KINGSTON Council has slammed the planning minister’s approval of a plan to build more than 900 homes at the former Kingswood golf course in Dingley Village, calling the decision a “complete failure to listen to local residents”.
Late on Friday, 17 October, planning minister Sonya Kilkenny released a statement confirming that a proposal to build 941 homes on the golf course site had been approved. Kingston Council was informed its planning authority over the site had been removed earlier this year.
Kingston mayor Georgina Oxley has hit out at the state government. She said “more than 1400 residents took the time to make submissions. They were ignored. The government’s own advisory processes identified serious concerns. They were dismissed. This approval prioritises developer interests over community wellbeing and our residents are angry.”
“Let’s be clear – this is not just another development. This is a fundamental transformation of an established suburb that was never planned to absorb this scale of growth,” she said. “Allowing 941 new homes in this location is just reckless and our community has made their concerns abundantly clear for years – concerns around flooding, traffic chaos, pressure on schools, sporting facilities and health services, the destruction of mature trees and open space, and the complete loss of local character. Yet the Victorian Government has chosen to press ahead without committing to deliver the infrastructure and protections that residents rightly expect.
“If the state government insists this development proceed, then they, along with the developer, must invest significantly in roads, schools, sporting facilities, drainage, active transport links and community infrastructure. Local residents must not be left to carry the burden. “This decision may have been made in Spring Street, but the consequences will be felt in Kingston for generations. We will continue to fight for our community every step of the way.” Planning minister Sonya Kilkenny was contacted for comment.
The site is owned by developer Satterley. AustralianSuper bought the site in 2014, and had planned to build around 800 dwellings on it before receiving more than 8000 community objections to its proposal. It sold the site to Satterley in 2024.
Kingston councillor Caroline White has been among the leading voices in opposition to the redevelopment proposal. She said “this decision shows contempt for local people.” “The minister for planning, who has ultimate responsibility for planning outcomes in Victoria, must now answer for a decision that places developer interests ahead of the environment and community safety,” White said.
“This is not just a planning issue – it is a public safety and environmental crisis in the making.”
After Satterley purchased the site last year, Satterley chief executive Nigel Satterley said the land would be used to build a “diverse” range of housing.
“The provision of a variety of lot sizes within the project will appeal to a diverse purchaser profile, including downsizers into more suitable housing, local upgraders, first home buyers through lower priced townhouse product and younger families with larger housing on smaller blocks with ready access to immaculately landscaped open spaces,” Satterley said. (“Variety of houses on golf course, The News 13/3/2024)
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 29 October 2025