Council, Community Urge Urgent Kingswood Plan Changes
Kingston has joined with the community to raise serious concerns about the proposed plans for the redevelopment of the former Kingswood Golf Course in Dingley Village.
More than 1,400 community members lodged submissions with the Victorian Government on the draft development plan for the site, with most highlighting worries about the scale and potential impacts on the local area.
Kingston Mayor Georgina Oxley said Council shared the community’s concerns and was urging the Victorian Government to require further work on the plan to address community feedback before any final decisions are made.
“While we understand the Government has already rezoned the land, this is a major development in the heart of Dingley Village, which was never planned to have its golf course redeveloped. Therefore, it requires very careful planning every step of the way,” Cr Oxley said.
“This is very different to a new suburb on the fringes of Melbourne or extra housing in an activity centre, the Dingley Village community are rightly concerned about what this means for their neighbourhood.
“Council is calling for a more balanced and better thought-out plan – one that protects the area’s vegetation and unique character, while ensuring required infrastructure is provided to keep pace with growth.”
The most common community concerns included:
Caruana Ward Councillor Caroline White said the number of community submissions sent a powerful message to decision-makers.
“The community has been incredibly clear – this proposal as it stands is not right for Dingley Village,” Cr White said.
“They want development that fits the area, protects what locals love, and doesn’t overload already stretched services.”
Cr White said the Minister’s own expert Advisory Committee had highlighted significant issues with developing the land and given a very clear signal to decision makers about issues that needed to be properly addressed.
While the Victorian Government is now the decision-maker on the site, Council has lodged a detailed submission highlighting a range of critical issues with the current development plan.
Key concerns raised by Council include:
Cr Oxley said the recent decision by the State Government to remove Council’s planning authority for the site makes it even more important that community and Council concerns are properly addressed.
“We are extremely disappointed that this change was made without consultation or impact assessment,” Cr Oxley said.
“It makes the need for a clear and robust plan even more urgent.
“We have a significant track record of supporting well-planned growth – but it must be planned properly to respect local values, protect the environment and deliver the infrastructure and services needed.”
Read Council’s full submission(PDF, 86MB).
https://www.kingston.vic.gov.au/council/news/latest-news/kingswood-submission