Council & Business
16 January, 2026
Proposed community housing development draws neighbourhood’s criticism
Nearby Maryborough residents have condemned proposed community housing as an “overdevelopment” while the developer said it addresses an affordable housing crisis locally.
A planning application for Sebastopol Road proposes a 34 dwelling development which, when complete, will be run by a registered community housing provider targeting those with low to moderate incomes.
However, the proposal has attracted 33 submissions from the community whose concerns include the development’s density, bushfire risk, changes to the neighbourhood’s character, congestion, and drainage.
The quantity of objections is in stark contrast to a 21-lot subdivision approved by Central Goldfields Shire Council for the same site last year.
The earlier application only received one objection which was later withdrawn once the issue raised was resolved.
As a result a planning permit was issued on June 26, 2025, under delegation rather than at a council meeting.
It has not been acted on given the more recent application which is considered crowded by objectors.
The immediate area is currently fairly undeveloped, limited to a small amount of local traffic, with significant bushland nearby.
“We believe we have been misled as the current proposal has changed dramatically from what was first proposed,” one submission read.
The current application proposes 34 single-story brick dwellings for the site including a mixture of two and three bedroom homes, with some dwellings physically attached.
The owner and developer Justin Crameri, director of JCP Property Pty Ltd, said the development has expanded because there’s a demand for homes in the Maryborough community.
“We have a housing crisis and people need houses to live in,” he said.
“People want to live locally, they want to drive to work in five minutes, and they want to come back to their home.”
However, some objectors don’t agree the development is socially rather than monetarily motivated.
“This is a recipe for unrest within the community: we all [know] it but nobody today cares to speak their minds on such matters,” one submission read.
“If you are going to build a development, do it right for the long haul, don’t cram people into a box because it’s financially better.”
While Mr Crameri said he was sympathetic to the objectors concerns and their “genuine attachment” to the area he said the development had been properly done.
He said traffic, drainage, bushfire, waste management, and environmental matters have all been assessed and can be appropriately managed, with no unacceptable impacts.
Likewise, he said relevant authorities including the CFA, Central Highlands Water, Powercor, DEECA, and Goulban Murray Water have provided their support.
“We’ve been through a very robust, highly detailed process not just with our experts but with the other authorities as well,” he said.
“We’re doing the right thing here.”
Many submissions were concerned their neighbourhood’s character was under threat — some living in the community for decades.
“I have lived here for just over 30 years and the proposed development is completely at odds with our neighbourhood building sizes, block sizes, and overall design-landscape and lifestyle our spacious and environment friendly area has always provided,” a submission read.
Mr Crameri said the area is characterised by significant variation in lot size, dwelling form, and development era including large amounts of vacant land.
“Over the past 40 years, the Sebastopol Road, Ironbark and Ghost Gum areas have evolved in response to changing demographics, housing needs, and planning policy. This proposal reflects that evolution,” he said.
“While it will alter the immediate visual context, with the development of vacant land, it does so in a way that is consistent with the pattern of change already evident across Maryborough and further throughout regional Victoria.”
While 10 trees are proposed to be removed Mr Crameri said 130 new trees would be strategically planted to offer 20 percent tree canopy cover and improve privacy for adjoining neighbours.
“It’s going to make the site green, shaded, visually softened over time,” he said.
Submissions were also concerned 34 dwellings would bring too much congestion to the neighbourhood.
The site’s traffic impact assessment report found this wouldn’t be the case and, while there’s a parking shortfall of six spaces, the ability for residents of the three-bedroom homes to park in their driveway would offset this.
Mr Crameri also said he’ll be improving the area’s infrastructure, which currently is a gravel road or in his words a “goat trail”, including sealing the road and improving drainage.
“There’s a whole lot of really heavy upgrading of the infrastructure surrounding the site which must occur so people can flush the toilet and turn on the lights,” he said.
“I think it’s going to be a really ripping project for Maryborough.”
Central Goldfields Shire Council are expected to decide on the planning application in early 2026.