Council
20 June, 2025
Division passes despite objections
A FOUR-LOT subdivision in Lawrence Street was approved by Corangamite Shire councillors at the Ordinary Meeting of Council last month, subject to 24 conditions.
The subdivision will create two lots of 509 square metres, a lot of 508 square metres and a lot of 504 square metres.
The approval comes despite seven objections received by council, which included concerns about the impact of increased density on the appearance of the area, the ability of the road network to support higher vehicle usage, the impact on surrounding trees, impact on the heritage significance of the area, the impact of increased activity on residents of a community care accommodation, and concerns around the neighbourhood character and the surrounding built environment.
The objections were not supported.
Treehab Tiny Houses’ Riley Skeene made a deputation to council at the meeting, saying the property was purchased 18 months ago with plans to subdivide it.
“It was purchased with an intent to address the housing need that I’m sure most of you can agree is currently needed in Camperdown, but we want to maintain number one, the heritage of Camperdown – being such an old town, and my family has been here for over 150 years, so it’s really important to us that we maintain that,” he said.
“When we chose the block size of just 500 square metres, we looked at what was in the street, and it ranges from between 300 to 1000 square metres, so we thought that 500 square metres was perfect for single level three-bedroom, two-bathroom family homes that we’re still working on designing because we want them to fit into the street.
“We did a CHMP (cultural heritage management plan) with the Eastern Maar Corporation, which they were happy with.
“The Country Fire Authority are happy with it, and the other thing I want to let the objectors know, too, is that there’s no confusion around the name of the business.
“The name of the business that owns the property is Treehab Tiny Houses – we don’t plan on building tiny homes on the block, but if anyone has any questions or wants to reach out, I’m more than happy to have a chat.”
A building permit for the proposed houses has not been lodge at this stage.
Councillor Ruth Gstrein moved the motion, saying she appreciated the Skeene family and one of the objectors attending a site meeting held at the subject property.
“I think that where a lot of the concern has come from neighbours has been tying, as Mr Skeene mentioned in his presentation, Treehab Tiny Houses into the applicant,” she said.
“I think people thought that there was going to be wall to wall tiny houses across that half acre block – that’s not the case.
“We’ve got four lots to be created just over 500 square metres and certainly it’s within the remit of the Camperdown Settlement Plan about infill development and particularly these blocks are very well-suited to the main street, to the hospital, to schools and to the train station.
“You can get around quite easily and that’s what we’re looking at. We’re very keen on having walkable neighbourhoods, and this is a very walkable distance for those people who are looking at buying these houses.
“We’re talking about three-bedroom, two-bathroom houses with a shed, so it’s certainly not a tiny house, and I think it’ll fit nicely in that area – there’s a diversity of lot sizes in that particular part of town and I think this will certainly complement the area.”
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