At the southern end of a quiet cul-de-sac on Hardy Ave, South Golden Beach, a development application (DA) is proposed for a massive development that, I belive, does not fit in with the local area trend (a Melbourne developer has purchased the 2,000sqm block).
Hardy Ave is in an environmentally-friendly development known as the Tread Lightly Estate and was designed as a wildlife protection area. Human intrusion is meant to be kept to a minimum and domestic animals such as dogs and cats are not allowed owing to the wildlife zones being held in such high esteem.
The proposed DA is to include three two-level main dwellings (one is already there), and three secondary dwellings and three double garages. There could be 18+ humans residing on the one block of land!
Planned parking for the main dwellings is provided, but the occupants of the secondary dwellings will almost certainly have vehicles and will need to be parking in the cul-de-sac – which would be disruptive to nearby neighbours and service vehicles such as bin collection trucks, and emergency vehicles.
Many trees have already been removed several weeks ago, and another eight are to be removed. The environment has already been impacted by dumping of rocks and cracker dust, I believe, on the precious riparian zone on the canal (a unique plant community consisting of vegetation protecting stream banks from erosion).
My concerns are that the development will have a heavy negative impact on the environment of an estate that was established expressly to protect wildlife. Approval of this DA will set a precedent for other property owners to propose similar high-density development and the low-footprint housing will be lost.
A petition is out to stop this development for concerned residents to sign. Look out for it or for members of FOCC.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
