RESIDENTS who live near a flood–prone block of land for sale in Mount Eliza fear any development will exacerbate flooding issues and put their homes at risk.
The block in Valley Court has been vacant since the early 1980s after a house on the site collapsed and had to be demolished due to flooding problems. The sloping block, which experts have confirmed has a creek bed running underneath it, was the subject of court cases involving Mornington Peninsula Shire Council, builders, and the then–owners of the site because of its instability. While the outcome of the legal challenges is unclear, the block was last sold in 1984 for $15,000 and is now owned by the council, which has flagged plans to sell it.
Several residents have told The News that the block has caused several flooding incidents since then, something the council says it “has no record of”. One resident who lives in the Kunyung Road area has started a petition calling for the block to remain undeveloped because of flooding risks to neighbouring properties, and the social impact of losing what has become a “community asset”. She also said any development on the flood–prone site would affect neighbourhood character and lower property values in the area. “Any decision to sell should be carefully evaluated to ensure legal compliance and mitigate the risks of legal challenges or liabilities in the future,” she said.
Joining the cause because of her love for the open space, 14–year–old Lottie Szonyi told The News of concerns about the site’s instability and the social impacts of losing what has become a “vital community space and natural asset”. “Everyone around this area uses the site as a lovely, quiet place to walk through, it’s not only unsuitable for development, it would be so sad to lose it,” she said.
The Save Kunyung Community Land from council plans to sell, subdivide and develop, petition was started on 2 May and by Friday had more than 200 signatures. In response to the flooding claims, a council spokesperson said a search of records showed two historic issues related to drainage on that block that were “rectified at the time”. “We have found no evidence of severe flooding,” she said.
She said the sale of the property would still need to be decided by council, after submissions have been considered. It is open for submissions until 13 June. Details can be found at Notice of intention to sell land in Crib Point and Mount Eliza – Mornington Peninsula Shire (mornpen.vic.gov.au).
The mayor Cr Simon Brooks said the council routinely reviewed its property assets to determine whether they were still needed or could be put to better use. “We owe it to our ratepayers to make the best use of our assets and income so that we can continue to provide the services our community needs,” he said.
“If a parcel of land is earmarked for possible sale, we inform the community to ensure all interested parties have the opportunity to make their feelings known. All feedback will be carefully considered when council makes a final decision later this year on whether or not to sell this land.”
First published in the Mornington News – 4th June 2024
