Vickers Street residents angry about rezoning change

VICKERS Street residents will have the chance to air their concerns about a recent land rezoning.A meeting between the Sebastopol residents, Ballarat City Council south ward councillors Ben Taylor, Des Hudson and Cheryl Bromfield, council’s statutory planning and building manager Hamish Lampp and the Ballarat Residents and Ratepayers Association will take place on Thursday.The residents became concerned after Ballarat City Council rezoned land opposite their seven homes from a proposed retirement village to a residential subdivision, with the possibility of two or three-storey buildings on the site.However, the residents said they were particularly concerned about council’s lack of consultation.Michaela Butcher said she had thought for the past two years she would be living opposite a retirement village.“When did it go from a nice little retirement village to a private residential estate?” Ms Butcher said.“There wasn’t enough consultation.”While the residents were invited to comment on the original application, they did not have to be informed of the recent rezoning passed at council’s August 24 meeting.“I have no objection if it is private housing, though two or three storeys might look a bit untidy.”A council spokesperson said the site was originally approved as a retirement village in June last year.However, following a fresh proposal from the developer, it was approved as a conventional residential development in August.“The development will include connecting pathways and roads and appropriate public open space,” the spokesperson said.But residents Kara Hodgson and David Tierney said they felt they had lost the right to have a say on the issue and were concerned their property prices could fall, while Sarah Smart said she was annoyed she was not allowed to comment on something happening in her area.Rebecca Robertson said it was not knowing what was going to be built on the site that was causing her concern.Mr Tierney said, depending what was built on the site, it could become an issue for residents in the Vickers, Grant, Walker and Tait street areas.Follow @FionaGran