Today’s Age:
New broom sweeps away planning laws
Jason Dowling
December 11, 2010
PLANNING laws that made building high-density apartments near train and tram lines in Melbourne easier have been dumped.
In one of his first official acts as Victoria’s new Planning Minister, Matthew Guy last night overturned the former Brumby government planning laws facilitating high-density residential developments near all public transport and began an overhaul of the state’s planning system.
It will take about 10 days for Mr Guy’s changes to planning laws on public transport routes to come into effect.
The minister told The Age that instead of sprinkling high-density housing across Melbourne, the Baillieu government would look at massive strategic developments in specific sites close to the central business district, including at Fishermans Bend, the 20-hectare E-Gate site just off Footscray Road, and the area around Richmond station.
In a wide-ranging interview Mr Guy also promised that:
■ His first priority will be to tackle housing affordability with increased land supply and urban renewal.
■ The Growth Areas Authority will be incorporated in the Department of Planning.
■ He will not retrospectively block the Hotel Windsor redevelopment, but believes it should not have exceeded the recommended height controls for the precinct.
■ Has no intention of reviewing the Heritage Act.
■Will work on housing more of Victoria’s booming population in regional centres such as Geelong.
Mr Guy said Victoria’s new Treasurer, Kim Wells, would soon announce the promised stamp duty cuts of 50 per cent for those buying a first home valued up to $600,000.
A new Urban Renewal Authority would be created in the next year to spearhead the massive new inner-city developments, Mr Guy said.
”We believe that Melbourne has huge potential for urban renewal.
”We look at places like Fishermans Bend, like E-Gate, areas such as Richmond station and others, which have been talked about for decades and never acted upon – we see these proposals as real opportunities for urban renewal in Melbourne.
”I believe this will be a hallmark of our generation, to leave to our children a city that believes not just in real homes on the edge of the city, but real opportunity for large-scale urban renewal close to the city, close to public transport and close to jobs, which can be realised, which is not pie in the sky.”
Labor planning spokesman Brian Tee said the Coalition’s housing strategy was too narrow.
”Baillieu promised to fix the problems, but this approach is going to create problems,” he said.
”You need an even spread, greater options rather just Richmond and the growth areas.
”Young couples need choices and we need to regenerate our housing.
”He is going to increase the cost of living, he is going to increase the cost of housing, he is going to drive young people, our best and brightest, interstate. They won’t have options – their only option is going to be growth areas or interstate.
”It is easy to say where people can’t live; Mr Guy has got to say where people can live.”
Glen Eira Debates 
December 11, 2010 at 9:51 AM
If the C60 is passed on Monday night then the only word to describe the actions of councillors would be folly. Then the community could add stupidity, gormlessness, and many more that are not so complimentary. Words that describe Newton’s role in all this are countless. They are unprintable. Why, oh why, oh why, was this ever put on the agenda at the death knell of the year, and particularly when there has just been a change of government. Any prudent and wise leader would hold back, wait to see which way the wind blows unless there is the resolve to get the damned thing through, by hook or by crook, before any untoward changes interrupt the grand scheme. The history of C60 will forever taint this administration and its compliant councillors.
December 11, 2010 at 11:35 AM
The C60 document produced by Council has Newton’s mantra all over it:
1) Baffle with irrelevant Statistics that confuse the reader. Next to Machiavelli’s “The Prince” sits “How to lie with Statistics” in Newton’s library. Both have been well read with pages dog eared and sections highlighted. All his other books including those on Community Consultation have never been opened and are only there for show
2)Hold meetings when residents are focussed on other things. Yes we can see that the MRC and Newton reached agreement 3 months ago, but lets rush the proposal through just before Christmas when Christian residents are focussed on other things such as church pagents, shopping and stuffing turkeys.
3) Show me the money. Thats all that drives Newton, “ex gratia” payments, land sales, having other people do your work for you. I thought the MBA also had other units but Newton seems to have missed those classes.
4) Surround yourself with yes men/women, especially Councillors. The contempt he shows for Councillors is amazing, already approving a planning decision on Tuesday re C60 before it has been approved by Councillors on Monday. The again, its only formalities.
If there are people who challenge you, isolate them. Winkypop was a good excuse to sideline Penhalluriack, Lobo and Forge. Also bring in the lawyers to confuse the issue and best of all, bill it all back to the residents.
Newton you have excelled in your Machiavellian tactics yet again, just as you have for the past 10 years. Glen Eira is going backward but your henchmen in the gang of four (Tang, Lipshutz, Esakoff and Hyams)are still in power and will be until more people wake up…unfortunately it may all be too late to save Glen Eira.
December 14, 2010 at 12:37 AM
It is very puzzling why we have an election for a candidate in the Camden Ward and why ratepayers are obliged to pay for over a thousand workers and councillors in the Glen EiraTown Hall building who they elected. Maybe the “Glen Eira rulemakers” regarding winkeypop (in my opinion criminal robbery of our representation in troubled Camden) could explain why we elect good people to carry out our wishes. Me no understand the meaning of democracy!! Fellow readers could explain why the concept of a political campaign “to sell ice creams before the election” cannot even be commented on or carried out in any way by our representatives when considering matters in relation to the selleng of ice creams after elections. The racecourse’s interests are cared for so well by ther Glen Eira Council. Theclub is offered reduced rates as it is such a big area. So in effect we all subsidise the racecourse financially, as well as through our street parking supply, our detours when they are busy and our removal of bottles from the footpath when their guests throw them down and the unwanted hosting of any guests, who have been served irresponsibly within the racecourse so are simply thrown onto our streets.