It’s with great interest that residents need to follow the following Supreme Court Case –

This raises innumerable questions:
- How much of ratepayers’ money will council expend in fighting this case?
- Were councillors apprised of what was happening and if so, when?
- How many more times will this planning department overlook their own planning scheme and recommend permits that are highly questionable?
PS: Today’s (Saturday’s Age) –
June 18, 2021 at 1:39 PM
It raises questions, but not the 3 listed above. The “statement of claim” as reported sounds dodgy–it alleges the permit is invalid but doesn’t say why. It depends on the zone whether something CAN be granted a permit, as distinct from whether it SHOULD be granted a permit. Granting a permit for a building that is more than 2 stories, that isn’t “low intensity”, that exceeds existing building heights is what we’re used to in areas zoned C1Z. Council may have failed to consider key decision guidelines, and that would be a reason for contesting its decision. I’m curious why this is going to the Supreme Court rather than VCAT. The Supreme Court is not the place to go for relatively affordable “justice”. Maybe there’s more to the statement of claim than has been published.
June 18, 2021 at 4:48 PM
This sounds very nimbyish, go built it some place else.
June 21, 2021 at 10:33 AM
Forget going to VCAT if you want to challenge developers or the Council its a rubber stamp. Many residents will attest to this. I hope they win its about time.
June 21, 2021 at 3:48 PM
A good win was had with Foodworks site in Murrumbeena, even though Council bureaucrats surrendered and waved the white-flag. The developers will be back of course.