MEDIA RELEASE FROM THE MINISTER FOR PLANNING – Wednesday May 28, 2003

Funds for public open space in the City of Glen Eira will grow according to the number  of residents who move into new subdivisions, the Minister for Planning, Mary Delahunty said today. Announcing approval of a scheme that will link developer contributions to the density of the subdivision, Ms Delahunty said approval of Amendment C20 to the Glen Eira planning scheme would introduce a formula to help developers determine their open space contribution.

“Although the City of Glen Eira has terrific parkland, it is a relatively meagre supply overall – running a poor second for the least amount across all metropolitan councils per head of population,” she said. “Part of what the Bracks Government is striving for under Melbourne 2030 is more open space where it is limited and where demand is growing as well as a more certain planning process, where the likelihood of dispute is reduced.”

Ms Delahunty said the amendment reflects the same open space principles that have been in place in Glen Eira, but makes the outcome more certain by fixing the contribution rate payable by developers.

The member for Bentleigh, Rob Hudson, said lack of public open space is a concern for residents and council has also struggled to bargain with developers for appropriate contributions to open space – often ending up in the hands of the appeals tribunal. He said the council had sought the reform. The changes include:

  • Developers of subdivision in suburbs relatively well-served by public open space will pay less, whereas the charges for subdivisions in suburbs less well-served will increase;
  • Developers of subdivisions close to parks will pay less;
  • Developers who provide less than 40m2 of open space for most dwellings will pay more; and
  • Subdivisions of six units or more that provide useable communal open space will pay less.

“For example, if you are building a 4-lot subdivision in Bentleigh, are within 300 metres of a park and are providing an average of 40m2 of private open space per unit, you will need to contribute 2.5 per cent of the value of that land to public open space,” he said. “These changes will make the system for creating public open space in the City of Glen Eira more certain without placing an undue burden on developers,” Mr Hudson said. “Local parks are a vital part of our urban fabric, which we must support and maintain for the long-term – so we have liveable places for current and future generations,” he said.

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Glen Eira Council Annual Reports for the periods ending June 30th, 2002/3 to 2009/10 reveal the following income from open space levies –

2003      –             $1,249,000

2004      –             $1,453,000

2005      –             $1, 049,000

2006      –             $1,253,000

2007      –             $1,151,000

2008      –             $821,000

2009      –             $1,518,000

2010      –             $1,664,000

QUESTIONS

1.     Land prices have skyrocketed, development has skyrocketed in Glen Eira, yet from 2003 to 2010, the increase in revenue was less than half a million. Why?

2.     Monies are meant to be spent on ‘public open space’ and ‘improvements’. To the best of our knowledge only 1 property (Packer Park) has been added to the open space of Glen Eira via these monies. Why?

3.     $10,158,000 has been declared as open space levies. Where has all this money gone? Why hasn’t it been used for the primary intended purpose, especially since Glen Eira repeatedly claims to have a lack of public open space?

4.     Has council collected all the monies it is entitled to, or have various developments escaped these costs over the years? If so, how many, and why?

This is your job councillors! Insist on the answers to these questions!