WOULD you want a three-storey apartment block in your street? That's the question Julia Mawson wanted Monash councillors to ask themselves as they voted in favour of a proposed apartment complex in Mt Waverley last week.

She and 23 other objectors are fighting against the 53-apartment block planned for 436-442 Huntingdale Road.

The council's planning office recommended councillors vote in favour of the proposal, with only Stephen Dimopoulos, Denise McGill and Paul Klisaris voting against.

Mrs Mawson said the apartment complex would be a gross overdevelopment for the area, which is mainly single-storey houses with spacious backyards.

"It's not just behind another house where they might build a double-storey house. It's actually a very big, dense development.

We're looking at potentially 100-plus neighbours at my back fence."

Loss of privacy was another issue, with Mrs Mawson saying three-storey apartments with balconies would inevitably overlook her backyard.

Mt Waverley Ward councillors Joy Banerji, Jieh-Yung Lo and Tom Morrissey voted in favour of the development.

Cr Banerji said she would be happy to live next to the apartments.

"I believe it's been a very good outcome. There's been amendments and discussions.

"We should have more developers willing to work with the council or at least accept amendments."

Cr Banerji said she wanted residents to understand that the council had fought for amendments to make the development better suited to the area.

"If the council is going to have full control over the planning process, there has to be some compromise. It can't be their way or the highway."

Mrs Mawson said the residents would be contesting the development at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

She conceded that half the battle had been lost, but said residents would be fighting to get more amendments to make it better suited to the area. "We'd love at least to get the third storey taken off it, more screening and privacy, and we'd love to get the number of occupants reduced."

However, Cr Banerji said she was worried VCAT would undo the amendments the council had secured. "I fear it's not the best way to go.

"The developer could also refuse things and we could get a worse outcome - certainly one the council wouldn't have accepted. I think that is a likely scenario."