By Bonny Burrows and Kyra Gillespie
The applicant behind a proposed 41-bed male-only boarding house in Pakenham’s Savage Street has hit back at claims the development will “only cause trouble”.
Neighbours of the 1-3 Savage Street site mooted for the development have contacted the Gazette expressing fears the men’s boarding house will increase local crime and drug use.
Elderly resident Glenda Roberts said the area had experienced “a massive problem with drug dealers” over the past five years and said she was only just starting to again feel safe in her own home.
She said such development would again put her on edge.
“For the first time, I actually felt safe and felt it was a nice place to live,” she said.
Ms Roberts said the neighbourhood was full of elderly residents who shared her safety concerns.
However, she said they felt powerless to do anything especially given Cardinia Shire Council’s “short” time frame to lodge an objection against the proposal.
“Everyone on the street is elderly and most of us live alone; so there are no young people around to rally against it,” Ms Roberts said.
“We feel a bit helpless.”
John McCaffrey, a consultant town planner speaking on behalf of the permit applicant Marjo (Australia) Pty, told the Gazette resident concerns were unwarranted.
“The proposed facility is to provide for persons requiring low cost or emergency accommodation. It is a legitimate housing form providing for a specific sector of the Cardinia community and a use, the need, for which is recognised by Cardinia Shire Council,” Mr McCaffrey said.
The consultant town planner said the proposed site was well-suited for residential accommodation as it was within close access to public transport, shops, community services and facilities.
Mr McCaffrey said the facility would operate according to house rules to minimise community disruption, which, among other matters, specifically prohibited drug use and other illegal activities.
Neighbouring residents and the broader community should not fear such housing, he said.
“The proposed facility will be managed by a resident manager and will operate in accordance with set operating principles and house rules as does an existing boarding house in Dunbarton Drive, Pakenham which is currently operated by the applicant family,” Mr McCaffrey said.
He said there was “no justification” to support any concern that the residents of the facility would make the area unsafe, and pointed to the Dunbarton Drive residence as an example of how a boarding house could operate within a residential area without conflict or threat to safety.
Community members have until 8 January to lodge any objections to the proposal with Cardinia Shire Council.
