SOS Notice of 2009 Annual General Meeting

AGENDA:

1. Confirm the minutes of the last preceding annual general meeting;
2. Receive Committee reports on transactions of the Association during the preceding financial year;
3. Receive and consider the statement submitted by the Association re section 30(3) of the Act;
4. Elect officers of the Association and ordinary members of the Committee #

#NB: At this AGM, elections will be held for the positions of Vice-President, Secretary and four ordinary committee members. SOS members financial until 30 June 2009 or later are eligible to vote.

The next SOS newsletter has just been mailed out to members and can be downloaded here as a 4-page pdf:
Issue 25 - October 2009

This edition covers:

* Hi-rise residential buildings along transport corridors
* Liquor win for community - the Corner Hotel case
* SOS and Yarra election upset
* Beware deals with developers - and don't assume
Council will argue your case for you at VCAT

These three submissions are on the SOS Policies and Submissions page.

The detailed SOS submission to the current review of VCAT deals with the reform of existing operations at the Planning List of VCAT, as well as recommendations for more major changes to the way the Tribunal functions to improve planning outcomes in Victoria.

As you've no doubt been hearing in the media for weeks now, the Planning Minister has embarked on a "call-in" spree to give "strategically important projects" a permit without any transparent process or community input. Local councillors as well as residents are becoming increasingly outraged.

A COALITION OF CONCERNED COUNCILLORS WILL JOIN FORCES WITH RESIDENTS IN A PROTEST RALLY ON THE STEPS OF PARLIAMENT ON WEDNESDAY 10TH JUNE AT 1 PM.
This action is being organised by the Planning Backlash Coalition - 9882 2829 or 0401 834 899

Premier Brumby and Planning Minister Madden are by-passing planning laws to fast track the building of hundreds of apartment complexes and school extensions without council planning permits.

NOTE: if you need more time, contact the Dept. of Planning and Community Development on 9637 2000. Ask for the section handling submissions for the Review of the Planning Act and request an extension. Or you could email them at PEActreview@dpcd.vic.gov.au. SOS is aware of many individuals and professionals who have already done so, and it is also possible that the deadline will be officially extended.

So now's your chance to tell the government how you think the Planning & Environment Act should be improved!