Item 9.6 listed in the Agenda for next council meeting raises many questions. Here is a seemingly innocuous amendment that seeks to establish a car park for a current supermarket in Murrumbeena Road. According to the officer’s report, one residential dwelling will be demolished and the car park created. The land will be rezoned from Residential 1 to Business 1. There were five submissions – 2 opposing and 3 in favour. Straight forward you say? No, no, no!

The recommendation is: “That Council resolves to request the Minister for Planning to refer Amendment C76 to an Independent Panel to consider submissions.”

What on earth is going on here? What aren’t we being told? Why seek a panel? Ostensibly this is minor stuff, not a huge development. Why waste everyone’s time, including money, for something so apparently ‘trivial’. What is the hidden agenda/motive? If anyone has any ideas on this, then please let us know.