PLANNING Minister Richard Wynne has again been asked to “call in” the proposed $200 million-plus development of Mount Eliza’s Moondah Estate into an aged care facility.
During the one sitting day of state parliament two weeks ago, Mornington MP David Morris demanded the minister stop and reject the application by Ryman Health.
Morris’ plea follows opposition to the development plans from parts of the community and the Mornington Peninsula Shire Council, which rejected the proposal when it first came to council in 2020.
The health care giant Ryman then took the decision to VCAT last year, which also rejected the proposal, based partly on the site being unsuitable.
A new application for a revised, slightly smaller development is now listed for a hearing at VCAT.
“The first [planning application] was rejected, quite rightly…the second one should absolutely be rejected as well,” Morris told parliament.
“This is a site outside the urban growth boundary. It is a site in the area that amendment C270 seeks to rezone to green wedge. It is a landmark site right on the southern side of Mount Eliza.
“What is proposed here is a development with a footprint of nearly 15000 square metres.
“It is not a modest, sympathetic extension to an existing facility, it is a massive development—yes smaller than the first one, but it is an absolutely massive development with numerous three-and four-storey buildings.
“To approve this application would be totally contrary to planning policies that go back to the 1970s in this area … this is a linear development between towns.
“It is effectively an expansion of the urban area of Mount Eliza … every expansion of the urban growth boundary needs to be agreed to by a motion by this house and by the other place … call it in and knock it on the head.”
Hastings resident and the great grandson of the original owner of the Moondah mansion, Colin Cook, said he and many of the remaining Grice family members did not understand the objections to the development.
Cook’s great grandfather was James Grice, who had the mansion built, and his mother Nancy was Grice’s granddaughter.
“I am supportive of the development. If Ryman don’t develop it, someone else will and you never know what you’ll get,” he said. “Who else would restore the mansion and who else would be able to maintain it?”
While Cook said he was not fully updated on Ryman’s plans for the site and had not seen an aerial view, he did not think the development was too big.
“Mum spent some years living there as a young child and the mansion is very special to our family,” he said.
“My sister had her wedding there in 1979 (when it was owned by Melbourne Business School) and nine years ago my aunt’s wake was also held there.
“The property needs to be maintained to stop it falling into complete disrepair, and Ryman will do that, but to do that they have to run a business.”
Cook said the land surrounding the site was protected by green wedge zoning and the aged care centre would be an asset to the community.
“I would like to know why so many people are against it, it’s progress, are we going to go back to living in caves and trees because we don’t like development?”
The Ryman proposal has presented a planning dilemma for the state government for about two years, with the lure of the development dollar up against the community’s desire to maintain open space and the council’s plans to rezone the land as green wedge.
Early last year, Wynne told state parliament that he would not be “calling in” the Ryman for a retirement village at Mount Eliza, following a request by the shire for his authorisation to “prepare and exhibit Amendment C270 to the Mornington Peninsula Planning Scheme”.
Wynne said the amendment sought to rezone several sites outside the urban growth boundary from special use to green wedge, including 60-70 Kunyung Road, Mt Eliza.
“This request is currently under consideration and I will make a decision in due course,” he said.
“At this time, I do not intend to exercise my powers under section 58 of the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 1998 to call in the application.”
In a surprise move, it is believed Ryman has withdrawn its appeal to the Supreme Court against the first VCAT decision last year, with consent orders filed last week.
But the withdrawal is not expected to affect its current planning application or latest VCAT review.
First published in the Mornington News – 17 May 2022
