Market bid goes to Hulls

By Tania Martin
THE Shire of Yarra Ranges has agreed to leave the final decision on a supermarket development in Yarra Glen to Minister for Planning Rob Hulls, despite receiving further objections to the proposal from residents.
In September the council agreed to display the proposal for rezoning the land for the development.
The development, if given the green light, will include the construction of five speciality retail stores and a supermarket complex in Bell Street, Yarra Glen.
The development proposal includes the creation of a large Australian flora and fauna parkland in the centre of the town.
Chris O’Connor from developers Yarra Valley Land Development said he had worked with the Yarra Glen community over the last two months to address many of the concerns associated with the development.
Nearby resident and environmental scientist Ian Whitford said the development was “just another example of economic commercialism”.
Mr Whitford said he moved to Yarra Glen a number of years ago for its quite, rural atmosphere and that the current retail stores in the town provided adequately for the daily needs of the residents.
He said even if the development was to go ahead, people would still choose to shop elsewhere.
“We have something different and special at Yarra Glen and it is a lifestyle that deserves to be preserved,” he said.
The shire’s director of planning, building and health, James Lamour-Reid, said that once the application for rezoning went to Mr Hulls the residents would then have the opportunity to make their case to him on the development.
The council agreed that there had been plenty of consultation on the development and that it was time the final considerations were made by the minister.