site.’ Alison explained that this was the first time she was made aware of the proposed apartment, disappointed that the Whitehorse council hadn’t consulted local residents sooner.
‘They didn’t think twice, they didn’t consult the voters.’
She acted by getting in contact with Benjamin Jones, the current Development Planner for the Whitehorse Council. She also got in contact with Councillor Raylene Carr, Whitehorse’s current Deputy Mayor. Carr would become Alison's continuous point of contact with the council.
‘There were only two people from the council who opposed the apartment development. Raylene Carr and the current mayor Andrew Monroe.’ Mrs Alison felt that no one else from the council backed the residents.
Mrs Alison was in frequent contact with Carr and eventually delivered Objection Letters from the council website to neighbours near the proposed site. She explained that many neighbours agreed with her about the apartments being a 'nuisance' and had similar concerns to herself.
Her main concerns included road congestion, parking in neighbouring streets, traffic, pollution and invasion of privacy due to the height of the 4-story building which would tower over the 1 – 2 story residential housing below.
Similar concerns were shared by the Whitehorse council, as evident in the initial refusal to grant Taylors a permit back in 2016 – 17.
Many planning policies of the council were not met such as clauses regarding the environment, tree conservation, housing, and residential development. The height of the building was not deemed suitable due to the low scale buildings below.
The refusal notice states that the building ‘provides a poor interface with the park land adjoining the subject site.’ Continually the ‘proposal fails to provide equitable development opportunities for the adjacent lot to the west.’ This comment suggests that the council supports some form of residential development.
Ariel view of proposed site location and other features
Joe Capomolla, the Senior Major Projects Manager at the Whitehorse council, clarified for me that the council is in favour of medium density dwellings in the Residential Development Zone, the zone where the apartment complex was proposed. Medium density dwellings refer to town houses that are typically two stories’, being more suited to the ‘low scale’ residential homes of the area.
A high-density dwelling is what was proposed by Taylors, being the main cause of concern for residents and the local council alike.
The council received a notice that Taylors had gone to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal to review the refusal for the permit grant in late 2017. The hearings occurred from December of 2017 to April of 2018.
The 77 Planning and Environment Act of 1987 was the device used to seek a review from the tribunal. These notice forms also revealed that the development was estimated to cost $5 million to build.
VCAT granted a permit to Taylors sometime in 2018, seeing Jones on behalf of the Whitehorse council approve plans in September of 2019.
Changes were made within the proposal to address the concerns of residents and council. Obscure glass was added to the external elements of the building. Windows facing the west towards the adjoining residential homes were swapped out with highlight windows and a 1 metre retaining wall was added, assumingly to increase privacy for residents.
Multiple environmental changes were made such as the addition of solar panels. The most considerable change was that boundaries were extended between the apartment complex and the nearby fences, park land and the service street on Burwood Hwy.
It appears that all efforts made by residents such as Mrs Alison and the Whitehorse council only delayed the process of approval. It is unknown when construction on site 412 – 414 Burwood Hwy Vermont South will commence.
West from the approved site of 412 – 414 lay two signs from 410 – 404 suggesting that permits have also been granted for 29 apartment units to be built as well as 10 townhouses. Both sites appear to be seeking developers.
It seems that this sort of development will continue along Burwood Highway in the Vermont South area, despite push back from residents and local council.