From feedback received thus far it appears that resident concerns over the ‘partnership’ between Council, developer and the Victorian Planning Authority, are either not being understood by some councillors, or these concerns are seen as unnecessarily ‘alarmist’.
When the largest ever development is about to occur in Glen Eira, we maintain that community input, from the very start is essential – and not when a draft structure plan has already been devised and to all intents and purposes, probably set in concrete. Any ‘visioning’ must include residents from the start and their involvement must be ongoing throughout the entire project.
In the current agenda papers, one officer report notes the large development at the old Amcor site. Yarra City Council is one model that should be employed for the Virginia Estate development. Yarra had no problem in establishing a ‘reference’ committee right from the start that included 6 community reps. Yarra had no problem in holding regular meetings where residents through their representatives could bring up issues. This is not rocket science. It is the basis of an inclusive council that sees its residents as partners. If the current mantra of council is to be believed then the establishment of such a group is essential!
Here’s the Yarra Council blurb for this committee –
We’ve also uploaded HERE, the relevant Terms of Reference for the committee.
Glen Eira Debates 
February 7, 2017 at 12:03 PM
Exactly what should happen in Glen Eira. Very disappointing the such suggestions had to come from residents and not from the admin or councillors in the first place. Still a long long way to go before this council gets the message that residents want changes that involve them fully.
February 7, 2017 at 1:02 PM
Setting up a committee is great as far as it goes. Stringent protocols and rules must apply. Residents should have a say, and I believe, elect their representatives. They should have some planning knowledge and a good grasp of the area and planning scheme. Regular reports should be tabled back in council and be prominent on the website. They should have voting rights too. If we’re going to have a community reference group then it has to be more than a token committee that is handpicked by council to do their bidding.
February 7, 2017 at 3:40 PM
Surely Council should be “community representatives” for us. It’s just that on planning matters they really struggle. Besides, most decisions are really made behind closed doors by the administration, and Council expected to go along with whatever is recommended. This leads to all sorts of unnatural acts, or has done in the past. I’ve rarely heard a councillor state clearly a set of principles that guide them in their decision-making—their speeches in support of their vote mostly give the impression they know the outcome they want and are seeking to justify it. Even with our new Council there is a reflexive instinct to suppress information, making it difficult for the public to assess whether our representatives are making the decisions we would make if in their position.
February 7, 2017 at 5:56 PM
Since the former Amcor site has been raised, remember that the State Government controversially decided to build a 6-lane highway metres from existing residents rather than affect the future profits of the developer of the site. Not that you can read about it on the VicRoads website at the moment—it’s down. Little wonder governments aren’t keen on having donations from the development industry disclosed or constrained.
February 7, 2017 at 11:06 PM
There are still signs in the river area suggesting new road should on east or on part of development.
Recently noticed the paper mill train line ripped up even though this development will employ and house several thousand.