By Mitchell Clarke
A highly anticipated development which would bring a Kmart and cinema complex to Pakenham has been rejected by Cardinia Shire Council.
Despite overwhelming community support for the proposal situated at 900 Princes Highway, six councillors voted against the development, outweighing the support from three of four Central Ward councillors.
Councillors Collin Ross, Carol Ryan and Michael Schilling voted in favour of the proposal while Jodie Owen joined remaining councillors in rejecting the proposal.
The Pioneers Market Place development on the vacant site in front of Cardinia Life was set to include a cinema complex, food and drink premises, medical centre and a number of shops including a discount department store and supermarket.
Councillor Schilling proposed to grant the permit on the condition that 47 amendments were made to the original application.
“I do believe this proposal is somewhat an overdevelopment on that particular site,” Cr Schilling said.
Acknowledging the proposal would bring a net benefit to the community, Cr Schilling’s main concerns related around the reduction of car parking and a proposed loading dock along Olympic Way.
“I am supportive of this project but there are some flaws in this application and without some significant permanent amendments, I wouldn’t be able to support this development.”
Fellow Central Ward councillor Collin Ross has been championing for a Kmart, calling it a ‘once-in-a-generation’ opportunity to bring something like this to Pakenham.
“This is the first opportunity to have a Kmart brought into Pakenham in the last 12 years (that I know of),” Cr Ross said.
“This will bring new money, new jobs and there are no other developments.
“It’s terrible to think that the people of Pakenham, with nearly 82,000 people who’ll live here within a very short time, won’t have a Kmart and will have to drive to Fountain Gate.”
But the community calls weren’t enough to sway other councillors who tabled a number of concerns including increased congestion to the area, lack of public transport servicing the complex, a detrimental impact on local businesses and general concerns that the developer could fail to provide.
Councillor Leticia Wilmot said the project would have a “devastating” impact on existing retailers while also jeopardising the future development of the Officer Township.
“Residents who have bought in Officer have done so with the expectation with the retail area planned along the Siding Avenue precinct would include a large discount department store and a cinema and that won’t happen if this development goes through,” Cr Wilmot said.
But Development Victoria is yet to release that land, with Cr Schilling calling it “ironic” that very team provided a rejection notice to the site.
“Until Development Victoria are a little bit more proactive and release the land that the private investors and council are asking them to release, we sit here discussing this,” Cr Schilling said.
“The actual reason we’re in this situation is because there hasn’t been land released to the market for such a development where it has been envisaged.”
A spokesperson for the developer told the Gazette they thanked the three councillors who voted in favour of the proposal.
“We are encouraged by their progressive thinking and strategic understanding of the issues,” Particular Group Architects Director Joe Genovesi said.
“Whilst naturally disappointed with the rejected, the developer remains keen to continue to work with council and the authorities in order to explore the possibility of bringing the project to reality.”
