🟠 Boronia's business hub and noise wall nuisances

WHAT’S ON THIS WEEK 🎟️

• FRIDAY 24/10/25, 8PM | Akmal @ Karralyka Centre

• SATURDAY 25/10/25, 6.45-11.55PM | Oktoberfest @ Temple Society in Bayswater

• SATURDAY 25/10/25, 2PM UNTIL DARK | Orchard Grove Primary School Fiesta & Fireworks

📰 RECENT HEADLINES

😔 “Beyond disappointed”: What’s happening on the corner of this major Boronia intersection?

A former president of the Knox Environment Society has hit out at the removal of trees included in the construction of a four-warehouse industrial hub in Boronia.

Following community notification and a public submission period, Victoria’s Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny approved an amendment to the Knox Planning Scheme on June 25 to allow a $77.6 million development at 1061 Mountain Highway in Boronia. 

• Previously the site was occupied by pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline for more than 50 years.

• Construction on the new development began in July, with the first warehouse to house CoolDrive Auto Parts and the Blanchard Racing Team, which fields two cars in the V8 Supercars championship.

While stewards of the site, GlaxoSmithKline cultivated a native garden on the property of more than 1,700 trees and plants.

Former president of the Knox Environment Society, Darren Wallace – who also runs Facebook page Greening Knox – has slammed the situation as “appalling” and “concerning” given the impact the loss of habitat would have on local wildlife, including bats or possums.

While trees along Colchester Road were protected under a Vegetation Protection Overlay, many along the site’s western boundary have been removed.

Under the Knox Planning Scheme, there is no permit application required for a proposal such as the Mountain Highway Logistics Hub, as it is deemed to “make a significant contribution to Victoria’s economy”. Instead, the Planning Minister is able to give full approval.

A State Government spokesperson said the Planning Minister “Fast-tracked the approval for this project which will support more jobs in an important industrial area”.

🚧 Box Hill North residents face the reality of 10-metre tall noise reduction walls

Residents in Box Hill North’s Eram Road are already coping with heavy noise from nearby Eastern Freeway upgrade works.

Now, Whitehorse Council has led the push against proposed 10-metre-tall noise walls that will be built near their homes, with one councillor warning they could block sunlight and reduce residents’ solar power generation.

As part of the Eastern Freeway upgrades, roads are set to widen to up to 20 lanes in some locations.

• In order to reduce noise levels in nearby residential areas, the project team has outlined plans to deliver 3.5 kilometres of new noise barriers, alongside about five kilometres of sound walls already built.

• Major works are set to begin next year and finish in 2028.

Major Road Projects Victoria says new and existing noise barriers will ensure sound levels stay under 63 decibels by day and 58 at night.

Whitehorse councillor Blair Barker said the lack of site-specific details had left Eram Road residents uncertain about how much of their property would be blocked from the sun.

“A number of these people have got fantastic vegetable gardens, they’ve got chooks, they’ve got solar panels,” said Barker.

🛑🔥Whitehorse Council puts gas on the chopping block with $240,000 commitment

Whitehorse Council is committing $240,000 to support six local projects aimed at moving the community away from gas.

At Monday’s council meeting, councillors voted to fund three projects and begin design work on three more. The council is also developing an Emissions Reduction Plan to guide future actions.

The move follows a February decision to stop buying carbon offset credits.

In May, councillors voted to change the Climate Response Strategy, replacing the goal of being “carbon neutral” with a goal to “aspire towards a net-zero emission organisation”.

• In contrast, Monash Council recently achieved carbon neutral status, with councillors voting to spend $45,000 on carbon offset credits, which will get it over the line.

Whitehorse Council’s local projects include:

• Replacing gas heating and hot water at Blackburn North Neighbourhood House, saving 2.81 tonnes of emissions annually

• Upgrading gas heating and cooking at the Burgess Family Centre, saving 2.45 tonnes

• Replacing gas heating and exploring sustainable greenhouse heating at the Parks Nursery and Horticultural Centre, saving 2.64 tonnes.

Councillor Daniel Griffiths said he was “happy to see this invested locally and addressing our own greenhouse gas emissions”.

In 2022/23, Whitehorse Council produced 17,550 tonnes of emissions, offset through external projects.

• In 2023/24, emissions rose to 19,182 tonnes, mostly from natural gas, electricity, and fleet fuel use.

• Last year, the council switched to 100% renewable electricity through the Victorian Energy Collaboration.

🤫 Silence and mystery surround Pinewood Bendigo Bank’s permanent branch closure

Local customers and business owners have been left confused and disrupted by the permanent closure of its Bendigo Bank branch at the Pinewood Shopping Village in Mount Waverley.

According to local business owners, the offices and associated signage of the Pinewood Bendigo Bank were recently gutted.

The branch’s official website has confirmed the news, listing the branch as “permanently closed” and encouraging customers to visit the Glen Waverley branch.

The Eastern Melburnian understands the doors closed on September 2, with those planning to use the ATM connected to the branch also finding it to be non-operational.

In a letter to shareholders on September 9, Pinewood Community Financial Services Limited (PCFSL) chairperson and managing director Robert Davies said the bank was required to “temporarily suspend its operations”.

“We are currently unable to provide specific details regarding the circumstances surrounding the closure,” Davies said.

An undated letter to shareholders then confirmed the franchise agreement between Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Limited and Pinewood Community Financial Services Limited has ended.

The Eastern Melburnian has reached out to representatives from both Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Limited and PCFSL for comment, with a Bendigo Bank spokesperson only saying it had “no further comment” to provide.

SEEN THIS WEEK 🤓

🔪 How this 20-something turned his hobby for sharpening knives into a business

One of our contributors, Justine de Jonge, popped down to Steel to Stone owner Ari Chesterman’s home garage to see and talk about how he hones his craft.