Victoria
Melbourne council rejects church bid on green wedge land
A growing religious community in Melbourne's south-east must continue its search for a home after councillors blocked a green wedge development.
A Melbourne council has rejected a planning proposal to construct a new church on protected green wedge land in the city's south-east.
According to a wire report, the decision means a growing local religious congregation will have to continue its search for a permanent spiritual home.
The specific municipality where the decision was made and the identity of the religious group have not been disclosed in the initial reporting. It is not yet confirmed which south-eastern council presided over the application, nor have the exact dimensions of the proposed church facility been made public.
Victoria's green wedge zones are subject to strict planning regulations designed to prevent urban sprawl, protect agricultural land, and preserve the natural landscape. These areas are intended to act as buffers between urban areas and the countryside, and developments that do not align with conservation goals are routinely restricted.
Councillors ultimately determined that the proposed place of worship did not meet the strict environmental and zoning criteria required for the sensitive site. While some institutional uses are occasionally permitted in green wedges under highly specific conditions, councils frequently reject large development applications to maintain the integrity of the protected boundaries.
The decision underscores the ongoing tension in Melbourne's expanding outer suburbs, where community groups face difficulties securing affordable land that complies with local planning schemes. The religious organisation had sought the location to accommodate its expanding membership, but it must now resume its search for a suitable property.
Watch to see whether the applicant lodges an appeal against the council's decision with the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
This report draws on original reporting by Wire report.
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