Council has put out a Media Release (and a Public Notice in today’s Leader) regarding Amendment C87 which proposes to simply tinker with the current inadequacies of the Planning Scheme rather than addressing the root problems. We will be dissecting this proposed Amendment which we believe is inequitable in that only 17 designated areas within the municipality will receive greater ‘protection’. Is it a case of ‘to hell with the rest’ and more open slather for developers? Below is the Media Release and the usual spin!
Neighbourhood character amendment on exhibition
The Glen Eira community has until Monday 5 March to provide written feedback on Glen Eira City Council’s proposed amendment to the Glen Eira Planning Scheme.
Amendment C87 proposes to introduce new planning scheme controls — neighbourhood character overlays and design and development overlays to control dwellings and to help protect 17 residential areas identified as having a high-level of neighbourhood character significance against inappropriate development.
A key focus of the amendment is to provide more detailed information about these distinctive areas through improved character descriptions and a preferred character statement for each.
There will also be a requirement to apply for a planning permit for demolition, alteration and additions to single dwellings, new dwellings and front fencing in these areas.
Council’s Director City Development Jeff Akehurst said these controls are based on a rigorous assessment of neighbourhood character conducted by planning consultants and completed in 2011.
“By proceeding with the amendment, it will give Council greater control over all dwellings, which can often through their siting and design, pose a real threat to neighbourhood character,” Mr Akehurst said.
Further information regarding Amendment C87 is available from Council’s Service Centre Council’s libraries and Council’s website: www.gleneira.vic.gov.au
Glen Eira Debates 
January 31, 2012 at 11:22 AM
I’m far from an expert in all of this but it’s apparent that what this amendment proposes has got very little to do with strengthening any controls in the designated Minimal Change Areas apart from the 17 areas within the MCA. What’s also disheartening is that some areas currently in the MCA are now going to be reclassified as Housing Diversity. Instead of increasing protection residents are going to find that they’ve actually lost out in those areas.
January 31, 2012 at 1:24 PM
For years and years residents have been told that the council website is about to be improved. Nothing ever happens though and the same old useless design and search engine still persists. Being a cynic of course, my take on all this is that it’s deliberate. Any efficient website would allow you to find things straight off. The webmaster would ensure that links to important notices or policies are upfront and easy to find – and that they’re all current. None of this has ever happened with the council website. You have to spend hours and hours going down blind alleys to have any hope of finding what you’re after. The latest amendment illustrates my point. I reckon that a prize should be offered to the first person who can find the c87 documentation without resorting to dozens of clicks. It should be on the homepage clearly visible to everyone. It’s not so my cynicism is proved correct.
January 31, 2012 at 2:17 PM
Good points about the GE web site, the management team at Glen Eira know it has a large elderly population and a significant English as a second language population. The web site makes few if any concession to these groups.
The search engine is useless for locating the most common documents and queries.
I to would say its a deliberate policy of frustrating the flow of information.
January 31, 2012 at 10:00 PM
Yes, the amendment isn’t easy to find and the search function hasn’t worked properly for a couple of years.
For those interested, this is the link –
http://www.gleneira.vic.gov.au/Page/page.asp?Page_Id=1638&h=0#BM10033
January 31, 2012 at 10:05 PM
I too find the website near impossible to navigate. So long (years) ago I was advised by Mr Burke that it would be improved very soon…..
Regarding the planning changes, the timing is interesting given the forthcoming Community Plan consultations. Would it not be more appropriate to included such proposed changes in these forums? This would provide a greater opportunity for the Glen Eira community to express their views.
The timing of the consultations for the Community Plan is also interesting given the 2011 Census results will not be released until June 2012, October 2012 and March 2013. Thus, we, as a community, will not have the opportunity to analyse them and make truly informed contributions (loose use of the term in the GE context) at the community forums.
January 31, 2012 at 11:22 PM
This planning scheme amendment reminds me of “Animal Farm” – starts off with all pigs are equal and then transitions to some pigs are more equal than others.
Glen Eira has been decimating their 80/20 rule (80% protected, to hell with the 20%) for years now so it is no wonder that they are now going after more areas to decimate with development as the 20% is becoming maxed out.
I urge all residents to read the document carefully and make sure that their prized home is not in one of the four areas to stripped of any pretence of protection.