Bannockburn Plaza passes VCAT hurdle

A REDEVELOPMENT of Bannockburn’s shopping precinct has received approval from the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

The development, known as Bannockburn Plaza, faced a three-day hearing following objections from a small number of residents. However, the plan for the project won’t go ahead completely unchanged with VCAT ordering some variation to the original designs.

Initially approved by Golden Plans Shire in October last year, the municipality was required to defend the $26 million project that includes a new Woolworths store, retail and office space, 484 car parks and public open areas that will stretch from High Street to Victor Street.

Shire Mayor Cr Owen Sharkey welcomed VCAT’s decision.

“Last year, council carefully considered the planning permit for the Bannockburn Plaza redevelopment including verbal submissions from the applicant, owner and objectors, and we are pleased that VCAT has confirmed this decision,” he said. “Now it’s over to the developers to progress the next stages of the redevelopment and we look forward to construction starting soon.”

At the time of approval by council, objectors to the plan cited a number of different reasons as to why it shouldn’t receive the OK.

They included impact on a residential building within the development site, a large wall that would be built along Victor Street, public access, the safety of rubbish collection areas and impact on the historic stone lock-up.