Archive: Romsey Bendigo Bank
Last Updated 9/4/13
Romsey Bendigo Bank Takes VCAT, Council And Objectors To Supreme Court
(17/10/12 - P) Challenges heritage protection and retaining trees
Lancefield and Romsey Community Financial Services Ltd [Bendigo Bank] are challenging an August 2012 VCAT decision to grant a permit for shops (incorporating a bank) on land at 105 High Street, Romsey. Council approved the development in 2011. VCAT varied Council's permit conditions, requiring more detailed/complete consideration of heritage (including heritage trees), character and contamination issues than Council had required.
VCAT added higher standards for retaining and protecting existing and heritage trees, and specified less damaging construction techniques be used to protect tree root zones.
Bendigo Bank is now challenging those conditions at the Supreme Court, and also wants the Court to make Council and objectors pay the Bank's costs.
MRRA Says:
In a recent local newspaper article (Free Press, 12/10/12), the Bank says it is "working with Council to try and find a resolution that enables the bank board to continue to serve the community with the project." This appears to overlook the fact that the permit issued by VCAT does exactly that, so it's not clear what 'resolution' the Bank is working on with Council, or why the Bank wants Council/ratepayers (and objectors to the original proposal) to pay its costs, when the Bank has chosen to challenge VCAT's decision in the Supreme Court.
There wouldn't be any problems if all the Bank wanted was a new bank building, but the development Council approved is much more than a bank building: it's two storeys and a multiple shop complex jammed in up to the neighbour's fence.
The VCAT decision allows Bendigo Bank to have a new bank building and some shops, but VCAT also said trees are important to the town's heritage and character. Instead of cutting trees down and damaging their roots to accommodate the original (over) development, protect the trees and cut the development back accordingly.
No matter how much the Bank spins it, the Supreme Court action confirms that this is not and never has been about a new Bendigo Bank building. It's about the Bank and its Romsey board wanting the bigger and cruder commercial development that damages, destroys and concretes over whatever is in its way. It also confirms a 'screw the town and community' attitude, as did serving Court papers on objectors in darkness - if not in the middle of the night, well into it.
Bendigo Bank advertises itself as being good for, and putting the "U" in, COMMUNITY. Not much evidence of that at Romsey.
(14/11/11 - P) 7.30pm, Tuesday 22 November, Romsey Community Hub
Michael and Anne Goldsworthy, who live next door to the site for the 2 storey Bendigo Bank 'plus' site in Romsey, have organised a public meeting on the proposal, which isn't just for a new Bendigo Bank office. Shops, offices and a bakery/cafe are also part of the planned development of the former petrol station/fuel depot site.
The purpose of the public meeting is to put information and concerns about the development before the public. The Goldsworthys will speak, as well as Phil Tulk, Director of Phil Tulk & Associates, and Mark Bartley, partner, DLA Piper.
The meeting provides an opportunity to learn more about the concerns being expressed about the potential damage to heritage trees, significant (petrol and diesel) contamination on the Bendigo Bank site, over-development of the site, and the appropriateness of the building's design in a heritage precinct. Lack of parking provision is also an issue.
Click here for a notice and contact details for the meeting.
MRRA Says:
Michael and Anne Goldsworthy, as directly affected adjoining landowners, have done a great job in taking the initiative in getting concerns with this proposal into the public domain.
Rumour has it that those proposing the development originally held high expectations that it would be almost automatically approved by Council.
However closer examination of what's proposed has shown there is much to worry about, not least potential liability for ratepayers if the contamination on the site - which comes from old underground fuel tanks and has apparently also spread to adjoining sites and potentially underground water - isn't cleaned up properly.
The over-development of the site - trying to squeeze too much onto the available land - is evident in the real risk to heritage trees with the development cutting into root zones, overshadowing trees and requiring the trees to be lopped to get it all on the site.
There's also the question of whether the second storey 'glass box' is the best outcome for Romsey's heritage, and whether 24 car spaces are enough to service the development and staff.
It seems Bendigo Bank has some big decisions to make, because if it persists with what's currently proposed, there seems little doubt it will damage the very town the bank relies on for support, as well as the bank's 'community friendly' image. The community would also expect Council to pick up on its responsibilities and not risk exposing residents to potential future liability costs and health risks.
Plenty to think about and talk about, isn't there?
Everyone who has an interest in protecting heritage, proper clean-up of contamination and getting development that is compatible with preserving Macedon Ranges' rural character is encouraged to attend the meeting on 22 November.
(23/10/11 - P) Romsey residents concerned development application hasn't satisfactorily tackled the big issues
An elegant new community website has been set up to give Romsey residents information and a chance to have a say about a large business development proposal next to the old National Bank building in Romsey. There are concerns that the proposal isn't adequately addressing some significant issues. Click http://romseymagnolia.com.au/ to check out the website, and learn more about the proposal, the contamination, and the potential damage to heritage trees in the Romsey town centre.
MRRA Says:
The Association has been asked to publicize the website and issue, and is pleased to provide support.
We understand the Bendigo Bank is involved with this development application, along with Mr. Doug Newnham and Mr. Bill Jacobs (who designed the AAMI Call Centre in Gisborne). Issues being raised by residents appear to have merit, in particular suspected extensive contamination of the development site, and the development's potential to damage and diminish significant trees which play a strong role in defining Romsey's character.