Greater Dandenong City Council has been briefed on a proposal by the Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust (SMCT) to develop a new memorial cemetery in the wetlands south of 1564 Heatherton Road, Dandenong. Based on this briefing, Council is not supportive of the proposed development.
Mayor, Cr Jim Memeti, confirmed letters have been written by Council to both Hon. Richard Wynne, Minister for Planning, and Hon. Lisa Neville, Minister for Water and Police, expressing Council’s concern and strong, unequivocal opposition to the proposed development based on the information received to date.
“Council is unconvinced that this site chosen for the proposed memorial park is an appropriate one, nor in the best location for this use.
“Flood mitigation for Dandenong and the downstream areas, and the role the wetlands in the vicinity of 1564 Heatherton Road play in biodiversity and habitat are very important to this Council.
“In terms of any formal application for the use and rezoning of the land, it is Council’s preference that this be lodged with, processed and decided by Council, and not under the auspices of the Minister for Planning where Council’s role is reduced to providing a referral comment only.
“Council’s role in this planning proposal will be reduced to formulating a submission as part of the Planning Scheme Amendment process. This is a situation which is completely unacceptable to Greater Dandenong City Council and our community.
“Council is pleading for the direct intervention of both or any Minister in this matter as the proposed development within environmentally sensitive land cannot be permitted to proceed.
“We respectfully request that any proposed Planning Scheme Amendment should not be accepted by the State Government and this council requests as a matter of urgency the opportunity to discuss this matter with any Minister,” said the Mayor.
The overall affected site area is approximately 95 hectares of sensitive environmental habitat within wetlands and floodplains. The affected land shares zonings of Urban Floodway Zone (UFZ); Public Use Zone 1 (PUZ1) and Public Conservation and Resource Zone (PCRZ). The land is covered by a Land Subject to Inundation Overlay (LSIO). The purpose of the PCRZ, as stated in cl36.03 of the Victoria Planning Provisions, is: “to protect and conserve the natural environment and natural processes for their historic, scientific, landscape, habitat or cultural values”.
The land is currently owned by Melbourne Water.
