The issue of Oonah Belonging Place development was brought up again at the latest council meeting.
After a lengthy discussion, Yarra Ranges Council (YRC) resolved to approve the planning application for the buildings and works associated with the existing use of the land as a community centre, remove and pruning of vegetation, demolition and alteration of access to a road at Queens Park, 1 Badger Creek Road and Don Road, Healesville, and issue a Notice of Decision to Grant a Permit subject to the conditions in the report.
Earlier this year, the Star Mail reported about the Oonah Belonging Place planning permit issue after rumours circulated that Healesville Living and Learning Centre (HLLC) would shut down if the permit was granted.
Yarra Ranges Council planning and sustainable future director Kath McClusky has since confirmed the HLLC is not closing and is not included in this planning permit.
“HLLC is supported by the council through a Neighbourhood House Partnership grant, and they are an important part of the Healesville service network,” she said in February.
“The council will continue to support HLLC in its next strategic planning phase and ongoing work of building strong communities.
“However, the Women’s Shed will need to be relocated if the site is redeveloped.”
In the council meeting on Tuesday 27 May, HLLC secretary Nick Rogers came forward to the councillors in objections to the recommendation.
Mr Rogers said, although HLLC is fully supportive of the Oonah redevelopment, they have concerns about the development process in relation to consultation with both the community and HLLC.
“So at a high level, we’ve heard repeatedly from community members who say there has been insufficient information sharing and consultation in relation to the proposed Oonah redevelopment, and this relates to both the council and Oonah’s consultation processes,” he said.
“They would like more information, and they’d like more opportunities to hear about the redevelopment to give them assurances about what that redevelopment looks like and how it will impact them in the local community.
“I was disappointed to read in the papers tonight that Oonah doesn’t consider further consultation to be necessary. And I would disagree with that from a personal perspective. I haven’t spoken to the HLLC board about that because I just read that in the papers.”
Mr Rogers explained the details about what further information and consultation HLLC needs.
“Firstly, in relation to transition management plans for what will occur during the redevelopment phase, we would like to participate in those transition management planning activities, and we would like to see them documented as soon as is practical, in order to mitigate any impacts that will have on the HLLC users,” he said.
“Secondly, we’d like to see formal written clarification about the proposed relocation of the Women’s Shed, which currently sits on the footprint for the site of the redevelopment. We would appreciate opportunities again to participate in planning activities that relate to moving the Women’s Shed, and we’d love to see a plan about how it will occur and the criteria for determining an alternative site for the Women’s Shed. We have had verbal reassurances from the council and from Oonah that they will carry the cost and organise for the relocation of that shed, but we would like to see that in writing as soon as possible.
“And finally, we’d like to see more detailed information in relation to the planning for the car parking at the proposed redevelopment. We would appreciate the opportunity to view any feasibility assessments that have already been undertaken, and we’d also like to participate in proposed strategies that ensure equitable access for HLLC members, especially older members and members who may have disability.”
Mr Tim Norton was the next presenter who spoke on behalf of the permit applicant in support of the recommendation.
Mr Norton said Oonah Aboriginal Health Community Services is a non for profit service and has provided such services to the Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander community in the region for over 15 years.
“The new facility has been planned and designed in consultation with the First Nations community who utilise the health and community services on site,” he said.
“I understand that prominent community members and elders from this community have been consulted in and helped develop the building design from concept through to the planning stage, working closely with the applicant and workshop architecture.”
Mr Norton outlined the prompts.
“Early consultation with some original stakeholders occurred back in 2016. I’m aware that we have undergone two rounds of public notice, and the application has been in the council’s planning system since June 2023,” he said.
“Various HLLC and EACH staff have been engaged in the early vision and plans for the centre. Perhaps, people change jobs over time, and unfortunately, maybe there have been transition elements, so people that may have been involved at the start may not necessarily be around at this point.
“I can provide some further detail on this consultation via questions if needed. Oonah has given me key dates so I can clarify those.”
Mr Norton said he supports the council’s proposed permanent conditions.
“We feel these do manage such outstanding matters in an adequate way,” he said.
“One particular condition to point out is condition 21. We feel it does provide appropriate safeguard for the retention of existing buildings currently operated and used by HLLC and EACH. This is safeguard them until an agreement is reached between relevant parties and stakeholders for their relocation, replacement and/or demolition.
“I think as Mr Rogers spoke about concerns about transition management plans and negotiation talks, I believe this could be achieved by way of this condition. And again, I reiterate, nothing will happen in terms of demolition until that’s been resolved with a responsible authority via the permit endorsement process.”
Cr McAllister asked a question to the director of built environment and infrastructure, Hjalmar Philipp.
“HLLC have asked for formal notification about where those (Women’s) Sheds buildings will be relocated. Can I just get you to respond,” she said
Mr Philipp said a lease between the YRC and HLLC would be the appropriate mechanism to include things like formal notification discussion of anything related to transition.
“We could handle questions around where things might go, the timing of the transition, an agreement between parties within the lease arrangements between the council and the living and learning centre.”
Cr McAllister asked another question to the acting director of planning and sustainable futures, Amanda Kern.
“Are you able to talk through what is allowed and what our constraints are around public advertising in terms of planning applications,” she said.
Ms Kern answered under the Planning and Environment Act, YRC is required to give notice, and the council has given notice by way of over 300 letters to adjoining and nearby properties.
“We also undertook notice through signage on each of the site frontages to each of those roads,” she said
“That notification process was actually undertaken twice. Each of those was for 14 days, so the public notification process did a total of 28 days.
“It has also been displayed on the council’s website from the time the application has been lodged and remains on the council’s website with the documentation, inviting any submissions as part of that application through that whole process.”
After the Q and A time, Cr McAllister moved the recommendation.
She said a number of concerns have been raised throughout the advertising and conversations.
“Parking is certainly one that I have considered deeply. At the moment, we can’t consider that as part of the planning application because of their existing use rights. However, I would note that 21 car parks will be formalised on the site, and currently, most users of Onnah park on Badger Creek Road, whilst I appreciate, from the HLLC’s perspective, there’s a need to ensure that there is a respectful and equitable use of the car park, and I hope that that would be agreed over time,” Ryrie Ward councillor said.
“My hope is that it is likely to reduce parking on Badger Creek Road on a typical day and actually through the 21 formal car parks, perhaps resolve some parking issues that are playing out.
“Substantial vegetation removal is required, two high-value trees, 17 moderate value and 47 low value. And it is abutting a Neighbourhood Place of Last Resort. So again, it is already a site we watch closely to manage vegetation. Substantial offsets for tree removal of that scale will be required, which will not be on site, and again, cannot be on site because of the classification of that area as a Neighbourhood Place of Last Resort.
“It’s close to a creek, Wirrup Yaluck. But I do note that the CFA Melbourne Water, DTP, every referral authority has perhaps given permit conditions but have not objected to the application.”
Cr McAllister appreciated HLLC being present at the meeting, who said they are fully supportive of the development, but understandably have concerns about the impact on their operations and communities through the demolition.
“Of course, I would hope for relocation of their three buildings, in particular, relating to the (Women’s) Sheds,” she said.
“My personal, strong preference is that the future resolution of this is relocation of those buildings on site, and I do foreshadow that I will move a notice of motion at a future council meeting to ensure that the lease renegotiation process, which is a critical piece in this puzzle.
“EACH has also confirmed this week, through contact via CEO, that they do support the development.”
The motion was carried unanimously.
