With the election looming, five controversial developments have been approved

Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny has used her sweeping fast-track powers to green-light a string of controversial developments in the past fortnight, before the state government enters pre-election caretaker mode.

Developers now have permission to convert a former orphanage into apartments in Surrey Hills that will rise above local height rules and to build a 15-storey apartment tower in Oakleigh three levels higher than the government’s own limit.

Kilkenny has also approved planning scheme changes so work can progress on a seven-storey hotel in St Kilda, 1100 new homes at the site of the old Talbot Quarry in Oakleigh South, and more than 200 homes in Nagambie.

The projects have faced intense pushback from local councils and some residents, including those who say the developments will tarnish neighbourhood character or that their concerns were not considered appropriately by the government.

The government will enter caretaker mode at 6pm on November 3, and conventions dictate ministers do not make significant policy decisions until after the November 28 election.

Kilkenny approved the Surrey Hills, Oakleigh and St Kilda planning applications via the government’s Development Facilitation Program, a scheme that enables developers to bypass council processes and gives the planning minster ultimate say over whether eligible major projects should be allowed.

The scheme has been criticised by councils and residents who are powerless to overturn the minister’s ruling, and the opposition, which claimed the minister was forcing through the developments.

But Kilkenny said every proposal was considered on its merits, and the facilitation program had approved more than 15,000 homes to help tackle the housing affordability crisis.

Plans for the 76-apartment orphanage redevelopment in Surrey Hills include demolishing a 1941 school building subject to council heritage protections. The redevelopment will be two levels above existing height limits for the area, which is not located within an activity centre the government earmarked for development but is about 500 metres from a train station.

Boroondara Mayor Wes Gault said the council wanted new housing in the area to be respectful to “irreplaceable heritage properties” like St Joseph’s Home for Boys.

“The community made their views clear to the minister for planning on this development, but it is obvious local views on heritage and local character are not important to the minister, who has a long track record of approving inappropriate developments over community views,” he said.

A spokesperson from Tract Consultants, which worked with developer Antipodean Land Developments, said the approval provided an opportunity to reinvigorate a significant site that has been dormant for years.

“The design response carefully integrates heritage restoration and adaptation with new housing, set within generous landscaping and amenities,” the spokesperson said.

In St Kilda, Kilkenny approved plans for a seven-storey hotel, enraging residents and the council.

St Kilda locals Kylie Morrigan and Mal Webb are among neighbours with concerns, including the project’s scale being out of proportion with nearby properties. They are disappointed there is no option to appeal the planning permit at VCAT.

“It’s a little tiny wedge in the midst of an old, old suburb that’s very established, and there’s no wiggle room really,” Morrigan said. “We don’t object to the site being done up, we don’t object to development per se. It needs to be in context.”

Port Philip Mayor Alex Makin said local government had been undercut by the minister.

“All it does is disempower the community and disconnect these planning applications from a broader vision,” he said.

The Oakleigh building includes 122 apartments, shops and four levels of basement parking around the corner from the suburb’s Eaton Mall. In planning documents issued on the project’s approval, the Department of Transport and Planning noted the state’s own 12-storey height limit under activity centre plans was discretionary, and the site could handle more intense development to meet housing needs.

Monash Mayor Stuart James said he was disappointed concerns about “excessive height”, impact on surrounding streets, overshadowing of public places and environmental issues were not reflected in the approval decision.

“This development is substantially taller than what had been anticipated for the area and does not reflect the carefully planned vision for future growth in Oakleigh,” he said.

Kilkenny also modified the planning scheme on Monday to enable work to progress on 1100 new homes at the former site of the Talbot Quarry in Oakleigh South.

Locals previously spoke out over “slimes” deep beneath the surface, and approval bids from the developer failed to progress with Monash council twice.

James said last week’s zoning change did not address long-term arrangements needed to manage contamination, landfill gas and ground conditions.

Neil Li, CEO of the developer, Sterling Global, said a 2020 environmental audit found the site was suitable for sensitive residential use, and all works would be monitored and carried out under site management requirements.

“As approved by the EPA, no site remediation is required; it is only subject to site management measures and conditions,” he said.

Kilkenny also made similar changes enabling a developer to clear native trees and build a lifestyle village in Nagambie, about 130 kilometres north of Melbourne. The council and local nature-lovers fought the decision for more than six years, before the minister approved it directly last week.

Developer Hallmarc’s proposal includes more than 200 homes, and chief executive Michael Loccisano said the application had been through an exhaustive process.

“We’ve minimised the amount of vegetation to be removed and will now enable much-needed affordable housing to proceed … which will serve mostly the ageing population within both Nagambie and people looking to relocate to a regional area to live.”

Opposition planning spokesman David Southwick said the slew of approvals was a “pathetic last-ditch” attempt to force through controversial developments.

“Labor has turned the planning system against locals,” he said. “Labor is forcing these developments through from Spring Street because it knows local communities would never support them.”

But the planning minister said councils and community members were able to voice their concerns, and every project was approved on its merits.

“This is a simple change to help young Victorians and it is working – Victoria is building thousands more homes than any other state but we know there is more to do,” Kilkenny said.

Jonathan O’Brien, chief executive of pro-higher density housing group YIMBY said it was positive that Kilkenny was making sweeping approvals of housing developments before the government enters caretaker mode.

“I think it’s a good thing that a stead pipeline of housing projects remains in train for Victoria.”

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