Council & Business
3 March, 2026
Supporters find housing decision disappointing
Supporters of a community housing development proposed for Maryborough are disappointed in Central Goldfields Shire Council’s recent decision to refuse it.
Local supporters of a community housing development proposed for Maryborough are disappointed in Central Goldfields Shire Council’s recent decision to refuse it.
The community remains divided over a proposed 34 dwelling development for Sebastopol Road which was narrowly refused by councillors at February’s council meeting.
The vote went against what council officers recommended — to approve the application with 73 permit conditions.
The proposed development would have been managed by YWCA who provide low cost subsidised rental accommodation for women and gender diverse people and their families.
Despite this, the nearby community have opposed the application across 33 submissions to council and a petition with 390 signatures.
However, local Jeff Hoober believes the proposed development was subject to a “whisper campaign” of misinformation.
“To me [councillors against are] showing a lack of understanding,” he said.
President of the Carisbrook Lions Club Jefferson Hoober agreed and said he was initially against the proposal before he learned more.
“There’s too many empty shops now, too many empty buildings, and you want to keep it alive,” he said.
“It’s a no brainer.”
The council officer’s recommendation found that “on balance”, against the requirement of the planning scheme and council policy, approval was warranted.
According to their findings objectors describing the proposal as an “overdevelopment” were incorrect because buildings covered approximately 40 percent of the site — significantly below the 65 percent maximum.
The objections expanded out to a wide range of issues relating to neighbourhood character, amenity, traffic, parking, bushfire risk, stormwater, vegetation, infrastructure, and broader social and economic impacts.
According to the report, council officers considered these concerns as part of the assessment process.
They found that overall, alongside advice from relevant authorities and council departments, there was capacity to address the identified matters through permit conditions.
It’s a recommendation supported by Talbot’s Roger Mann, who said there was a “huge” need for housing in Maryborough.
“We want to see Maryborough grow and be healthy. This is a start, it’s not the total, but at least it’s a start,” he said.
Early last year the State Government imposed housing targets on local government areas to meet growing demand — Central Goldfields Shire’s was 1700 homes by 2051.
During the February meeting councillor Gerard Murphy, who was in favour of the development, said the State Government wanted the development to be approved.
“The State Government wants this to happen,” he said.
“Don’t be fooled, the State Government changed [the planning scheme in] March last year for this to happen.”
Council’s decision to refuse the planning permit can be appealed by the applicant at VCAT.
Pending a decision on the 34 dwelling application, the developer is still approved for a 21-lot subdivision on the site.