Mail - Mt Evelyn Star Mail - 6th October 2020

Page 1

Mount Evelyn

Tuesday, 6 October, 2020

Mail

Caring for the carers

Get to know the candidates

Magpies swoop on Tarni

PAGE 5

PAGES 16-17

SPORT

A Star News Group Publication

PROPERTY GUIDE Phone: 5957 3700 Trades and Classifieds: 1300 666 808

SUBSCRIBE to our DIGITAL EDITION - It's FREE 12443008-SG10-20

Derelict dilemma By Romy Stephens An attempt to develop a derelict site in the heart of Belgrave that has been labelled an “eyesore” has taken a hit, with Yarra Ranges Council refusing the construction of a multilevel building. A planning application for 2-14 Monbulk Road was submitted in 2017. It sought to develop a multi-level structure for a supermarket, shops, cafe, child care centre and offices. The application was refused by the council on 29 September. According to Yarra Ranges Council, the proposal was refused because it failed to meet numerous clauses in the Planning Scheme. Other reasons for refusal were that the development was not coherent with the area’s landscape and that it would have “detrimental impact” on the surrounding road network. “The development, in terms of its visual bulk, will have adverse impact on the amenity of the Puffing Billy Railway Scenic Corridor,” the refusal to grant a permit document read. The location is prominent in Belgrave, located near the main roundabout and Puffing Billy. The site’s building was a former automotive repairs shop before becoming derelict once the previous business, New Belgrave Motors, vacated about three years ago. Yarra Ranges Council also issued a Building Order for the site last month, which requires works to be carried out to address building risks before this Friday (9 October). A Belgrave resident, who did not want to be named, said the building was a “safety issue” with jagged glass from broken windows posing a risk to passers-by.“This derelict building is the gateway to Puffing Billy Station and strangely no one is concerned about the broken windows and jagged glass at chest height, in one instance, facing the footpath,” the resident said.

Broken glass windows at the side of the building on 2-14 Monbulk Road, Belgrave. “Belgrave, in general, is a tourist town and should be attractive. The shopkeepers are doing their bit but the roundabout traffic problems are a disgrace and the building under discussion is an eyesore.” Yarra Ranges Council CEO Tammi Rose said private property owners were responsible for ensuring building on their properties were safe. “When a risk to public safety or occupants of a building is apparent, Council can commence enforcement action, including issuing Building Orders requiring certain works to address that risk,” she said. “If the Building Order requirements are not

met, Council can escalate matters further by having the matter dealt with in court. “However, Council’s preferred option is to work with property owners to resolve issues first, rather than progressing to options such as prosecution proceedings straight away.” It’s understood that the applicant, Pulitano Properties, can make future applications for the Belgrave site - provided they meet the relevant parts of the planning scheme mentioned in the reasons for refusal - and can appeal the decision to VCAT. The Mail attempted to contact the owners of the site for comment.

Inside the derelict building in Belgrave. Community members with concerns about public safety issues can call the council on 1300 368 333.

We฀buy฀copper,฀฀brass,฀aluminium,฀etc . . . We฀Buy฀Steel Tel:฀9736฀2853฀•฀Clancy฀Road,฀Mt฀Evelyn฀3796

www.evelynrecycling.com.au

12450347-LB23-20

There are big reasons to try number five. If your bank isn’t doing the right thing by you, change to one you can feel better about. •฀Australia’s฀5th฀largest฀retail฀bank. •฀Competitive฀products. •฀$200฀million฀back฀to฀communities.

35 Wray Crescent, Mt Evelyn or phone 9737 1833

bendigobank.com.au

Bendigo฀and฀Adelaide฀Bank฀Limited,฀ABN฀11฀068฀049฀178฀AFSL/Australian฀Credit฀Licence฀237879.฀A1241988-7฀(449307_v1)฀(31/01/2019)

OPEN for Physiotherapy at Mt Evelyn & Olinda during Stage 4 Sports - Back/Neck Pain - Clinical Pilates, Rehab & Strength training - Massage & Myotherapy Book Online www.formandpractice.com.au | 9751 0400 12443008-SG10-20

12462431-CG41-20

12423927-CG32-19


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.