Residents disgusted: Knox Council has been blasted by residents for recent planning decisions in the Boronia area. Picture: Ted Kloszynski
BORONIA residents have lashed out at Knox Council and their ward councillor Peter Cole for allegedly failing to protect the community against a development they say is a nightmare for the area.
Despite 474 objections, the council last week approved an application for a two-storey apartment building with 11 dwellings at 66 Boronia Road.
Appropriate Development for Boronia Group member Anthony Searle said the approval of the development presented major safety issues and he was "disgusted".
The building will be on the corner of Marie Street and Mr Searle said it was "only a matter of time before someone is killed there".
Residents say the area is notoriously dangerous because of the number of cars parked along the street and the fact that two cars cannot pass at the same time.
Mr Searle said there had already been a number of accidents on the street over the years and that increased traffic, during housing construction and when residents moved in, would make it worse.
"There need to be less units here. Maybe five or six, but that's even still pushing it," he said.
The group was also furious over the council's decision not to place a temporary heritage overlay on several historic buildings in Boronia, particularly three California bungalows in Park Crescent.
Group member Penny Hartney said residents were "very frustrated" they hadn't been given a chance to discuss the historic value of the bungalows, while other buildings across Knox had been awarded protection.
Mayor Adam Gill said he voted against the temporary heritage overlay because one of the bungalows already had plans submitted and it wasn't fair to delay them. He said they were an imported design from America.
Cr David Cooper defended the Boronia residents' right to have a say and voted for allowing the temporary heritage overlay.
"The Boronia residents are being treated like second-class citizens. It's an absolute disgrace and one of the worst decisions I've seen in eight years on council," Cr Cooper said.
The development group claimed Cr Cole was no longer listening to them, despite being supportive of their efforts at the start.
Mrs Hartney also criticised Cr Cole's recent attitude, saying he no longer spoke on their behalf and had been "terribly quiet" at recent council meetings. Cr Cole did not return the Weekly's calls before deadline.