In short:
Wyndham councillors have rejected a proposal to subdivide part of the Sanctuary Lakes golf course into 28 housing lots after more than 200 residents objected. The decision defied planning officers and could now face a challenge at VCAT.
Council Backs Resident Objections
Wyndham councillors have rejected a proposal to build 28 homes on part of the Sanctuary Lakes golf course, overturning planning officers who recommended the subdivision be approved.
The application sought to subdivide land at 70D Greg Norman Drive in Point Cook, removing about 20,000 square metres from the golf course around Hole 15 and converting it into residential lots.
Plans submitted to council showed 28 blocks ranging from 312 to 668 square metres, with a new internal road linking the development to Meridian Close.
Council planning officers advised the Strategic and Town Planning Committee that the subdivision complied with the Wyndham Planning Scheme and should be supported.
The officer report concluded the site sits within a General Residential Zone where housing is permitted and that the proposal would contribute to housing supply in an established suburb.
During public consultation the application attracted 227 submissions, including 217 objections from residents concerned about losing part of the golf course landscape.
Many objectors argued the Sanctuary Lakes estate was designed around open fairways and views across the course and warned replacing that land with housing would permanently change the character of the community.
Residents also raised concerns about increased traffic on local streets, the loss of tree canopy and green space, and potential impacts on drainage infrastructure.
Several residents addressed councillors during the meeting before the committee moved to consider the officer recommendation to approve the subdivision.
Cr Jasmine Hill put forward an alternative motion to reject the proposal, arguing that replacing part of the golf course landscape with housing would erode a defining feature of the Sanctuary Lakes community.
Councillors ultimately supported the alternative motion, voting to refuse the application rather than issue the planning permit recommended by officers.
The refusal means the proposed subdivision cannot proceed through council despite the officer assessment that it complies with the planning scheme.
Because the planning report found the proposal met the requirements of the Wyndham Planning Scheme, the applicant can now appeal the decision to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
If the developer lodges an appeal, VCAT will reassess the proposal and determine whether the subdivision should be approved or whether council’s refusal should stand.
The decision leaves the disputed section of golf course land unchanged for now, although the future of the site may ultimately be determined through a tribunal process rather than a council vote.
