Kingston Council and the Dingley Village community are deeply disappointed at the state government's approval of the controversial Kingswood Golf Course development, despite some changes secured through more than a decade of opposition and advocacy.
Council and the community have consistently opposed the development of the former golf course site, raising concerns about the scale of development, loss of native vegetation and open space, traffic, flooding and the pressure the additional population would place on local infrastructure and services.
In 2018 Council refused permission for the development following thousands of community objections but was overruled by the state government who stepped in and approved the plans.
Throughout the long-running planning process, Council and the community worked together to secure better outcomes and stronger protections including improved drainage, pedestrian links, use of recycled water, appropriate perimeter fencing and increased open space.
Kingston Mayor Georgina Oxley said Council and the community had fought for meaningful changes to the proposal and, while some improvements have been achieved, were incredibly disappointed by the significant loss of native vegetation, including dozens of significant trees.
"We are angered by this state government decision. For more than a decade, the community and Council have raised serious concerns about huge tree losses, the scale of development, limited open space, traffic impacts and flood risks. Yet we have been consistently ignored. Now the 932-home development has been approved just months out from a state election," Cr Oxley said.
"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 contains critical environmental values.
"Kingston and Dingley Village have spent years fighting for meaningful changes and quite frankly deserve better. For decades this site was the lungs of Dingley Village, but this decision shows scant regard for the environment."
Cr Oxley said Council would continue to watch over the site to ensure the secured minor improvements required are delivered as the development progresses.
"We have previously called for appropriate investment in drainage, roads, active transport, open space and community infrastructure to respond to the significant population increase associated with the development," she said.
"Kingston is happy to take its share of growth to address the housing crisis and consistently supported new housing in the right locations. But this proposal has always been the wrong development, in the wrong location, at the wrong scale."
