THE next-door neighbour to a proposed 10-unit double storey residential development in Wangaratta claims she didn’t receive notification about the project until six months after it was approved by council.
Nicci Bettles has lived on Garnet Avenue for more than 20 years and was shocked when she received a letter from council in late 2024 that a social housing development at the former Wangaratta Salvation Army site was approved and set to commence.
However, council has since confirmed with the Wangaratta Chronicle that it has a record of a letter being sent to Ms Bettles advertising the application to adjoining and surrounding landowners and occupiers.
Council also said it is not aware of this letter being returned-to-sender, and also once the notice of decision was issued on 28 June, 2024, there were no applications for review sought via the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).
Prior to council approval in June 2024, some 13 objections were received from the community worried about a range of issues, including overdevelopment of the site, increased traffic and pedestrian safety and noise, insufficient car parking, plans being inconsistent with the neighbourhood character of the area, and dwelling density leading to anti-social behaviour.
This week, Ms Bettles highlighted that the development will be built on the fence line right next to her elderly father's bedroom.
She is also highly concerned about the density, traffic, and likely street parking (14 car parks on site) especially as the approved site is positioned on a narrow bend with an unbroken centre line (it's illegal to park on the street adjacent to an unbroken line).
"Our street isn't built to handle this level of congestion and it's unfair to expect residents to expect this kind of crowding," Ms Bettles said.
“For existing residents, the increased density will likely disrupt the current character of our neighborhood.
“It's a place where families have invested in their homes and where people enjoy a certain level of peace and tranquility.
“The introduction of so many new homes with all the noise, traffic and foot traffic that will come with it will erode the quality of life that we currently enjoy.
“It could become a noisy congested area with reduced green space.
“It's hard to imagine how anyone could thrive in such an environment, and it will certainly diminish the sense of community that we've worked hard to build.”
Under the proposal, Beyond Housing plans to demolish all existing structures on the 1900sqm footprint and remove all vegetation, except the established flowering tree at the front of the site.
Some 10 new dwellings are to be built, comprising two three-bedroom and four two-bedroom units, both double storey, with a further four one-bedroom units.
All one and two bedroom units will have a single car space each, with three-bedroom units having two car spaces each, with a further two visitor car parking spaces - making a total of 14 car parking spaces.
Council confirmed that the application supplied the required number of resident and visitor car parking spaces and complies with the garden area and site coverage provisions, as required by the Wangaratta Planning Scheme.