A group of concerned locals are worried that two stormwater dams that are home to several species of fauna will be demolished to make way for car parking at a Wallington aged care residence.
The two ‘lakes’ had provided a safe haven for waterfowl, turtles and frogs for nearly 20 years, said objector Heidi Wane.
TLC Aged Care plans to drain the two lakes and replace them with car parking.
Ms Wane, who has a relative living at TLC, said she became concerned when she saw the development plans.
“When I noticed that the lakes weren’t included on the development, I became concerned,” she said.
“I sat on it for some time and after a while I just thought this is just too important so for the first time in my life I’m going to stand up and put my hand up and say ‘no it’s not good enough’.”
However, Council has confirmed TLC Aged Care had a permit and the right to carry out the works on its own property.
Council issued the permit for the expansion project more than a year ago, a Council spokesperson said.
The works included an integrated medical centre, road construction and access as well as some removal of native vegetation, the spokesperson said.
“Under the planning scheme there is no cause to stop works undertaken in line with the planning permit.”
TLC Aged Care had a right to fill in the dams because they were on the company’s private property, the spokesperson added.
TLC Aged Care did not respond to the Voice’s request for comment.
However, despite construction fencing being placed around the lake on the day of the Voice’s visit to meet with concerned locals, Ms Wane was still hopeful.
“It is their land, but I would like to think that they call themselves TLC, which is Tender Loving Care and I would like to think they live up to their name,” she said.
“It is a family business so I would have hoped they would have some family values as well.”
