Mail - Upper Yarra Mail - 04th April 2017

Page 1

Upper Yarra

5 Tuesday, 4 April, 2017

Australia Day plea

7

Mail Covering the Upper Yarra Region of the Yarra Ranges Shire

Coranderrk planting

A Mail News Group publication

24-25

Sports of all sorts

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Their $4 million vision Yarra Ranges Council has released the community-driven vision for the Warburton Recreation Precinct and is inviting the community to have a say. Warburton Advancement League president and steering committee member, Jeff Gill, and Yarra Ranges O'Shannassy Ward Councillor Jim Child, looked over the site last week. See page 3 for the full story. 166834

Tower has power By Kath Gannaway A telecommunications tower will go ahead at the Yarra Junction Recreation Reserve after VCAT supported Yarra Ranges Council’s 2016 decision to grant a permit to Optus. Yarra Junction resident Robert Tressider took the case to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, after a bid to oppose the granting of a permit for the proposed 42-metre tower failed. The main objection raised was the adverse visual impact, and that it was at odds with a significant landscape overlay. Six of the seven councillors present

at the 28 June council meeting voted to approve the application despite 45 sole objections and three petitions, one signed by 239 signatures. The VCAT challenge was heard before VCAT Member Bill Sibonis on 9 February with former Victorian Chief Commissioner of Police, Kel Glare, arguing the case on behalf of Mr Tressider. Mr Glare has family in Yarra Junction, who along with many others were concerned about not only the visual impact, but potential health risks. Listing his reasons for allowing the Yarra Ranges Council decision to stand, Mr Sibonis said the key issue for determination was the effect of the

telecommuniclations facility on the landscape character and environmental values of the locality. Addressing a number of planning issues including Yarra Ranges Council’s Planning Scheme and the State Planning Policy, Mr Sibonis identified a number of relevant considerations such as maintaining the character and integrity of important viewlines, does not dominate the skyline, or require removal of significant vegetation and is constructed of materials that complement the surrounding landscape. Mr Sibonis accepted that a reduction in the height of the town from 42 metres to 37.4 metres would limit the visual impact and also found that

in “an existing vertical infrastructure presence, the facility will not be a new element.” He found that the tower would be sufficiently removed from residential areas to avoid any unacceptable impact on the amenity of individual properties or wider neighbourhoods. Mr Tressider told the Mail he was disappointed with the decision, but also disappointed that in view of the level of community concern voiced, and objections to the original application, people didn’t back their concerns when at VCAT. “A lot of people want action, but when someone takes that action, the

real support is just not there,” he said. “With a bit more interest, and a few more people demonstrating that interest I think we may have got different hearing.” Mr Tressider said although the decision did not go their way, he wanted to express his thanks to Mr Glare. “He put a lot of work into the case on behalf of those in the Yarra Junction community who were opposed to this tower,” he said. The permit will expire if the development is not started within two years of the permit date, or not completed within four years.

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