"This is poor planning": Latrobe City Council approves shopping development three times the size of original plans

In a council chamber showdown on October 27, Latrobe City councillors approved a Traralgon West shopping development almost three times the size of what was originally proposed.

What happened: Late last month, Councillor Adele Pugsley put forward an amendment to expand the size of commercial land proposed as part of a new shopping centre development in Traralgon West. The development is located at 5495 Princes Highway, just east of Boyd’s Lake.

The amendment sought to:

• Increase the size of the development from 1.38 hectares to 1.85.

• Increase the size of retail space from 1,200 square metres to 3,500. 

The vote: The council voted 5-4 in favour of expanding the new shopping precinct despite four councillors voicing concerns about the impacts on existing town centres and planning integrity.

Opposition: Four councillors warned the decision lacked any strategic justification.

🗣️ Councillor Steph Morgan said: "This is poor planning, and it’s robbing our commercial businesses in both Traralgon and Morwell."

Morgan described the increase in size as a “massive jump” and said it would completely change the character of what the new zone would be.

• Being located between Traralgon and Morwell, Morgan said the development risked taking away from the commercial districts that already exist within those towns.

🗣️ “There’s not going to be a population that exists in the Traralgon West development that needs a 3,500 square metre commercial building.”

Councillor Darren Howe said he has concerns the amendment goes against the applicant's impact study and council's independent peer review.

🗣️“We have a responsibility to encourage and support new economic activity, we must do it responsibly and not at the expense of existing businesses,” Howe said.

In favour of development: 

Councillor Adele Pugsley argued the larger zone would: 

• Better serve the existing population in Traralgon West.

• Prepare the area for future residential growth.

• Create 30 more local jobs.

🗣️“Too little and there won’t be enough residential growth,” Pugsley said. “By upping the amount and ensuring we can get a full line supermarket into that area.”

Deputy Mayor Sharon Gibson argued increasing the area would make it more likely for a full-line supermarket development in the future.

The amendment will now go to the Victorian Minister for Planning Sonya Kilkenny for approval.