Save Our Suburbs Inc. (Vic)

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!

MORE PLANNING TAKEOVERS Planning Minister Madden's recent actions in taking control of more major strategic development sites is undemocratic and unnecessary, but unfortunately just what the community has come to expect. With the politically sensitive Amcor site in Alphington, the minister simply imposed a mixed use zone (MUZ) but left the City of Yarra in charge of the site. A MUZ leaves the council with much more limited options in trying to turn the site into a sustainable development showpiece with community input. The re-zoning also includes an "incorporated plan overlay" that removes residents' rights to be notified or to appeal about any part of the development.

When Premier Brumby announced two months ago that several thousand development applications would be reviewed to remove "roadblocks" (like council planning schemes and VCAT hearings!), the reason was supposed to be for more construction jobs to provide much-needed housing. Of course we need jobs and more certainty and more housing, but there are better ways to do that than by removing democratic oversight and legitimate planning controls. This just hands windfall profits to developers to create projects that may not integrate properly with local infrastructure and planning policies (including environmentally-sustainable design to improve water and energy conservation).

As well as the recent call-ins of “strategic” sites by the Minister, in February the government unilaterally adopted Amendment VC53 to all Victorian planning schemes, which amends Clause 62.02-1 to include a planning permit exemption for ANY council building works costing less than $1 million.

The amendment was snuck in with no consultation at all under cover of the bushfire recovery amendments. It was adopted by the Minister on Feb.18 and gazetted on Feb.23, just 16 days after the tragic inferno of Feb.7. [http-//www.dse.vic.gov.au/planningschemes/aavpp/62.pdf]