'Mingarra' Retitement Village

Stage 3 underway at Mingarra.
Many of the trees in the background will be destroyed as part of stage 4

Background: The eventually proposed 155 unit 'Mingarra' Retirement Village Development, was sold by the Catholic Church to Australian Retirement Homes Ltd., in June 2002.  They, together with their Developer/Owner, F.K.P. Constructions Ltd., successfully applied to Maroondah Council for some quite significant amendments to the originally approved plans of 1994.  Those changes, though never made public by Council, effectively allowed the clear felling of the majority of an entire Vegetation Protection Overlay Area and the 'moonscaping' of the stage 3 development site.  This assisted FKP with known engineering difficulties and appeared to favour them economically.
The permit to remove the trees was then able to be issued by Council Officers, without any direct referral to our elected Council, simply on the grounds that the trees were now in the way of the proposed buildings.  Approximately 43 mature indigenous canopy trees were bulldozed in December 2002.  The Developer was later fined token amounts for various breaches. 
In March 2003 FKP applied to Maroondah Council for a permit for Stage 4A, which was granted, and building is currently well advanced. 
FKP appear to be moving quickly to remove flora for stage 4, prior to C44 taking effect.

M.R.G. Stance & Activities: M.R.G. has expressed its serious concerns to Council on their poor processes and their apparent lack of corporate governance.  We are insisting that Council change their processes forthwith and become more accountable to the residents for significant decisions that impact on the environment and character of the area.  We have also successfully negotiated, with Council support, the continued public access to the Forest Court/Glenora Avenue Walkway along with a dramatically improved revegetation programme for the overall site.   The new owners have agreed to ongoing dialogue as the various stages progress.

Current Status:  A satisfactory working relationship has now been established with F.K.P, who are now far more cognisant of local residents’ concerns. 

Some of the flora to be removed for the next
stage of the Mingarra Retirement Village

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