Bentleigh East high rise development hangs on Glen Eira Council’s rezone vote
- Moorabbin Glen Eira Leader
- July 03, 2015

Rodney Andonopoulos is worried a new development at Virginia Park, Bentleigh East, will cause traffic chaos around the neighbourhood. Picture: Valeriu Campan
HUNDREDS of objections to a rezoning proposal to allow for a high-rise, high density development have been filling Glen Eira Council’s mailboxes.
And Mayor, Cr Jim Magee said he expected “a gallery filled with protesters and placards” at the next council meeting.
The large development complex planned forBentleigh East’s Virginia Park, hangs on a crucial rezoning vote at the July 21 meeting.However, speaking on behalf of developer Gillon Group, one of the project’s development managers, Adam Brix from Brix Property Group, said there would be 1250 houses and not 4000 as objectors have been printing on distributed flyers.
Mr Brix said an engineers report, commissioned by the developer, worked on “an absolute maximum development scenario” when investigating services in the area.
That report, which is on exhibition as part of the rezoning process, assumed that the site would be developed for 12,000 square metres of retail floor space and 4,462 residential dwellings.
“The dwellings numbers referred to in the infrastructure report should not be construed as what is intended to be developed,” Mr Brix said.
But community members, who fear the developer would build as close to the maximum capacity as possible, have submitted more than 250 objections already and more were expected, Cr Magee said.
Councillors must make a decision on rezoning the estate from Commercial 1 and 2 to Commercial 1 which would allow for the residential and shopping centre development, by either recommending it to an independent panel or voting against a rezone.
It can’t simply urge the planning minister to approve because of the community objection.
Cr Magee said the said the community response had been “one of the most vocal” in his time on council.
“It’s very, very rare that we see a response like this and it just shows how protective the residents are of their suburb,” Cr Magee said.
“And I suspect come the meeting we will see the gallery filled with protesters and placards like they used to be.”
There is also a Facebook group opposed to the development.
PS: OFF TOPIC BUT OF INTEREST TO RESIDENTS. FROM YESTERDAY’S GOVERNMENT GAZETTE
July 3, 2015 at 9:35 AM
So it looks like Mr. Rodney Andonopoulos will be running in Tucker Ward again, I wouldn’t trust this “come and go” opportunist as far as you throw him. It not what they say to get elected, its how they vote that counts. Vote for this man and watch him vote for development and become anti resident over night.
Has “Glen Eira” ever seen Rodney the gallery at council meetings lately?
July 3, 2015 at 10:15 AM
He can’t be any worse than what’s there already.
July 3, 2015 at 1:06 PM
Hmmmm – Magee rallying the troops or attempting to cover up his decision on earlier amendment?
July 3, 2015 at 1:18 PM
Mr Magoo just makes it all up, being very careful never to step out of line with his boss the CEO
July 3, 2015 at 6:18 PM
About time people got angry enough to get off their backsides and protest and tell council to shove it. All residents everywhere should be doing the same.
July 3, 2015 at 7:54 PM
Nice thoughts Colin, but this never going to happen so long as there is footy on the TV, and the ceaseless greed for the almighty dollar remains a top priority for a most people.
July 4, 2015 at 8:50 AM
http://www.afr.com/real-estate/nagging-questions-about-victorian-racing-icon-20150703-ghu6p7
July 4, 2015 at 8:55 AM
new trustees for CRRT
Kerren Gay CLARK
Minister for Environment,
Climate
Change and Water
Peter KHALIL
Minister for Environment,
Climate
Change and Water
Victoria Government Gazette
G 26
2 July 2015
1489
APPOINTMENT OF TRUSTEES TO THE
CAULFIELD RACECOURSE RESERVE TRUST
Order in Council
The Governor in Council, under the terms and conditions of Crown Grant Volume 7275 Folio
814, appoints the persons listed in Column 1 as trustees of the Caulfield Racecourse Reserve Trust
as a representative of the body listed in Column 2 in lieu of the person who has ceased to be a trustee
listed in Column 3.
Column 1
New Trustee
Column 2
Body Represented
Column 3
Former Trustee
Kerren Gay CLARK
Minister for Environment,
Climate
Change and Water
Mr Edgar (Ted) Tanner
Peter KHALIL
Minister for Environment,
Climate
Change and Water
Mr Nikolaos (Nick) Staikos
Dated 30 June 2015
Responsible Minister
LISA NEVILLE
Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Water
July 6, 2015 at 2:43 PM
I find all this rezoning despicable. Local residents are hung out to dry for greedy profiteering developers who could care less about our invasions or privacy and complete change in the community dynamic. We have just had a 3 storey monster built right next to us that looks directly into our bedroom,lounge room, kitchen and bathroom, not to mention our backyard. how this ever got approval is beyond my understanding as just about everything in the area is single storey. Needless to say all those in the nearby vicinity are outraged. http://imgur.com/a/2B52C