THE six-day public hearing for the C270Morn planning scheme amendment started on Monday 5 September, with an officer from Mornington Peninsula Shire Council one of the first speakers, followed by Ryman Healthcare on Tuesday.
Amendment C270morn proposes to protect the Mornington Peninsula Green Wedge from inappropriate development by rezoning several sites across the shire, including Kunyung Road’s Moondah Mansion site in Mount Eliza which is the subject of a planning bid by Ryman Healthcare.
Ryman wants to build a retirement/aged care centre that includes apartments across four new four-storey buildings, and an extension to the existing mansion.
If C270Morn is approved, it is unlikely a retirement centre would be permitted on the Kunyung Road site.
The planning panel appointed to hear the application will make a decision after hearing from all parties, including the Save Sir Reg’s Wedge community group opposed to the Ryman plan, the Green Wedge Coalition, former shire councillor and SSRW spokesperson Leigh Eustace, and others.
Once the panel makes its decision, the matter will return to council, which can either support or reject it.
The next step will see Planning Minister Lizzie Blandthorn either support or reject the C270 Morn application.
The matter is not expected to go before the minister before the state election.
First published in the Mornington News – 6 September 2022
