Super shop split

By Mara Pattison-Sowden
A PROPOSAL to build the largest supermarket in one of the eastern suburbs’ smallest towns is splitting a community in half.
Half of Seville’s residents are reeling at the results of an independent panel that has recommended the Yarra Ranges Council accept the proposal for a supermarket complex that could see the end of many small businesses along the Warburton Highway.
Another group of residents are cheering the panel results in the hunt for cheaper groceries and budget choices.
The Yarra Ranges Council sent the matter to an independent panel in July after councillors were unable to make a decision on the proposal for 547-585 Warburton Highway.
If approved one hectare of land would need to be re-zoned from a residential to a business zone to make way for a 3394 square metre supermarket, 17 shops, medical practice, petrol station, car wash and large car park.
The panel of three, appointed by the State Planning Department, held hearings in October and inspected local sites before handing down a summary and recommendation in December.
In its summary the panel said the case was challenging and the clear diversity of opinion highlighted the level of passion and community interest in the proposal.
The panel also said the likely economic impact of the proposed development on other centres was acceptable.
Residents against the proposal said the panel didn’t understand the workings of a small town and the shops already in existence that serviced the highway.
Save Our Seville spokesman Richard Couper said it was a disappointing result, but he hoped to lobby councillors before a final decision was made.
Mr Couper said he was “flabbergasted” by how benign the panel were to the proposal and dismissive about the views of its opponents.
“It was disappointing – all the rot that was talked by people who supported it, most of whom don’t live in Seville,” he said.
Business owners such as Wandin North butcher Janine Thomas believe any new supermarket would cripple, if not shut down, many family-owned services along the Warburton Highway.
“Close to 100 per cent of owners in Woori and Wandin are local families and put a lot back into the community,” she said.
Mrs Thomas, who has lived in Seville for 12 years, said many businesses including her family’s would no longer be viable if they lost more than 10 per cent of current business.
“Butchers, bakeries, fresh fruit – we have everything we need without bringing in something that’s unnecessary,” she said.
“They say we are the ‘pearls of the highway’, with this supermarket they will kill those pearls.”
Residents supporting the proposal said they wanted it to go ahead for more choice and more local jobs.
Development spokesperson Robert Harris said the panel’s recommendations were “very positive, it was a very good report”.
“It shows that all the fears that were highlighted during the exhibition period don’t happen,” he said.
“We’ve been doing this for 35 years, these developments bring people into towns and make it a more vibrant place.”
Mr Harris said history showed that long-term the smaller shops wouldn’t be affected.
“There will be the initial sticky nose and excitement which will have an effect but only at first,” he said. Mr Harris said he was pleased that hundreds of people took the trouble to write in and say they wanted the development.
He said the councillors’ vote was still a major concern.
“It would be so rare to knock it back, but that would be outrageous given the community support, the panel report and the way we’ve integrated it into the surroundings,” Mr Harris said.
“We are committed and think it will be a great asset for the future but it’s out of our hands for now.”
Council received a total of 213 submissions opposing the amendment and 483 submissions supporting it; as well as a petition with 1078 signatures opposing the proposal and a petition with 795 signatures in support of the proposal.
Councillors are expected to vote on the proposal by the end of February.