A proposal for a nine-lot subdivision in Maldon, brought to the Mount Alexander Shire Council meeting on Tuesday, led to a discussion about the balance between overdevelopment and minimal land availability in the shire. 

The planning application for 30 Lowther Street, located in a General Residential Zone with Significant Landscape Overlay, received more than five objections from nearby residents. 

Tarrengower Ward councillor, Stephen Gardner, said while he understood the objections, there were substantial conditions in place that addressed the majority of the concerns raised. 

“The nine-lot subdivision on Lowther Street, which is sort at the start of the truck bypass, consists of blocks that are 1000 odd square metres and the referral agencies have all supported the application,” Cr Gardner said. 

“Obviously I am aware, and all councillors will have received an email today, where it was raised about the size of the development and also the potential for overdevelopment. 

“The reality is that under this state government planning scheme the blocks can be subdivided in a residential zone to 300 sqm. And these are obviously larger than that,” he said. 

“I have said for sometime that stuff like this would start happening in Maldon. It is not technically a historical area, it’s on the outside. 

“There is not much land left to be subdividing, but I’m assuming that where there is, it will happen. People may like it, or they may not, that’s a factor of life….,” Cr Gardner said. 

“Maldon is a small town, we’re currently experiencing quite a bit of a downturn in trades and shops, so more houses, more people and there’s an opportunity for places locally for people to live.” 

Councillor Maltby agreed with councillor Gardner, stating that the more houses that could be built in Maldon and in the shire would help the current housing crisis. 

“It will also help the Maldon township to continue to thrive and grow,” Cr Maltby said. 

Cr Tony Cordy was the only councillor to vote against the subdivision, citing numerous reasons including the proximity to the golf course. 

“If there’s golf balls flying around, there’s going to be a collision point. It hasn’t had dwellings there, and part of the reason is the proximity to the golf club,” Cr Cordy said. 

“The significant vegetation overlay is there for a reason and it doesn’t sit well with me to say, ‘oh yeah, we’ll knock it down and get some offsets’… 

“The number of allotments appears to be an overdevelopment… if you look at the orientation of the lots, they’re all facing the wrong way, so it would be very difficult to build energy-efficient housing there…” he said. 

“The other thing is, I get frustrated when I see developments like this that I believe are not forced to pay a development contribution to the council for infrastructure and the like.” 

The planning application was approved, with five councillors voting for and one against.