Ballarat City Council voted unanimously against a planned subdivision at Mount Clear due to environmental and safety concerns for nearby residents.
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The 21-house development would have cut down 94 per cent of trees on the property, which sits between Geelong Road and Hermitage Avenue, and is covered by environmental overlays.
Residents were also worried about the safety of people on Hermitage Avenue, where a proposed access lane would let cars leave the subdivision.
Five Mount Clear residents, representing 28 objectors, spoke against the subdivision at council’s ordinary meeting on Wednesday night.
Council was presented with a recommendation to approve the proposal, however Cr Des Hudson moved a motion to instead deny the request.
Ian Moyle lives opposite the proposed development on Hermitage Avenue and was one of the first residents on the street more than 36 years ago.
Mr Moyles said council would be ignoring its own planning and environmental scheme if it approved the development and allowed mature trees to be cut down.
“This property is covered by environmental overlays, but council officers are happy for 94 per cent of these mature trees to go,” he said.
“How can your council officers go against your own planning overlays and lay waste to this area?
Mr Moyle said an arborist’s report stated the trees were old, hollow and not in good condition, should be ignored.
“Let me tell you I am now close to 70, my roots are not solid, my trunk is all crooked and my cavity is gone - I don't think old age is a requirement to get rid of these trees – or myself,” he said.
There were also concerns the property was a vital link in a wildlife corridor for koalas.
Another Mount Clear resident, Brad Ward said figures in a traffic report that claimed 90 per cent of cars would exit on Geelong Road, could not be relied on.
“The report relies heavily on the classification of Hermitage Avenue as an access road, and says it can accommodate two-way traffic,” he said.
“As a local resident, we disagree that although it is classified in this way the infrastructure does not cater to it.”
Developer representative Andrew Harmon spoke in favour of the subdivision, but was forced to admit he did not know how the traffic report concluded only one car, per hour, would exit onto Hermitage Avenue.
“I have found that difficult to accept myself, but what is not evident is the improvements that will have to be made to Geelong Road to facilitate the movement,” he said.