I received news news yesterday of a terrific win at VCAT for local residents, against a Bunnings on Glenlyon Road in Brunswick (the decision is here). This was an epic case involving nine expert witnesses (including four traffic experts!) and twelve days of hearings.
The decision is interesting in terms of how we treat car-oriented uses in activity centres; I really hope it helps push retailers like Bunnings towards more numerous, smaller in-centre locations with fewer car parking spaces. (I can dream, can’t I?). It was also an interesting early test case of the new transport policy at cl 18, which was revised after the hearing. We got to make further submissions to address this changes, and I think the new policy substantially strengthened our case.
I am proud to have been involved in this one, supported by a truly passionate group of residents.
Some media and reports about this one, in approximate descending order of detail:
- Brunswick Residents Network Newsletter (includes a detailed write-up from the local community perspective).
- The Brunswick Voice
- The Green Left
- News.com.au
- The Australian
- Daily Mail
- Herald Sun (paywalled)