The following image comes from the Progress Leader of the 9th May, 2017. It raises innumerable questions as to whether what we are currently witnessing throughout Victoria and in local councils is truly good strategic planning, or straight out political machinations.
Here’s our take on recent events:
- Wynne’s intervention in Yarra in slicing a proposal down to 10 storeys? It’s his seat and the Greens are on the march
- Staikos is vulnerable – holding the seat by the skin of his teeth
- Dimopolous in ‘danger’ also following the outcry against Skyrail and lack of consultation (now confirmed by the Auditor General in his latest reports)
- Boroondara – strongly Liberal
Thus we get politspeak in spades from the department and the Minister’s office. Please note the comments on Glen Eira carefully!
Glen Eira Debates 
May 12, 2017 at 11:53 AM
“All the necessary work” …. What a joke of a statement by Mr. Lane, this wouldn’t take long to achieve if the State Government wanted it to happen. It’s politics, and the Minister as usual is in the pockets of the big end of town.
May 12, 2017 at 11:59 AM
Worth noting that according to an FOI application, there was no strategic justification supplied by council for its request for the interim height controls in Bentleigh and Carnegie. Wheeling and dealing behind closed doors is NOT planning! Further, Boroondara was one council which came out strongly again Wynne’s Amendment C110 and the myth of protecting back yards. Interestingly, there has not been a whisper from Glen Eira on this latest amendment!!!!!! Surely when the prized NRZ is in danger, one should expect some comment from council? Or is silence the price that is paid?
May 12, 2017 at 5:45 PM
Secrecy undermines the main tenet of democracy, damages trust and encourages suspicion, and leave the whole system open to systemic corruption, and is also a smoke screen to hide that corruption.
It’s time to cut secrecy to a minimal or to no level at all. If any process or decision cannot stand the light of day, chances are thats is hiding something unpalatable.
“I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country. . . . corporations have been enthroned and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until all wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed.”
—U.S. President Abraham Lincoln, Nov. 21, 1864
Abe, saw it coming.
May 12, 2017 at 7:03 PM
There’s spin from all parties. Bentleigh and Carnegie don’t have mandatory height limits over the entire commercial precincts and abutting residential zones. The majority of the areas have only “maximum preferred building height”. Details are in Schedules 8 and 9 to the Design and Development Overlay [DDO].
Specifically Bentleigh areas DDO8-3 and DD08-4 and Carnegie areas DDO9-1 and DDO9-2 do not have maximum mandatory building heights. Boroondara sought permanent height limits for most of its activity centres, had them, then lost them by ministerial fiat. Disingenuous to say they hadn’t done the strategic work. Almost certainly political bastardry is at play.
Indeed Glen Eira hasn’t done the strategic work either. The interim height limits were rushed and not based on deep strategic foundations. That can be seen by comparing the heights placed on buildings on north side of east-west streets in Bentleigh and Carnegie. Nor are they linked to ensuring minimum standards of residential amenity [eg overshadowing] for residents in or adjacent to the areas now subject to DDOs.
There are some strong indications a deal has already been done between GECC and the Minister, with some money to be made available to GECC in return for supporting higher height limits to apply to redevelopment opportunites along rail lines.
May 13, 2017 at 8:02 AM
Nicely said Reprobate, I would be giving you the job of our head planner, the real ones just do not seem up to their job.
How and what form can this money be delivered to Glen Eira, I can think of grants for sporting pavilions and other pet project etc?
May 14, 2017 at 4:26 PM
You are spot on. The Government is “very clear” that they want the southern suburbs to have increased density. They deeply oppose the NIMBY attitude that they think prevails through the aspirational suburbs. You are also right with the promise of extra cash. Of course this is all done through the CEO and staff. The councillors would not get a sniff of this.