The City of Kingston and the Dingley Village community are angered and deeply disappointed by the State Government's decision – quietly announced late on Friday afternoon – to approve the controversial development of the former Kingswood Golf Course.
This decision has been made despite overwhelming community opposition, clear environmental risks, and warnings from the Government's own advisory processes that the site is highly constrained by flood risk and critical environmental values.
Kingston Mayor Cr Georgina Oxley said the decision represents a complete failure to listen to local residents, thousands of whom have fought tirelessly to protect the character, liveability and environmental integrity of their neighbourhood.
"More than 1,400 residents took the time to make submissions. They were ignored. The Government's own advisory processes identified serious concerns. They were dismissed. This approval prioritises developer interests over community wellbeing – and our residents are angry," Cr Oxley said.
"Let's be clear – this is not just another development. This is a fundamental transformation of an established suburb that was never planned to absorb this scale of growth.
"Allowing 941 new homes in this location is just reckless and our community has made their concerns abundantly clear for years – concerns around flooding, traffic chaos, pressure on schools, sporting facilities and health services, the destruction of mature trees and open space, and the complete loss of local character.
"Yet the Victorian Government has chosen to press ahead without committing to deliver the infrastructure and protections that residents rightly expect."
Cr Oxley said the Government must now be held to account for delivering major infrastructure to offset the massive population increase.
"If the State Government insists this development proceed, then they, along with the developer, must invest significantly in roads, schools, sporting facilities, drainage, active transport links and community infrastructure. Local residents must not be left to carry the burden."
Caruana Ward Councillor Caroline White said the community feels betrayed.
"This decision shows contempt for local people," Cr White said.
"The Minister for Planning, who has ultimate responsibility for planning outcomes in Victoria, must now answer for a decision that places developer interests ahead of the environment and community safety.
"The Minister may have chosen to distance herself procedurally through delegation, but ultimately, she is accountable for allowing a development that will remove hundreds of mature trees, destroy vital habitat and increase flood risk in an area already prone to stormwater inundation.
"This is not just a planning issue – it is a public safety and environmental crisis in the making."
Cr White said the announcement being made late on a Friday only added to community outrage.
"Sneaking out a decision of this magnitude at the end of the week is not transparent. It's not accountable. It's an admission that the Government knows this decision is against the wishes of the community."
Council is now demanding a binding infrastructure contributions package that reflects the real cost of supporting thousands of new residents and mitigating flood impacts.
"This decision may have been made in Spring Street," Cr Oxley said, "but the consequences will be felt in Kingston for generations. We will continue to fight for our community every step of the way."
