Sarah Oliver
Melton council fears proposed state government planning reforms will erode its planning powers and limit community consultation about significant planning applications.
The government’s Planning Reform Program is seeking to streamline the planning process for proposals which are considered important for the state’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and economic growth more generally, such as the Big Housing Build.
A report to Monday’s council meeting said council was concerned that changes will have the effect of “eroding local councils’ planning powers and the community’s ability to be consulted
on significant planning applications”.
While details of the government’s reform program have yet to be fully outlined, a report to council said it appeared evident that some traditional planning powers are progressively being moved from local government to state government.
The report was prepared in response to a notice of motion from councillor Moira Deeming at the August 30 council meeting, raising concerns about the planning reforms and urging council to ask the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) to advocate more directly with the government about councils’ concerns.
Speaking at Monday’s council meeting, Cr Deeming said the opportunity to appeal against development projects is important to the community.
“… Our community should not be bypassed. Their rights should not be erased,” Cr Deeming said.
Cr Kathy Majdlik said she wanted to be clear council is in support of the state’s Big Housing Build project, which will result in new social housing in the area.
However, Cr Majdlik also voiced her concern with the government’s plan to streamline the project saying the community should remain central in planning decisions.
“We have seen what has happened in the past even in this municipality, when the community are left out of important decisions as well as this council regarding our community.
“Many of these decisions are made by people that don’t necessarily even know what our demographic is or where we live or… the people that live in our municipality,” Cr Majdlik said.
The state government were contacted for comment.
