We thought it time to have a close look at how Glen Eira compares with its neighbours on up-to-date planning and forward thinking. True to form, most of the central planning policies in Glen Eira date back to the mid or late nineties. Even the promise to include all central policies on council’s website has never materialised. Basically the agenda is ‘business as usual’, with no real updated local analyses, no up-to-date long term articulated vision and certainly no ‘improvements’.
Below we feature the Incorporated/Reference Documents that are listed in the various council planning schemes. We’ve focused on open space, urban design/land use, and heritage. We ask that readers pay particular attention to:
- The various dates, and
- The Glen Eira City Council Traffic Report-Child Care Centres Study March 2009. This is supposedly the document upon which the Amendment removing the child care centres from the ‘non-residential uses in residential areas’ was largely founded upon. Yet, it was never mentioned in the officer’s report and has certainly never been placed into the public domain! Another ‘mystery report’ that remains secret and unaccountable.
GLEN EIRA
Glen Eira Long Term Open Space Strategy, City of Glen Eira, 1998
Glen Eira Heritage Management Plan, 1996
Glen Eira Retail / Commercial Strategy, Essential Economics, 1998
Urban Village Structure Plan, Glen Eira City Council, June 1999
Economic Overview, Henshall Hansen & Associates, 1997
City of Glen Eira Business Development Strategy, 1998
Glen Eira 2020, 1996
Housing and Residential Development Strategy, Glen Eira City Council, 2002
Urban Character Study, Anne Cunningham & Anne Keddie, 1996
Glen Eira City Council Traffic Report-Child Care Centres Study March 2009.
KINGSTON
Retail and Commercial Development Strategy 2006
Highett Structure Plan, May 2006
“City of Kingston Heritage Study Stage One Report”, Living Histories, 2000
“City of Kingston Heritage Study Stage Two”, Bryce Raworth Pty Ltd, 2004
Highett Structure Plan, May 2006
STONNINGTON
Chapel Vision Structure Plan 2007- 2031, City of Stonnington, December 2007.
City of Stonnington, Public Realm Strategy, October 2010
Commercial Strategy: Stonnington City Council, 1999
Forrest Hill Structure Plan; Stonnington City Council, 2005
Heritage Guidelines; Stonnington City Council, 2002
Heritage Overlay Citations; Stonnington City Council (various dates)
Late night liquor licence trading in the Chapel Street Precinct: measuring the saturation levels Research Paper, April 2010
Prahran Conservation Study: Conservation Controls; Nigel Lewis, 1983
Prahran Data Base: Prahran Conservation Study Listing; Nigel Lewis, 1992
Prahran Character and Conservation Study; Prahran City Council, 1992
Review of Policies and Controls for the Yarra River Corridor – Punt Road to Burke Road; Consultant Report, June 2005
Stonnington Open Space Strategy; Thompson Berrill Landscape Design Pty Ltd, 2000
Stonnington Thematic Environmental History, 2006
Stonnington Thematic Environmental History: Update 1 Addendum, March 2009
City of Stonnington Heritage Overlay Gap Study, Heritage Overlay Precincts Final Report, March 2009
Urban Design Strategy; Stonnington City Council, 1998
Waverley Road Urban Design Framework Plan, 2008
PORT PHILLIP
Sustainable Design Policy (2006)
Port Phillip Housing Strategy (2007)
Port Phillip Activity Centres Implementation Plan (2007)
Port Phillip Activity Centres Strategy (2006)
Port Phillip Industry and Business Strategy (2003)
Open Space Strategy (2006, Revised 2009)
Open Space Strategy Implementation Plan Framework (2009)
Foreshore Management Plan (2004)
Port Phillip Housing Strategy (2007)
Port Phillip Design Manual (2000)
South Melbourne Central Structure Plan (2007)
South Melbourne Central Urban Design Framework (2007)
Ormond Road Urban Design Guidelines (2007)
Beacon Cove Neighbourhood Character Guidelines 2010 (SJB Urban, 2010)
Carlisle Street Activity Centre Structure Plan (2009)
Carlisle Street Urban Design Framework (2009)
Glen Eira Debates 
August 24, 2012 at 11:46 AM
The currency and thus credibility of these policies is further tarnished when you take into account that it takes up to several years for them to be drafted, tabled and then approved by the minister as part of the planning scheme. That would mean policies dated as 2000 for example are relying on data that is already several years old. I think that each one of these should have another 2 years deducted from their stated dates.
Makes me wonder exactly what this administration has been doing for the past 15 years except dropping policy after policy instead of updating them. That’s a lot easier for sure.
August 24, 2012 at 12:38 PM
One could take your blog two ways. Either the Council is hopeless which we know it isn’t, or the initial Glen Eira Councillor’s and Administrators did a fantastic job in writing policies which have stood the test of time..Anyone close to Council knows that policies which are regularily used and applied are reviewed constantly but perhaps not formally.Ask any Planner what they think of Mr Akehurst and his Staff. Look at the new State Government proposals re planning and you will note they are almost the same as the initial Glen Eira Municipal Stategic Statement.We have a respected and award winning planning department. You forget that they have to apply the Governments Law and they are liable to VCAT appeal.Have a look how few Resident Appeals to VCAT succeed or for that matter are made.
August 24, 2012 at 3:58 PM
Hmmmmm, 1996, 1998, 1999. Don’t worry Anon – only 16 years or so out of date! Real professionalism that is. Exactly the same as ramming through a community plan when it didn’t need to be rushed through instead of waiting for the latest census statistics. Akehurst at his supreme best. Trouble is everything is out of date (including senior staff) in this joint and they’re just clinging on by the skin of their teeth. Best of all is that Kingston, Stonnington, Port Phillip and probably heaps of other councils have got a much better perspective on what needs to be done and when. In Glen Eira it’s the status quo. Just open your eyes and look around at all the recent development. That’s fair dinkum in keeping with “urban character” studies that were done in the stone age. We’ve got duds running the joint full stop.
August 24, 2012 at 4:06 PM
Nah Council are just hopeless.
August 24, 2012 at 7:49 PM
Akehurst is rated very high by property developers. He has been questioned in the past why he is so pro development. (MODERATORS: sentence deleted)
August 24, 2012 at 12:55 PM
thank you so much Glen Eira Debates as this list of Glen Eira’s reports, plans and strategies is most helpful to have these references when fronting VCAT as an individual without any representation. It is not easy to read and understand the many references mentioned in a planning application. This will be a big help
August 24, 2012 at 4:21 PM
The first thing I noticed about the different policies is that unlike Glen Eira most of these councils have recent urban design plans as well as structure plans for areas within their borders. Open space and heritage also feature in these. So what the hell has this council been doing for the past 15 years is the proper question to ask. Handing everything on a plate to developers is my answer. That’s why nothing is changed to keep up with the times and other councils trying to protect their areas. Newton doesn’t give a stuff.
August 24, 2012 at 7:53 PM
I know we like to think Glen Eira is the odd one out on planning issues.
But Port Phillip, which seems to have a multitude of recent policies and strategies still has this happening. Worth reading the comments.
http://caulfield-glen-eira-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/st-kilda-junction-high-rise-approved-by-vcat/
August 24, 2012 at 9:35 PM
Rates keep going up while services decline. And now a behind the scenes look says that while Council staff blows out through the roof, policies are not being updated. Good job Admin and an even better job of Councillor’s who continually fail to ask questions
August 26, 2012 at 6:47 PM
something for GE to investigate (put in separate article). I heard a rumour that Aquinta Racing was moving to Ballarat by the end of the year thus the Glen Huntly park extension could happen. apparently it will make training less viable at caulfield with Moodies being a lot smaller. please keep up pressure to make sure another trainer doesnt move in.
August 27, 2012 at 5:39 PM
Maybe when and if the correct charges are made for the rental of Acquinita lodge on our Caulfield RESERVE which the MRC CHAIRMAN AND member of the CAULFIELD racecourse trustees and an owner of Aquinta Racing comes to pay the commercial rate then the AQUINTA RACING may find it better to train elsewhere.
My relatives who train/trained own their own property where the horses are stabled,
August 28, 2012 at 9:00 AM
well if they are moving. this might explain them not doing the fences yet. I spose we might be waiting a while for the council to fix the area for a park. I am wondering if they removed all the sheds and left all the pathways whether it might be a nice area for passive recreation anyway without anything being done.
August 29, 2012 at 12:59 AM
Notice many trees have been pulled down along Neerim Road only to expose a horrid view of the Aquinita stables.