However, the approved development is well over the council height limit of 10 storeys (32 metres) for new buildings in the central Greensborough location. It will also have fewer car parks than otherwise required, with just 100 spaces to be included.

Banyule Council said it objected to the building height and limited car parking – as well as the absence of three and four-bedroom apartments – but those concerns were ultimately not addressed by the state government.

Mayor Elizabeth Nealy said she shared community frustrations about a lack of consultation on the project.

“This is a significant proposal for Greensborough, and is another example of local planning decisions not being made by locals,” she said.

Nealy said the council supported more social and affordable housing, but said it needed to be community-informed, well-designed and suited to the area.

She said council will continue to advocate to the Victorian government to reconsider their recently introduced planning reforms, which can create more of these developments without community consultation.

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The Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) rebuked the government’s powers under DFP when they were introduced, arguing they amounted to a further concentration of power in the minister’s office and risked future liveability.

The group also questioned whether the pathway would actually deliver faster decisions, given applications are decided within four months in contrast to the statutory 60-day timeframe for councils.

The government sees boosting housing supply as a central path to next year’s state election and frequently seeks to position the opposition as “blockers”.

Richard Welch, the Liberal MP for the north-eastern metropolitan region, said the government’s decision to push through the Greensborough development was deeply disrespectful to the local community.

“This project was approved behind closed doors, using powers that bypass council and silence community voices,” he said.

“People have a fundamental right to know about, and have a say in, the shaping of their neighbourhood; especially when it comes to something of this scale. They should not be ignored by a government that treats any concerns or questions as an inconvenience.”

Last week, the government used these same powers to approve an eight-storey development of 110 homes in Murrumbeena which will lead to the loss of commuter and short-term parking.

Glen Eira Mayor Simone Zmood said she was disappointed the planning minister did not address key local concerns before approving it.

“The approved permit fails to address Glen Eira City Council’s concerns about loss in commuter and short-term car parking, the reduction in car parking for the development and the amount of sunlight in the development’s public plaza,” she said.

Zmood said the reduction of 90 car spaces would have a significant impact on the parking demand in the Murrumbeena activity centre.

“While we support more housing options within the Murrumbeena activity centre, we believe it must be done responsibly to maintain liveability for current and future residents,” she said.

A spokeswoman for Kilkenny said the government’s housing reforms were delivering thousands more homes than any other state.

“Blocking homes does nothing to help Victorians who are struggling to find a place to live close to the things that matters to them,” she said.

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