DANDENONG
dandenong.starcommunity.com.au
Tuesday, 30 July, 2024
/DandenongJournal
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AI election ‘edge’
Shop fire bollards twist
Tributes for Inga
Finals campaign over
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Too cool for snow Thousands flocked to snow in the streets of Springvale on Sunday 28 July. Among those having a ball at the Springvale Snowfest was Emma, 3, who enjoyed the snow trucked down from Mt Buller. Despite a wintry blast, there was plenty of warming entertainment to be had. More pictures, turn to page 12
Emma (3) in the Mt Buller Snow ring making a snow ball (Ljubica Vrankovic: 418356)
Housing opposed By Cam Lucadou-Wells Ahead of public hearings, a large chorus of opponents have raged against a controversial proposal to redevelop Sandown Racecourse into a vast housing estate. The Sandown Raceourse Advisory Committee has scheduled a month of hearings on the proposed Amendment C229gdan in Spring Street (19 August-16 September) and Greater Dandenong Civic Centre (10 and 11 September). It will later report its recommendations to the Planning Minister on the proposed 7500-dwelling, 16,000 resident estate with open spaces, community, office and retail facilities on the 112-hectare site. Most of the 255 written submissions from stakeholders such as horse trainers, jockeys, motor racing clubs as well as residents vehe-
mently oppose the plan. Government bodies including Greater Dandenong Council, Frankston Council and Melbourne Water have submitted concerns over downstream flood risks from a “naturalized” Mile Creek. The overwhelming majority of racing enthusiasts pleaded for the retention of the “iconic” and “sacred” 60-year-old facility. Some cited the horse track as one of the best and safest in Australia. Trainer Pat Carey wrote: “Sandown is a superior race course with a surface for racing that does not have an equal. “It is absolutely crucial to the south-east corridor where the majority of horses are trained that they can access and race on a track that is widely regarded as being one of the top three premium tracks in Australia.”
Victorian Jockeys Association submitted that Sandown was “one of, if not the, safest, best and fairest racecourses in Australia for both horse and rider”. Motor sport bodies cited Sandown as the last racing circuit in metro Melbourne. Its loss – without an alternate venue - would severely hinder motor racing in Victoria, Motorsport Australia submitted. In support of the rezoning, Racing Victoria – though citing Sandown as a “key” racecourse – says it could manage without the racecourse. “RV has optionality regarding future racecourse allocations given significant land holdings that it owns elsewhere.” Some of Sandown’s neighbouring residents supported the end of racing and the extra dwellings during a housing crisis. However, other residents were concerned
by extra traffic congestion and potentially greater flooding. Melbourne Water, South East Water and Greater Dandenong Council awaited more details on flood mitigation and the proposal to “naturalise” Mile Creek waterway. The council report states that it needs to be satisfied that stormwater and flood flows from Mile Creek and Police Road main drain can be “managed on site” and “not adversely impact on land downstream”. South East Water stated there could be an increased risk of flooding downstream properties around Heatherton Road, but less risk at Ross Reserve and Corrigan Road. “This increase is considered an unacceptable impact which is further exacerbated when considering the climate change scenario.” Continued page 2
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