POPULATION BOOK ‘TOO FAST’ FOR SERVICES (Weekly, April 8)
■ This “skilled” net overseas migration is not about lack of skills in Melbourne, or Melton, but about growth in housing. It’s to propagate the housing boom. While our population is set to double by 2061, nothing else will keep up. There are constant shortages of services, such as public transport. Health care and education get cut back.
We have a state government heavily indebted to property development and land subdivisions, and revenue from stamp duties.
Once the costs of growth emerge, the government has moved on and the next government blames the previous one for lack of planning and overspending the budget.
TONY B VIA WEB
BUNNINGS APPLICATION (Weekly, April 8)
■ I’d like to clarify the process regarding the Bunnings planning scheme amendment and development application that went before Moorabool council on April 2.
The council resolution was to request authorisation from the Planning Minister to prepare a planning scheme amendment to rezone the land at the corner of Gisborne Road, Clifton Drive and the Western Highway, from residential zone 1 to commercial zone 2, and to issue a permit with conditions to allow the use and development of a restricted retail premises.
If authorised by the minister, the amendment and draft permit will be placed on exhibition, allowing interested parties to make submissions to the amendment.
The council is consulting with relevant agencies regarding the conditions, which should appear on the permit for exhibition.
These agencies and the wider community will then be given an opportunity to make a submission in regards to the change of zone and/or the draft planning permit.
The council will consider the submissions and if submissions cannot be resolved, councillors will ask the Planning Minister to appoint a planning panel to hear submissions or abandon the amendment.
If a planning panel is held, it will consider all submissions and submitters will have the opportunity to present.
The panel will report back to council and council will make a recommendation to the Planning Minister, the final decision-maker.
SATWINDER SANDHU, GENERAL MANAGER GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT MOORABOOL COUNCIL
