A successful outcome has been achieved for the Warragul community at a VCAT Tribunal compulsory mediation conference held on Wednesday 16 October regarding the subdivision at 60 Korumburra-Warragul Road (PLA0310/17).
Warragul community members, Council officers and external legal counsel were in attendance.
All parties worked together to achieve a positive and balanced outcome.
Key outcomes from the compulsory mediation conference include:
- A $350,000 lump sum payment will be made to Council by the developer for the design and construction of a shared pathway connection from the estate, along Bona Vista Road to the main roundabout abutting the Princes Freeway north of the subdivision land.
- The developer is required to pay the pathway contribution prior to the commencement of works for Stage 4 of the subdivision. Council will undertake the pathway construction in an appropriate timeframe to ensure that the community is able to benefit from the infrastructure as intended.
- A boundary road to the south of the subdivision will be constructed in its entirety to the full width of 16 metres, avoiding the partial construction outcome that was proposed by the developer.
- At the request of VicRoads, it was agreed they will have oversight of the site management plan. This overcomes concerns raised by VicRoads regarding adverse impacts to traffic flows on Korumburra-Warragul Road, resulting from the subdivision construction traffic increase.
Unnecessary legal costs to Council have now been avoided by settling the matter prior to the VCAT hearing originally scheduled for 2 December.
A VCAT Order will be issued which will see revised permit conditions that largely reflect those supported by Council in the 10 July 2019 Council meeting. This included an additional reserve area to be created to enable a neighbourhood park with a children's playground to form part of the master plan.
It is anticipated that works will commence on the site in 2020 once all appropriate approvals in accordance with permit requirements have been obtained from the Responsible Authority.
Residents in the immediate vicinity will receive advance notice of the pending commencement of works from the developer as part of Site Management Plan requirements.
For more background information on the matter go to PLA0310/17 - 60 Korumburra Warragul Road, Warragul
As stated by Mayor Cr Mikaela Power
"We are pleased to have reached an outcome that is beneficial to the community, the developer and Council. We look forward to working with the developer to ensure an optimum outcome is delivered for the Warragul community."
