- Home
- What's Happening
- News
- VCAT Removes Habitat For Housing At Lake Knox
Knox City Council is disappointed that the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) has paved the way for a 105-lot residential subdivision on the north-western corner of Burwood Highway and Scoresby Road (621 Burwood Highway), Knoxfield.
Development Victoria’s proposal includes removing a waterbody supporting a number of species including the threatened Blue-billed Duck which is protected under Victorian legislation.
Despite attracting more than 1,170 objections, VCAT has decided to permit the residential subdivision allowing the decommissioning of ‘Lake Knox’.
Knox Mayor, Cr Jude Dwight said Council will continue to concentrate our best efforts towards ensuring the provision of housing is balanced with the need to respect environmentally-sensitive flora and fauna.
“This is a very disappointing outcome after such a lengthy appeal,” she said.
“In handing down its decision, the tribunal acknowledged it remains uncertain if the Blue-billed Duck will remain, that we may lose flora and fauna species and there will be vegetation losses.
“While the final decision is disappointing, Council succeeded in negotiating extensive permit conditions during the appeal process. These conditions provide the best available opportunity now to achieve a reasonable environmental outcome for the final development.
“The tribunal included conditions that require the establishment of new wetlands before the decommissioning of the existing waterbody, to give existing species like the threatened Blue-billed Duck the best chance of relocating to the new wetlands.
“Council would like to thank Knox’s environmental groups and residents, including the Knox Environment Society and Friends of the Glenfern Green Wedge, who contributed significant time and resources towards the lengthy VCAT appeals process alongside Council’s representatives.
“We will work with Development Victoria to achieve the best outcomes for the site that the permit conditions allow.”
Share
What's happening
-
Events, activities and festivals
- Knox Factor
- Festivals and civic events
- Community event info and registration
- Community training: 3Rs of family violence
- Community training: Building Aboriginal cultural competency
- Community training: Child safe standards for Community groups
- Community training: Cultural awareness training
- Community training: Managing challenging members and volunteer-related situations
- Community training: Safe food handling
- OELLEN Career Expo 2025
- Running a Successful Community Group/Sports Club
- Have Your Say
-
News
- A revitalised route for Boronia
- Art Beyond Waste exhibition
- Business networking and Bodacious Coffee tour
- Could your community group benefit from funding support?
- Cr Susan Laukens elected Knox Mayor
- Economic & demographic insights: What’s ahead for Knox?
- Electoral irregularities
- Free Community Training Workshops
- Free community training workshops
- Free sustainable living workshops
- Free workshops for cleaner. greener living
- Get growing with Gardens for Harvest
- International Women's Day networking event
- Join our bike education courses
- Join the Environment Advisory Committee
- Join the Knox Multicultural Advisory Committee
- Keep leaving your rubbish bin out until 6pm
- Knox retailer networking session
- Learn how to compost at home
- Leave your rubbish bin out until 6 pm
- Make an 'empty your fridge' frittata
- Make the switch to reusable nappies
- Making Knox more Electric Vehicle ready
- Making Knox more Electric Vehicle ready
- More Than Shelter
- New wetland ready to explore
- OELLEN Career Expo 2025
- Progress is building at Bayswater Library
- Race ready!
- Ready, set, play! 2025 local playground upgrades
- Removal of pine trees at Koolunga Native Reserve
- Revitalising Boronia
- Rubbish bin lids are changing
- School holiday activities for young people
- StageScape - community performing arts festival
- Together we are Knox
- Together, we've changed 86% of bin lids
- Transform your home with all-electric solutions
- Upgrade to all-electric and save
- We are sorry
- Winning government grants and tenders workshop
- Arts in Knox
-
Major projects and initiatives
- Capital Works Projects at Sports Facilities
- Capital works
- Carrington Park Activity Centre redevelopment
- Chandler Road shared path and road renewal project
- Demolition of Knox Basketball Stadium (Boronia)
- Gilbert Park upgrades
- Kings Park masterplan
- Lewis Park Masterplan
- New Bayswater Library
- Park Ridge Reserve Upgrade
- Tormore Reserve pavilion upgrade
- Wally Tew upgrade
- Wantirna Reserve redevelopment
- Community groups and volunteering
- Explore Knox
-
Event Calendar
- Bee Gees Revival
- Burt Bacharach (Featuring Michael Cormick)
- FRITZ (School Holiday Feature Show)
- Lady Be Good, The Songs of Ella Fitzgerald (Featuring Nina Ferro)
- Tenori
- The Beatlez
- Tis the Season – A Very Jazzy Christmas Spectacular
- Wish Upon A Star – The Disney Songbook (ft. Danielle Matthews)
- Women of Wit
- Knox eNews