‘Super’ plan moves forward

By Tania Martin
A SUPERMARKET development in Yarra Glen is a step closer with the Shire of Yarra Ranges last week agreeing to publicly display the proposed rezoning of land.
The development will include the construction of five speciality retail stores and a supermarket complex in Bell Street, Yarra Glen.
The environment will also benefit from the development with the creation of an enormous Australian flora and fauna parkland in the centre of the town.
Developer Chris O’Connor from Yarra Valley Land Development has worked closely with the Yarra Glen community in the last couple of months to alleviate many of the concerns.
This comes after an initial set of plans for a shopping centre site, which allocated space for a Safeway supermarket, were presented to the Yarra Glen community earlier this year with many residents opposing the project.
Owner of retail store Hoogies, Frank Hoogenraad, said the proposal has major landscaping benefits.
“It will complete the open space area near McKenzies Reserve and provide the missing link between the reserve and the billabongs,” he said.
Mr Hoogenraad said the shopping centre would clean up the unsightly entry to the Yarra Glen retail precinct.
He said he was originally against the development, but after working closely with the developer and, with the addition of the parkland, he believes it will be a benefit to the town.
Objector and member of the Safeway Say No group, Veronica Holland, said many residents believed this development belonged in Melton or Caroline Springs and that it was totally out of character with the village atmosphere of Yarra Glen.
Ms Holland said a large number of people still believe the development is wrong for Yarra Glen.