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A battle over wetlands in Kangaroo Flat is set to head to a state tribunal with the developer challenging council’s decision to block its proposed housing estate.
Villawood Properties’ plan to build 34 houses on the 2.7 hectare patch of remnant bushland on High Street was endorsed by the City of Greater Bendigo by a single vote at its June 15 meeting.
However a rescission motion was put forward at the following meeting by councillor Peter Cox and councillors voted to reverse their original decision.
Now, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal has confirmed it has received two applications for 316-318 High Street.
A spokesperson said both applications had been lodged by K.F. Projects and were being reviewed.
Arguing for his rescission motion of June 29, Cr Cox encouraged the developer to resubmit a new plan for council approval which would be more “sympathetic” to the expectations of neighbours.
However the Whipstick Ward councillor predicted the VCAT stoush and argued council should challenge the proposed development, not neighbouring residents.
“When the application goes to VCAT, we’ve got a choice here,” he said at the time.
“We can either support those local people, who’ve been sold a song, and the value of this environmental patch of land which is just so precious in terms of, not only its vegetation – which will be planted somewhere else – but all its wildlife species, which will either be killed or lose their habit completely.”
Neighbours such as Greig Pairman have been vocal opponents of the plan to development what he described as an urban “oasis”.
The stoush has been described as emblematic of a predicted rise in conflict over land as the city prepares for a housing boom.
Its housing strategies aim to promote infill development and increased density in urban areas while preventing urban sprawl.
The High Street proposal is within the urban growth boundary and in land zoned general residential.
Villawood was unavailable for comment.
The city said it had yet to be notified of the challenge by VCAT.