The 3 images above depict an aspect of structure planning undertaken by different councils – and stand in stark contrast to how Glen Eira Council is approaching the same task.
Please note that:
- Each of these councils includes vast areas of ‘residential’ land
- Borders are clearly defined and are ‘reviewed’
- Notations that ‘heritage’ areas to be ‘generally excluded’
Glen Eira’s structure planning concentrates exclusively on the main shopping strip (ie Centre Road, Glen Huntly Road, etc) and the surrounding residential areas (ie the zones) are ignored. The use of the term ‘shopping strip’ alone in the surveys was the clear giveaway!
Given that ‘structure planning’ is meant to deal with ‘activity centres’ as a whole, and that activity centres include far more than a single shopping strip, we find the approach taken by council far from adequate – especially in light of the countless comments already submitted by residents complaining about overdevelopment in their side streets. What we are therefore seeing is NOT a structure plan for an activity centre but a half baked approach to genuine community consultation and proficient strategic planning.
Finally, Council’s planning scheme clearly outlines what it considers to be an activity centre. Here is the one for Bentleigh –
By ignoring the residential areas included in the activity centre, we can only wonder at the efficacy of any resulting structure plan. If no current data on population, car ownership, developments, etc is included in the design of any future structure plan, then the very validity of the plan must be questioned. As shown in previous posts the vast majority of development is not occurring in the areas zoned Commercial, but in the abutting residential areas. The impact of this must be reviewed and questions as to capacity, infrastructure needs, etc. addressed before any window dressing occurs for the central shopping strips alone.
March 28, 2017 at 11:26 AM
You can bet your last dollar, that Glen Eira’s structure plan will be drawn up in full consultation with the developers and their Liberal Party mates, and it will be everything they want and more, and guess who will be subsidizing their profits. You and me.
To help it along Jamie Hyam will be working overtime in council chamber covering the whole damned process with a stinking smog of his usual self congratulatory propaganda.
And in Glen Eira’s case “Don’t mistake activity with achievement.” or you will be very disappointed.
March 28, 2017 at 2:49 PM
Two important publications –
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/andrews-government-changes-to-planning-laws-angers-boroondara-council-20170327-gv7cf3.html
AND
https://bulletin.boroondara.vic.gov.au/victorian-government-weakens-protection-of-boroondaras-neighbourhood-character/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=victorian-government-weakens-protection-of-boroondaras-neighbourhood-character
March 28, 2017 at 10:21 PM
O man O man this man Richard has ensured that labor party will be a ‘one term government’ Any difference between the two political parties?
March 29, 2017 at 11:24 AM
No difference at all, just look at Glen Eira councillors, they offer throw a few cheap placatory statements in the direction of the residents now and again. Then both Libs and Labs compete to make sure their developer mates get everything they want.
The Libs made sure via their preferencing deal, that Ho got elected in Rosstown, Ho’ is a financier with interests in developing Carnegie.
March 29, 2017 at 1:15 PM
Pretty good article – https://www.domain.com.au/news/stop-building-apartments-for-investors-and-start-building-for-future-generations-20170329-gv8m1j/
March 29, 2017 at 2:47 PM
Considering future generations in today’s decisions making is called “sustainable development” or taken a step further would be sustainable living.
Glen Eira does have a Sustainable Living Plan, that gets ignored by our councilors and council bureaucrats alike. Having followed this plan and its processes since its inception, it wouldn’t be unfair to say resident opinions and ideas have been marginalized or ignored completely.
The town hall people making the decisions on our behalf have failed to understand just where a sustainable living plan fits into our planning processes or their decision making. So it remains just another expensive, forgotten jargon filled handful glossy paper lying beneath the old lunch bags and crumbs in the bottom draw.
Expecting the old timers like Cr’s Magee, Hyams and Esakof to understand such difficult concepts “like the future” is just too much to ask.
These 3 cannot remember meeting to meeting that they have been standing up year after year and repeating the same sentences, or worse just reading verbatim from the blue covered agenda, supplied by the bureaucrats and the CEO’s.
Sorry to say! Not much hope here, Mr, Macca
March 29, 2017 at 7:46 PM
Why remain anonymous when you make such valuable points.
March 30, 2017 at 4:47 PM
What is common between these three loonies or for better words deadwood?