Local residents are gearing up for a showdown with developers over a contentious 24-hour roadhouse proposal at the Federation Way and Murray Valley Highway intersection, set for a crucial Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal hearing in mid-January.
The applicants to the permit application, TFB Wine Investments and BE Judd Holdings, have bypassed the council permit process invoking their “failure to determine” right and referred the application to VCAT.
The group has raised concerns about possible run-offs from the service station could contaminate nearby Lake Moodemere and vineyard owners are fearful it may even affect their vineyards.
Group spokesperson Joel Chambers who is also co-owner of Lake Moodemere Estate directly opposite the proposed development site said the information hearing was very successful with more than 140 people attending.
“We had a fantastic turnout and managed to raise enough funds for our first step of representation at VCAT – it is a lot of weight off our backs,” Mr Chambers said.
He said as concerned residents and landholders they strongly object to this proposed industrial development being built adjacent to an environmentally sensitive conservation reserve.
Mr Chambers said attendees at the information session also learnt about the rich history of the area from landholders Robin and Chris Pfeiffer along with Michael and Belinda Chambers.
“It’s not just the environmental, heritage and tourism impacts we are concerned about.
“We also have up to eight vineyards that rely on the water source of the Lake Moodemere area for irrigation,” Mr Chambers added.
While Mr Chambers remains realistic about the challenges ahead at January’s VCAT hearing, the group is already strategising for a potential second hearing, anticipating the need for additional funds to support their ongoing legal battle.
“We may need to raise more funds for the second step at VCAT which looks like it will be in March,” Mr Chambers said.
“We have a couple of fundraising efforts in the planning, one will be an auction where we have had some very generous donations, such as a lamb, fantastic wine, even a dental check-up and a dinner out with Cathy McGowan,” Mr Chambers said.
He said the primary reason the group is representing themselves at VCAT is because they were not confident Indigo Shire Council would be as effective.
“We don’t believe Indigo Shire Council will properly represent us. They seemed quite disinterested in fact.
“We believe that representing ourselves will give us our best shot.
“There is no environmental impact statement on the application, and we believe Indigo Shire’s planning department has not requested it.
“It almost seems they have left the door open for the developer,” he added.
Mr Chambers confirmed an alternative parcel of land had been offered to the developers. The land was closer to the Indigo Shire and Moira Shire boundary along the Murray Valley Highway.
The group believed this location would not attract any environmental concerns, but this offer was rejected by the developers.
In a statement published on the Save Lake Moodemere GoFundMe me page, the group highlights the reserve’s vulnerability to the proposed development.
“This pristine and precious reserve is more than just a waterway, it is a sanctuary teeming with endangered, threatened and vulnerable species,” the group’s statement reads.
“Among its residents are the Sunday Creek Platypus colony, the elusive and endangered Rakali, fresh water crays, an intriguing variety of fish species and migratory and native birdlife; the Buloke Woodlands of the Murray Darling Depression Bioregions, aka Buloke Tree ( Allocasuarina luehmannii) is also found within the reserve, an endangered species which has recently been listed under 'Schedule 2 Listed Ecological Communities' of the Federal Endangered Species Protection Act 1992.
“We are devastated and alarmed to learn of this proposed development being located adjacent to this haven.
“Data from the ‘Endangered Species Protection Act 1992’ show there are a number of other species within the conservation reserve that would be under threat and therefore any actions disrupting their habitat would be in breach of the Act and pose a serious threat to their existence.
“Our opposition to this development is more than just a fight for the serene beauty of our environment; it's an imperative action to save the wildlife that rely on this habitat.
“We have called on the Indigo Shire Councillors, the Indigo Shire Planning Department the relevant statutory authorities NECMA, VIC Roads, Dept of Transport, GM Water, NE Water and now VCAT to consider their decision wisely.”
The preliminary VCAT hearing is planned for January 16, where mediation can take place but if the matter can not be resolved both parties will be back to VCAT in March.
You can support the Friends of Lake Moodemere by donating to our Go Fund Me fundraising page.