Looking over Gilmour Park Retarding Basin , property in background
In 2010, the owners of the GGW property applied for a permit to subdivide into 7 housing lots, which included a plan for on-site waste management (as the property is not connected to town sewerage or water). A petition of 1090 signatures against the development was submitted to Knox Council and 47 separate objections were lodged, including from the National Trust, the Yarra Ranges Council, and the Friends of Glenfern Valley Bushlands. On 25 January 2011, the council voted unanimously to refuse the application, stating that “it does not achieve the objectives of state and local planning policies” and that the property “is a community asset of incalculable value to the people of Greater Melbourne and should be retained for future generations as our generation’s commitment to a sustainable city in a sustainable world”. The owners referred the application for subdivision to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal. This application was refused on 16 November 2011 (VCAT reference P433/2011).
View from Ferndale Rd, property in background
Having had their application refused by both Knox Council and at VCAT, the owners submitted new plans for a 5 lot subdivision and creation of a public reserve running along the Ferny Creek floodplain and New Rd. The owners were legally required to donate 5% of the land as public reserve, they included an extra 4.75 acres in addition to the 5 % included in the previous plans. The current subdivision plans are shown below.
