A huge housing development could be constructed in the heart of Daylesford if plans are approved by Hepburn Shire Council.
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The plans to transform a hobby farm with an existing dwelling at 17 Smith Street Daylesford into a 53 lot subdivision would be one of the biggest developments in the town in many years.
The land is situated next door to St Michael's Primary School and just up the road from the only high school in the region, Daylesford College.
The plans, drawn up by Melbourne-based Niche Planning Studio, are currently at the advertising stage on the council's website. In order to make room for the 53 houses on the 4.88 hectare property several trees including two manna gums and a large oak at the entrance may need to be removed.
The plans indicate the lot sizes range from 549 metres squared to 979 metres squared and are connected by tree-lined roads.
Smith Street resident Lesley Corcoran lives in one of the houses in front of the proposed development and was "horrified" when she saw the yellow sign nailed to the front of the property on Monday.
"It's just powered by total greed," she said.
Since becoming aware of the planning application Ms Corcoran has been door knocking up and down the street to make other residents aware of the application.
She does not have a problem with the property being developed but believes 53 houses with only one road in and out is extreme and poses too many safety risks.
Ms Corcoran has lived in Hepburn Shire for more than 30 years and wants the over-development to be end.
"Daylesford is a great township and we don't want it to end up like Caroline Springs or Hoppers Crossing. People don't come to the country to live in places like that. We don't want to be the city here, we are just a country town with a nice feel."
She hopes an agreement can be made to cut down the amount of houses proposed in the application.
Former resident Susie Mitchell, who grew up in Smith Street and whose parents still live there, said she understood the need for development but the access should not be from Smith Street, which is already congested with traffic coming and going from the two schools.
The application states the "proposed subdivision will not have a detrimental impact on the current function of Smith Street" but Ms Mitchell said increased traffic on the street was inevitable.
"How can you have people from 53 lots coming out onto a street that has a college and a primary school and not have any detrimental effect," she said.
She is also concerned about the old oak tree at the front of the farm, which she said has been there since she was a school girl. The tree has particular significance to her as she learnt to whistle with an acorn that had fallen from the tree as a girl.
Property developer Joseph van Dyk said the design of the houses would be in keeping with the character of the Daylesford area.
Mr van Dyk, who is also developing the Nightingale apartments in Ballarat, said the housing designs would be sustainable with plans to use drainage pipes from recycled plastic and to lay the asphalt on the roads from recycled rubber.
He said a traffic report had also been prepared that indicated traffic on Smith Street would not be negatively affected.
Visit the council website to read the application or make an objection. Objections are open until October 15.