In the midst of a housing crisis, five houses are being demolished for one more service station. By Geoff Ellis
THE road to Wonthaggi is signposted by a series of competing service stations. Stop in the right turn lane opposite the car accessory place and you've arrived.
While you wait for the green light, look around and consider what that vision says about us.
On the corner of McKenzie St and Korumburra Road, three buildings, containing at least five dwellings, are being demolished to make way for a fourth petrol station in Wonthaggi, three of them within a 500m radius. In the middle of a housing crisis.
There were 17 objections to this development. Bass Coast Shire Council rejected it in August 2024, with councillors arguing that Wonthaggi did not need another petrol station.
THE road to Wonthaggi is signposted by a series of competing service stations. Stop in the right turn lane opposite the car accessory place and you've arrived.
While you wait for the green light, look around and consider what that vision says about us.
On the corner of McKenzie St and Korumburra Road, three buildings, containing at least five dwellings, are being demolished to make way for a fourth petrol station in Wonthaggi, three of them within a 500m radius. In the middle of a housing crisis.
There were 17 objections to this development. Bass Coast Shire Council rejected it in August 2024, with councillors arguing that Wonthaggi did not need another petrol station.
The owner of the site, Pearl Energy, appealed to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT), which approved the permit on April 23. Unusually, given the degree of public interest, VCAT has not published the decision, reasons for approval or conditions of the permit. The usually very vocal media has been silent during the “consultation” process.
The council has now quietly dealt with the final impediment: a restrictive covenant on the original crown grant, which decreed the site “shall be used for a dwelling only".
The council has now quietly dealt with the final impediment: a restrictive covenant on the original crown grant, which decreed the site “shall be used for a dwelling only".
A town planning report supported change by stating that “there are no beneficiaries” to the covenant. Apparently people experiencing homelessness in the State of Victoria are not considered relevant. Changing one word (shall to could) opened the path to the rezoning of this residentially zoned land.
As the state focuses on more cars on more roads to service the far flung and spreading dormitory suburbs, many locals are still fuming.
"Another service station,” local architect Barbara Moje says. “Such a lost opportunity. This was a chance to pause and ponder our priorities.
As the state focuses on more cars on more roads to service the far flung and spreading dormitory suburbs, many locals are still fuming.
"Another service station,” local architect Barbara Moje says. “Such a lost opportunity. This was a chance to pause and ponder our priorities.
Barbra Moje: Lost opportunity for affordable public housing “This could have been a golden opportunity to create a landmark of sustainable, affordable public housing. The council should have dug in their heels and lobbied the State Government to refuse the changing of the covenant instead of quietly negotiating approval.
“One further wonders: why was the covenant there in the first place, protecting residential land in what is already zoned residential? The answer, of course, is to put a brake on a vulnerable site sitting adjacent to a commercial zone. However the unbelievable has happened: the covenant has been lifted, opening the way to rezoning.”
Our council is currently working on a strategy to implement higher density housing in exactly this area of Wonthaggi. This site in particular, located in an already established residential neighbourhood, would have been ideal, particularly for affordable housing. Not many associated car parks would be needed as this site is walking distance to shops, services, and jobs, schools, kindergartens and sports facilities.
“One further wonders: why was the covenant there in the first place, protecting residential land in what is already zoned residential? The answer, of course, is to put a brake on a vulnerable site sitting adjacent to a commercial zone. However the unbelievable has happened: the covenant has been lifted, opening the way to rezoning.”
Our council is currently working on a strategy to implement higher density housing in exactly this area of Wonthaggi. This site in particular, located in an already established residential neighbourhood, would have been ideal, particularly for affordable housing. Not many associated car parks would be needed as this site is walking distance to shops, services, and jobs, schools, kindergartens and sports facilities.
"Our built environment is the reflection of us. It shows us |
At the other end of town the derelict high school site falls further into decay as two bureaucracies butt heads over the cost of remediation. Both government bodies plead poverty while the wetlands provide emergency accommodation for our friends experiencing rooflessness.
In six years, the only change to the campus has been stronger fences to keep out people who are desperate for shelter.
In six years, the only change to the campus has been stronger fences to keep out people who are desperate for shelter.
Sooner or later the opportunity inherent in this site will be lost - either through decay or sale as “a surplus State Government asset”.
Who are we to let this happen?
Who are we to let this happen?
No shelter from the storm
August 13, 2024 - What if the money spent on keeping homeless people out of the old high school site had been spent on sheltering them?
August 13, 2024 - What if the money spent on keeping homeless people out of the old high school site had been spent on sheltering them?