For any Doubting Thomas we’ve gone back to the stats and looked at cumulative figures over the past decade. The definition supplied by the Community Profile website on housing states:  ‘A dwelling (or residential building) is defined as: A residential building is a building consisting of one or more dwelling units. Residential buildings can be either houses or other residential buildings’.

We repeat: Since Newton took over the reins, development in Glen Eira has increased dramatically. The figures tell their own story. We are simply taking issue with the statement that Glen Eira “has had one of the lowest increases in aggregate dwellings of any Melbourne municipality”.  We haven’t gone through every single council as yet, but the table below reveals that there are AT LEAST 6 other councils with LOWER increases over a ten year period than Glen Eira. We’ll follow up with the rest when we get some more time!

PS: Here are a few more municipalities that we’ve looked up – plus their stats:

Manningham – 5000

Marybrynong – 6383

Moonee Valley – 5919

Statistics are forever being used to justify certain decisions. In relation to the C60 ‘justification’ we have this sentence from the agenda item: “The resultant differential strategy has led to outcomes under which Glen Eira has had one of the lowest increases in aggregate dwellings of any Melbourne municipality”.

Once again an analysis of ABS statistics reveals a totally different story. The table below derives from each municipality’s ‘Community Profile’ and the data is directly from the ABS website. We’ve taken the housing approval data for the past decade – that is from 2000 until June 30^th 2010. A fascinating picture emerges. Please note that the data represents housing and unit ‘approvals’ by councils. If we concentrate on Glen Eira, then from the time that Newton’s reign began in 2000, development in the municipality has risen by 41.53%. This is in stark contrast to the figures for Port Phillip, Bayside, and Kingston – all of which have effectively REDUCED ( by up to 64% in the case of Port Phillip) their developments over the past decade. Even on raw stats alone, Port Phillip and Bayside have had far fewer developments in 2009/10 than Glen Eira. Check out the table!

We will continue to ‘compare and contrast’ the achievements, protocols, policies, and practices of other councils as opposed to the Glen Eira way of doing things. We will continue to highlight how Glen Eira residents are getting a raw deal when such comparisons are made. We will continue to question the arguments put forward by this council for its reluctance to embrace what many of these other councils view as standard and/or best practice. We will continue to question the motives behind such reactionary ideologies. And we will continue to urge, and if necessary, embarrass until change occurs. 

Several council meetings ago, the issue of Alcohol Free Shopping Strip zones emerged. We reported that Lipshutz’s opposition was based on officers being ‘overworked’ and that the police wouldn’t support it. Funnily enough, our next door neighbours (Kingston) don’t seem to have such worries. This is from their latest media release –

The alcohol free zones will be introduced in two local shopping centres in Centre Road, Clarinda and Rosebank Ave, Clayton South.

From 1 January 2011, residents choosing to ignore the new alcohol bans will risk police fines of $200.

North Ward Councillor, Cr Arthur Athanasopoulos supported the need for alcohol free zones in key locations where problems were occurring.

“The decision to introduce alcohol free zones in these two areas followed extensive community consultation with traders in the area and local schools,” he said. “Many local residents have noticed an increasing trend for people to be drinking outside the bottle shops in these shopping centres which is why Council has taken this stand against public alcohol consumption.”

Kingston has successfully implemented alcohol free zones in other parts of the City, including the Chelsea, Aspendale, Mordialloc and Mentone foreshore areas.

“The introduction of a further alcohol free zone in the City is another way of combating anti social behaviour caused by alcohol consumption,” Cr Athanasopoulos said.

Glen Eira City Council? Not a whisper, or whimper! From Boroondara website –

Public land and liveability in Melbourne

Have your say on the VEAC Metropolitan Melbourne Investigation – submissions close 20 December.

The Victorian Environmental Assessment Council is carrying out an investigation of public land in metropolitan Melbourne. As part of this investigation it is exploring the contribution of public land to liveability in metropolitan Melbourne and the opportunities for enhancing this contribution.

The Discussion Paper for the investigation is now available and submissions are invited.

Do you want to know about the use and ownership of public land and about public open space across metropolitan Melbourne? Are you interested in the contribution of public land to Melbourne’s liveability?

Do you have something to say about Melbourne’s public land – its parks, gardens, foreshores, creeks, rivers, roads, railway reserves, sport complexes, libraries, schools and hospitals?

Download the discussion paper from VEAC or get a copy from our Camberwell or Hawthorn offices or Information Victoria.

Submissions close 20 December 2010.

Public land in Boroondara

Boroondara covers about 6,020 hectares or one per cent of the Metropolitan Melbourne Investigation area. Almost 403 hectares or seven per cent of the municipality is public land.

Read the summary of public land and public open space in Boroondara document.

For more information

• email: Traci Alchin
• phone: Traci Alchin on 9278 4753 

Files

• Public land and open space in Boroondara (pdf, 876.71 KB)

From Stonnington website:

590 Orrong Road: Development Request

The City of Stonnington received a request from Vivas Lend Lease to prepare an Amendment to the Stonnington Planning Scheme to rezone 590 Orrong Road / 4 Osment Street to a Mixed Use Zone, to introduce a Development Plan Overlay – Schedule 2 and an Environmental Audit Overlay over the site.

Stonnington Council deferred consideration of the application by Vivas Lend Lease in October, to ensure community input could occur before any formal consideration on whether the proposed Amendment should proceed to the next stage of formal consultation.

The proposal by Vivas Lend Lease is to redevelop the commercial site for approximately 479 apartments with 730 on-site car spaces and a limited number of small commercial tenancies. The proposal includes seven apartment buildings from 5-16 storeys and a number of 2-3 storey townhouses.

The total site area is 2.5 hectares and it is identified as a ‘large redevelopment site’ in the Stonnington Planning Scheme and a ‘major redevelopment site’ by the State Government. It is located adjacent to Toorak Station and Toorak Park.

Council officers have assessed the material submitted by the applicant. Key areas of concern include:

• The location and height of the proposed buildings;
• The changes to access through and around the site, and to Toorak Railway Station; and
• The impact of the development on the adjoining open space.

Council organised a range of preliminary consultation opportunities including a Public Meeting which attracted over 500 people, two feedback sessions at the Malvern Town Hall, documents and feedback forms available on the website, and displays at the Prahran and Malvern town halls. Information was advertised through the Stonnington Leader and brochures with feedback forms were sent to all owners and occupiers in the areas bounded by Williams Road, Dandenong Road, Kooyong Road and Toorak Road, plus identified stakeholder groups and the applicant.

Amendment Process

If an amendment is exhibited, then a formal consultation process would begin. The community would again be invited to provide input during the formal exhibition period. Input at this stage will assist Council in forming a position to present to an independent Panel. The Panel is appointed to consider and hear submissions from Council, the applicant, and other parties including objectors. The Panel will make recommendations to assist Council in making a final decision. Council’s final decision is then put to the State Planning Minister for final approval.

Council will continue to work with the community and the developer to ensure an appropriate outcome for this important site.

AND FROM THE MEDIA RELEASE:

Mayor, Cr Tim Smith said: “This is a major redevelopment proposal that needs to have extensive community input. 

“Council is keen to ensure our community is fully informed on the proposal and has the opportunity to comment on this matter, which has received significant community interest to date. 

“More than 250 people attended the Council Meeting this week and Council has received hundreds of emails and letters on this matter.”

 He said: “Council will ensure there are a range of opportunities for the community to have a say and find out more about the proposal being made by Vivas Lend Lease – through meetings, the website, documents at the Malvern Town Hall, displays/feedback forms and through written correspondence, which should be in residents’ mail boxes in coming weeks.”

Community Consultation Options – Notified to Residents by Post 

• A Public Meeting will be held on Wednesday 27 October at 7.00pm, at the Malvern Town Hall.
• Prior to the Public Meeting, the community will have two opportunities to drop in, ask questions and provide input to officers and Councillors on this important matter.
  • Monday 25 October from 9.00am to 12 noon at Malvern Town Hall.
  • Tuesday 26 October from 1.30pm to 8.30pm at Malvern Town Hall.