PlanningAlerts

11 Comments

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1. A service station selling fuel and junk food is not what we need in this part of Knox. The removal of significant vegetation is against planning overlays - overlays that were agreed on for good reason. That part of Burwood Highway is a high fire danger area and should not be a site for fuel. It is a great site for a shop, tourist information centre, and small cafe. I would not object to appropriate development but this plan for an ugly, generic, freeway type service station and convenience store would result in an eyesore. Tourists come out here in droves because the Upper Ferntree Gully area is unique, and serves as the gateway to the Dandenong Ranges. Shouldn't we be making the most of the beauty of the area instead of paving over it? We need creative solutions that will exploit opportunities and bring more business to UFTG whilst maintaining the unique character of the area. This planning application lacks imagination, vision, and common sense. Please do not approve it.

2. My god!!! This is just terrible! The image of UFTG being a green, leafy gateway to the Dandenongs will be lost forever! A petrol station?????? All that beautiful vegetation lost for what? Fast food restaurant? UFTG would feel no different than Tecoma with McDonalds being built there. Totally inappropriate.

3. I moved to this area for the beauty of its surrounds not to be crowded in by over development - Upper Ferntree Gully is the Gateway to the Dandenong Ranges why is the Council intent on over developing such a beautiful area.

   It is a shame local politicians are remaining quiet - stating it is Council business !

4. I have lived in Upper Gully for 20 years now, I have never seen such a greedy council as the current one in office, with all the planning going on and buildings wanted to be built I'm sure some one is getting a back handshake here,? I have been trying for over five years to get parking fixed in my street because we can not at times get in or out of my drive way or even park at the front of my house and NOT one Council person has fixed it, yes they promise they will all talk.
   To go ahead with this monstrosity in such a beautiful surrounding area would be devastating not only to the wild life that does live in there such a lizards and the like.
   The council will try to rush this through but when a resident wants something done in their street you are made to look like a fool and jump through their hoops.
   This plan in Burwood highway is we don't need all this added petrol stations and stores on that side of the road, as I have said I have been here for 20 years and where they are now hasn't not bothered me one bit, we have always gone to the shell station and done the U Turn to come home, so what.!
   If the council remembers there was a fire on that side of the road some time ago, if there was a service station/Crap Donald's there this town would have gone up in smoke. We don't need one there and we shouldn't have one there, but I know the councillors with the back hand shakes will not be happy just remember you are to represent what he people want, NOT WHAT YOU WANT . .!!

5. My family and I live in Upper Ferntree Gully and we disagree with the approach being taken to build a petrol station. There are 7 petrol stations between Scoresby Road and Upper Ferntree Gully, we don't need any more. Especially in a high fire risk area such as this one the council need to consider the danger they will be putting on the area including people, wildlife and natural vegetation. Please consider reviewing options for the site that local residents would be happy with.

6. My family and I have lived in Upper Ferntree Gully for 38 years and have enjoyed the ambience and the area being The Gateway to The Dandenong Ranges Park. We do not need another service station or fast food restaurant in this position. The public is well serviced with petrol stations and Burwood Highway does not need another one in such proximity to the other petrol stations. Also taking into account the Wildfire Management Overlay (BMO or WMO) it would make no sense to locate a petrol station in such a position.
   Please listen to the residents' real concerns about this proposed use.

7. I have lived in Upper Ferntree Gully for nearly 40 years and made a deliberate choice to live in The Dandenongs and not the suburbs. Upper Ferntree Gully is the Gateway to The Dandenong Ranges which is why it has environmental overlays and should never be treated as just another suburb in Knox. Upper Ferntree Gully is unique and most residents will fight to maintain that uniqueness. That’s why we choose to live here. Tourists are also drawn to the natural environment as well as the little individual cafes and restaurants operated and staffed by locals. Building yet another petrol station and more fast food outlets will certainly reduce that appeal and impact on tourists wanting to spend time in Upper Ferntree Gully.
   We are already well serviced with petrol stations and fast food outlets on Burwood Highway and certainly do not need any more of the same especially on such an inappropriate site. The proposed site at 1157-1165 Burwood Highway is quite steep and is covered in vegetation. The council must take into account the Wildfire Management Overlay (BMO or WMO). It would be detrimental to the local environment to locate a unwanted and unnecessary petrol station in such an inappropriate position.
   
   I hope that Council will listen to the residents' concerns about this proposed use of this site and not be beholden to the Developers who don't live here and generally don't care about the impact these sort of developments have on the local community. As councillors, you are elected to represent the interests of the local community.

8. I wish to object to the proposed development on 1157-1165 Burwood Hwy, Upper Ferntree Gully on the grounds that it:
   *Is not in keeping with its Neighbourhood Residential Zone 1 status and its design will not fit in with its surrounds or add any beauty to the area;
   *Is not in keeping with its Environmental Significance Overlay, and will lead to the destruction of native flora and habitat for fauna, and will damage remnant bush;
   *Is not in keeping with Aboriginal land protection guidelines;
   *Is not in keeping with other Overlays;
   *Will bring poison to the soil via petrol contamination, which cannot be "safeguarded" regardless of the type of containage of petrol and oil, as history has shown with sites previously holding petrol and oil;
   *Will lead to further flooding, as concrete does not let water be absorbed...this will lead to further traffic issues;
   *Will lead to further congestion issues, particularly dangerous in periods of high fire danger (especially with tourists and people new to the area who may not know what to do) which will inevitably lead to panic, traffic issues and blockage of safe passage for all in the area and from the upper hills...which has already been a problem in the past; and
   *Will lead to the sort of problems Tecoma is facing, including a high level of fast food rubbish going into the waterways, unsocial behaviour, hooning, drug-dealing, noise pollution, smell pollution and congestion which all lead to a lower quality of life for residents.

   I ask that the Knox Council take into account the above factors and actually discuss the issue rationally with both residents/rate payers and those who use the area. Money is not everything. There are only a set number of bad decisions Councils can make before they are thrown out of government. Above all, listen to the people you represent and affect.

9. I am concerned about the loss of vegetation in an area which is the "gateway of the Dandenongs" and the flood risk associated with a building such as this in an already flood prone area. I also have to wonder about the need for yet another petrol station where there are so many in close proximity. I seriously have to consider the need for a "convenience restaurant" in this location, and I hope the impact on local restaurants and takeaway shops within the Upper Ferntree Gully Activity Centre is taken into account.

10. Please listen to the residents, we don't want this!

11. 1157-1165 Burwood Hwy, UFG with ‘Plans and Permits for 104 Children and a Medical Centre for 3 Practitioners’ is up for sale. In 2017 the owner tried for fast food and a petrol station. Recently VCAT gave permit for a childcare centre, but the property is now listed: https://www.commercialrealestate.com.au/property/burwood-highway-upper-ferntree-gully-vic-3156-2016846568

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