Important new parlimentary committee - "STANDING COMMITTEE ON FINANCE AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION "
The non-labour parties in the Victorian upper house have combined to set up a permanent committee to examine ANY finance and public administration issues.
We've yet to see how wide the scope of the Committee's investigations will be, but it appears likely to include local Council administration (particularly planning departments!), overall planning processes (including VCAT), and the role of the State Government in decision making on urban planning issues - including the actions of the planning Minister.
We certainly hope it will!
So get your submissions ready, the committee will get started early in the new year!
St Kilda triangle site to go to the Supreme Court
The ridiculous development proposed for the St Kilda triangle looks like it's on the way to the Supreme Court. This looks like a slam dunk case for the residents (as nobody could call this development a 'public purpose') but as we find on many occasions, the law and logic often don't have much in common...
We urge everyone to go to the unChain St Kilda site and lodge and objection!
Camberwell Station Update
From The Age
Cameron Houston
November 30, 2007
THE eight-year battle to redevelop Camberwell station is set to intensify, with new plans for office buildings, luxury apartments, retail space and a public plaza on the historic site.
The campaign to transform land abutting the heritage-listed station into a commercial hub has encountered fierce opposition from Boroondara Council and become a litmus test of the State Government's Melbourne 2030 planning blueprint.
Camberwell residents have vowed to picket any development that crowds out their beloved station. Actors Geoffrey Rush and Barry Humphries have rallied to the cause.
See The Age for the full article
Victoria Gardens PDP approved by Victorian Upper House
Last Wednesday, the Legislative Council of Victoria approved C95 for the city of Yarra - turning a large chunk of land on the banks of the Yarra into a prioirty development zone.
The Hansard makes very interesting reading, and we would like to thank Greg Barber (Greens) and Peter Hall (Nationals) for their outstanding support in trying to defeat C95, as well as Peter Kavanagh from the DLP who also voted against it.
(See our original story regarding this development)
We had strongly urged the Legislative Council to vote NO for this amendment, and had sent the following letter to all Victorian MP's -
Public lands and open space - inquiry by Upper House
Update: The first report is out. On 2 May 2007, the Legislative Council established a 7 Member all-party select committee to inquire into the use and development of public land and open space in Victoria. For full details go to http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/council/publicland/ SOS would like to commend the Victorian Legislative Council for creating this Select Committee to inquire into the use and development of public land and open space in Victoria. It is an area that desperately needs Government inquiry, and we hope that the Committee will include many specific recommendations in its final tabled report. Please read the SOS submission. Also read the transcript of SOS President Ian Quick giving evidence at the Committee. Unlike most Planning committees/panels, this is being run as an open and transparent process, with public submissions actually being made public! We encourage members to make submissions!