Locals continue to campaign for appropriate development at 17 Smith St.
Residents are being asked to sign a petition to get the Minister for Planning to make sure the development is appropriate for Daylesford.
The petition wants the Minister to ensure the developers redesign their subdivision to be responsive to the features of the site, rather than radically changing the landscape. It wants the development to:
- Design around existing majestic trees to ensure their survival both as valued landmarks and environmental assets
- Provide larger lot sizes with room for productive gardens
- Provide wider roads and nature strips
- Include a park
- Provide better protection of the water table and precious ground water by not building or concreting over absorbent soil and drainage line of the eastern slope and valley, a head tributary of the Loddon RIver, and, adopting a more natural approach to drainage that manages Daylesford’s deluges and acknowledges the significance of the sites recharge function in a crucial catchment area – meaning no concrete kerbs, driveways or gutters
- Include a revegetated drainage line in the eastern valley to protect water quality and provide a buffer to adjacent farm land
- Include a dedicated community space for growing food in the rich volcanic soil that characterises the site and celebrates our region’s reputation for locally grown biodynamic produce.
- Provide building design guidelines that reflect and encourage the town’s country character.
The group campaigning for change maintain the Smith St development is the biggest proposed subdivision Daylesford has ever seen and it is not aligned with the intent of the Hepburn Shire’s Planning Scheme, nor does it reflect Hepburn Shire’s Council Plan to protect and enhance our astounding assets.
They are concerned that if the subdivision goes ahead as is, an important catchment will be sullied, a stunning entrance to this rural historic town will be destroyed, and the rural village feel that attracts residents and tourists to the town will be gone forever. There are also concerns the development would set a precedent for further inappropriate development.