Source: http://www.mvcc.vic.gov.au/about-the-council/council-meetings/current-meetings.aspx
January 24, 2016
Not In Glen Eira
Posted by gleneira under Councillor Performance, GE Consultation/Communication, GE Governance, GE Service Performance[11] Comments
January 22, 2016
Virginia Estate: #2
Posted by gleneira under Councillor Performance, GE Governance, GE Open Space, GE Planning, GE Service Performance, GE Transport[10] Comments
Here is part of the blurb that the developers for the Virginia Estate have published.
Source: http://www.eastvillagemasterplan.com.au/future-needs/
Population Growth and Make-up
- Melbourne’s estimated population of 4.5 million in 2015 is projected to reach 5.3 million by 2025 and almost 6 million by 2031.
- At this growth rate Glen Eira will not be able to accommodate its share of Melbourne’s projected population growth in the next 15 years.
- Of the established local government areas in metropolitan Melbourne, Glen Eira has the highest proportion of its residential areas covered by the Neighbourhood Residential Zone (NRZ) – the zone that gives the greatest protection to existing residential character and densities.
- The 84% coverage of Glen Eira’s residential areas by the NRZ will be a major factor in slowing population growth levels, limiting housing diversity and choice.
- Bentleigh East has no appropriately zoned land for higher density housing other than the possible redevelopment of small areas of business land in the Centre Road shopping area.
- Based on the latest State Government ‘Victoria in Future’ population projections (2015), there is a projected need for an additional 7,500 dwellings in Glen Eira over the 15 year period from 2016 – 2031 of which 68% will be either ‘couples without children’ or ‘lone person’ households.
COMMENT
There are several unsubstantiated claims in the above which need to be seriously challenged. For example:
On what basis is the statement made that Glen Eira ‘will not be able to accommodate its share’ of population growth when the total number of new net dwellings in the municipality has risen by at least 350% for the past 3 years in a row? The planning scheme claims an average of 600 new dwellings per year is required. In 2014/15 Glen Eira had over 2000 net new dwellings. In the first quarter of 2015/16 (July to September) the figure, according to Planning Permit Victoria was 559 net new dwellings. For the second quarter this number rose to 634 net new dwellings. Thus, at least another 2200 new dwellings in a year if this rate continues. We also mustn’t forget that Newton and Hyams promised Guy an 80+ year supply of land and an 89 year supply if the comnmercial zoning is taken into account. Thus the ability to ‘accommodate’ new dwellings is well and truly there without the grand vision of potentially thousands more at Virginia Estate!
Given that ‘residential’ remains undefined, we seriously query the statement that Glen Eira from all its neighbours has the highest percentage of land zoned as Neighbourhood Residential. Bayside for example claims over 80% of its land is zoned NRZ whilst Glen Eira only claims 78%. Even this figure is a myth – NRZ constitutes just under 70% of the municipality and if the number of LARGE sized lots which can legally have many more than 2 dwellings are taken into account, then Professor Michael Buxton estimates that the Neighbourhood Residential Zones in Glen Eira amount to a paltry 55% of the municipality.
The most unbelievable claim however is that Bentleigh East has only ‘small areas of business land’ available for ‘higher density’ development. Not true! Bentleigh East has more land zoned as Commercial 1 than Elsternwick or Carnegie – both of which are supposed to be Major Activity Centres and Bentleigh East is a Neighbourhood Centre. Only Bentleigh (a Major Activity Centre) has more land zoned as commercial than Bentleigh East. The figures (in square metres) are:
Bentleigh East – 136,551
Bentleigh – 149, 768
Carnegie – 134, 415
Elsternwick – 125,628
Gillon et al are correct however in stating that the latest government population projections (ie Victoria in Future) state that there will be a need for another 7500 dwellings from 2016 to 2031. This figure will be well and truly met within the next 4 years at the current rate of over 2000 net new dwellings per year. And, please remember that this doesn’t include the additional 1500+ dwellings for the Caulfield Village Project that will be coming up pretty soon. In short, Glen Eira will well and truly have fulfilled its fair share of ‘accommodating’ population growth by 2020 – much less by 2031! Of course, no one dares say what figure equates with this ‘share’, nor what ‘capacity’ is and how much all of the necessary infrastructure upgrades will cost and whether or not any of this over-development is sustainable!
Gillon et al also claim that ‘couples without children’ and ‘lone households’ represent 68% of the required 7500 new dwellings. Not so! The Victoria in Future figures which they rely upon (see below) forecast that there will be 16,810 ‘couple only’ households, and 19,690 ‘one-person’ households in 2031. That makes a grand total of 36,500 households. The overall projection for 2031 is 67,295 households. Hence, the percentage is not 68% as claimed, but rather 54.23% on these figures.
We make these points not because we want to indulge in nit-picking, but when information is put before residents so that they can have an ‘informed’ say, then it is incumbent on the distributors of that information to ensure that it is accurate, honest, and not designed to obfuscate at best and mislead at worst.
January 20, 2016
Letters To The Editor
Posted by gleneira under Councillor Performance, GE Council Meeting(s), GE Governance[8] Comments
January 18, 2016
Virginia Estate: Round #2
Posted by gleneira under Councillor Performance, GE Consultation/Communication, GE Planning, GE Service Performance[10] Comments
PS: RESIDENTS BEWARE! THE PROPOSED VIRGINIA ESTATE LAND APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN EXPANDED WITH THE ‘PARTNERSHIP’ OF THE MAKE PROPERTY GROUP. NOWHERE IS THIS MENTIONED IN THE DOCUMENTATION PROVIDED – EXCEPT ON THE MAP BELOW.
Please note that the land under question now extends to Griffith Avenue. The original draft amendment did not include this land – ie from the minutes of 21st July 2015
The land abutting Griffith Avenue is currently zoned Industrial Zone1 (ie no residential). Thus, the site under discussion would appear to have increased dramatically – without residents being informed in an open and transparent fashion! Not a great start for ‘consultation’!!!!!!!! Secondly, if the land mass is increased significantly, does this mean more dwellings? Another amendment that wants the entire area rezoned to Commercial 1? Or is it simply a case of a leopard does not change its spots?
Here is the planning map of the site as it currently stands –
We have received the following media release –
January 16, 2016
Shuffling The Decks On The Titanic?
Posted by gleneira under GE Governance, GE Planning, GE Service Performance[13] Comments
Does this signal the departure of the very recently appointed Ms K. Ware?
January 15, 2016
Okotel’s Political Aspirations
Posted by gleneira under Councillor Performance, Miscellaneous[13] Comments
Female executive a favourite for Victorian Senate
Primrose Riordan
14 January 2016
The Australian Financial Review
Victoria’s all-male Liberal Senate team could be facing a shake up: AustralianSuper adviser Jane Hume has emerged as a favourite to replace outgoing Senator Michael Ronaldson.
Freedom and Human Rights Commissioner Tim Wilson’s decision to bow out of the race on Tuesday is “building momentum” for an all-female ticket at the 2016 election, say Liberal MPs, and could help Ms Hume take the top slot.
Assistant Treasurer Kelly O’Dwyer’s chief of staff Julian Sheezel, who was thought to be in with a chance, also pulled out of the race last week.
“Before Tim quit [Ms Hume] had a good chance, now she has an even better chance,” a Liberal source said. “Jane’s got friends across the party”.
To have the best chance of winning and becoming a senator, candidates must be in the top two spots. National Senator Bridget McKenzie will retain the number two position. Senior party sources said Ms Hume is supported by Resources Minister Josh Frydenberg, Wannon MP Dan Tehan, and Deakin MP Michael Sukkar.
One Liberal MP said: “Jane Hume is strongly favoured to win the first spot. Jane has cross-party support”.
“I think it’s time we walk the talk and had more women,” said another MP supporting Ms Hume.
Institute of Public Affairs deputy director James Paterson, 28, is also running for the number one spot, and his supporters say he has the backing of at least two Liberal ministers.
Mr Paterson has told party selectors his media and fundraising experience would allow him to start campaigning as soon as possible in a busy election year.
Ms Hume’s supporters hoped for an all-female Senate ticket, and to slot Glen Eira City Council Deputy Mayor Karina Okotel into the third spot, which some in the party view as winnable.
That spot is also likely to be contested by a former Liberal candidate for Frankston, Sean Armistead.
Nominations close on January 25 and Liberal members will vote on March 6.
January 14, 2016
Magee
Posted by gleneira under Councillor Performance, GE Consultation/Communication, GE Governance, GE Planning, GE Service Performance[13] Comments
Contradictions, inconsistencies, blatant mistruths, and grandstanding are the hallmark of this crop of councillors. In other words, they will say and do anything that is politically and personally expedient at the time – regardless of its basis in fact.
Here is Magee’s glowing endorsement of the zones soon after they were announced by the Minister. Residents need to ask themselves how much of this comes within cooee of reality.
MAGEE – Said that the 4 storey buildings around tram lines is only 2.2% ‘of our city’ and ‘you might actually struggle to find a block big enough’ to build 4 storeys because of ‘setbacks’ on top floor. So a lot of these could ‘end up being 3 storeys’. Said it was a ‘really good outcome for the residents of Glen Eira’. Said he bought his house in minimal change and away from main roads but his back door neighbour built 3 units and he can touch them ‘with a broom’ and that ‘this won’t happen again’ with these zones. Congratulated officers on ‘getting this through’ and didn’t think it ‘was a surprise because that’s the sort of work we do here’…’we are very good at what we do’. In the future council can say ‘no, it’s wrong’ and ‘go away’ to developers because they haven’t got it right. Also have to thank the state government in ‘being proactive and helping us get this in place’. ‘I think the outcome for Glen Eira is superb’ (13/8/2013)
Compare this with the VCAT judgement on 40 Mavho st – (21st December 2015) – http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/vic/VCAT/2015/1978.html
- I fail to see how its density is unacceptable. It is in the Bentleigh Urban Village. Local planning policy identifies Glen Eira’s urban villages as the preferred location for the municipality’s highest densities of residential development. As such, one would expect a high density development in this location.
- I acknowledge that its mass and scale is challenging, as it is a four-storey building on a ‘standard’ 15.24 metre wide residential lot. I consider the key variable is the lot’s width. I say this a four-storey building is acceptable in principle because the zone controls encourage buildings up to 13.5 metres in height. This is the equivalent of four-storeys.
PS – ON ANOTHER ISSUE ENTIRELY, BUT ONE THAT MAY INTEREST RESIDENTS. A new application has just gone in for a 12 (twelve) storey building with 3 levels of car parking and 40 apartments and offices at 22-26 Riddell Parade, Elsternwick.
What makes this application ‘interesting’ is the following taken directly from Council minutes of 19th May 2015.
The owners of 22-24 Riddell Parade would like to acquire land that abuts their property and Council’s car park. In this respect, the owners propose that Council:
Σ Formally close a section of road they occupy and then sell them the land in accordance with Council’s Rights of Way and Reserves Discontinuance Policy.
Σ Sell them the thin sliver of Council land they occupy between the section of road and the adjacent Council carpark.
Σ Sell them the airspace 4m from above the surface and the airspace below the surface, which is a corner splay that abuts both the sliver of land and the part of the road. This would allow them to build a first floor above and a basement below the splay but still allow sightlines along the adjacent laneway (minutes 19th May 2015)
The owner has agreed to pay $59,015, inclusive of GST…..The owner has also agreed to meet all of Council’s reasonable costs associated with pursuing this proposal, estimated at $26,222.00. This is also consistent with Council policy.
January 12, 2016
What More Need We Say?
Posted by gleneira under Councillor Performance, GE Governance, GE Planning, GE Service Performance[20] Comments
A tiny sample:
Lipshutz stated ‘that there is nothing wrong with developers making profit’ (11/2/2011)
LIPSHUTZ: he ‘took umbrage’ at Lobo’s comments about council and developers. Said that ‘there is nothing wrong with profit’ and that the developer purchased this industrial site and now want to make a profit and that ‘this is a good thing’ because ‘that’s how we grow our society’ (2/3/2015)
January 11, 2016
Ormond In 2015
Posted by gleneira under Councillor Performance, GE Consultation/Communication, GE Governance, GE Open Space, GE Planning, GE Service Performance[2] Comments
What Council doesn’t want us to know:
Ormond has an area of 2.05 square km. Of this –
- 2.94% is zoned Commercial (no height limits)
- 37.33% is zoned GRZ1/2 (three storey)
- 0.49% is zoned MUZ (no height limit)
TOTAL = 40.76% of the suburb is handed over to developers
Please remember that once public parks, and other utility sites are removed from the overall acreage – since they will not be built upon (in the forseeable future) – then this percentage leaps even higher. Thus Ormond, which represents only 5% of the area of the entire municipality is designated to carry an inequitable proportion of new developments.
11 Malane Street ORMOND – dwellings at rear
35 Thompson Street ORMOND – 2 double storeys
291 Grange Road and 4 Walsh Street ORMOND – 3 storey, 23 dwellings
280 Grange Road ORMOND – 3 double storeys
2 Olympia Court ORMOND – 2 double storeys
10 Tyrone Street ORMOND – 2 double storeys
70 Ulupna Road ORMOND – 6 double storeys
17 Wicklow Street ORMOND – 2 double storeys (amended permit issued)
20 Wheeler Street ORMOND – 6 three storeys & one double storey
29 Katandra Road ORMOND – additional level plus 9 new dwellings
11 Thompson Street ORMOND – 2 double storeys
720 North Road ORMOND – 2 double storeys
25 Wicklow Street ORMOND – double storey at front, single storey at rear
13 & 15 Murray Road ORMOND – 3 new dwellings (permit)
9 Malua Street ORMOND – single storey at rear
15 Wild Cherry Road ORMOND – 2 double storeys (amended permit issued)
265 Grange Road ORMOND – 11 dwellings (amended permit issued)
11 Bewdley Street ORMOND – 2 double storeys (permit)
198 Booran Road ORMOND – single storey at rear (refusal)
289 Grange Road ORMOND – 3 storey, 17 dwellings (amended permit issued)
532 North Road ORMOND – 5 storey, 10 dwellings (refusal)
600-604 North Road ORMOND – 4 storey, 34 dwellings (permit)
34 Cadby Avenue ORMOND – 7 double storeys (permit)
13 Lillimur Road ORMOND – 2 double storey and 3 three storey (permit)
534-538 North Road ORMOND – 4 storey, 20 dwellings (amended permit issued)
24-26 Cadby Avenue ORMOND – 3 storey, 12 dwellings
23 Collins Street ORMOND – 2 double storeys (amended permit issued)
235 Grange Road ORMOND – 2 storey, 6 dwellings (permit)
630-632 North Road ORMOND – 4 storey, 14 dwellings (permit)
17 Bewdley Street ORMOND – double storey at rear (refusal)
6 Florence Street ORMOND – 2 double storeys (amended permit issued)
1 Florence Street ORMOND – 2 double storeys (permit)
9 Bewdley Street ORMOND – 2 double storeys (permit)
4 Ulupna Road ORMOND – 4 dwellings (amended permit issued)
25 Wicklow Street ORMOND – double storey at front & single storey at rear (refusal)
722 North Road & 62 Draper Street ORMOND – double storey at rear (permit)
30-30A Holloway Street ORMOND – 2 double storeys (permit)
15 Wild Cherry Road ORMOND – 2 double storeys (permit)
January 8, 2016
Council Inaction Equals Incompetence!
Posted by gleneira under Councillor Performance, GE Governance, GE Open Space, GE Planning, GE Service Performance[11] Comments
Here is a list of the latest planning applications for Carnegie. The longer that nothing is done this destruction of Carnegie and other suburbs will continue.
285-287 Neerim Road CARNEGIE VIC 3163 – Construction of a six-storey mixed use building comprising sixty-one (61) dwellings and three shops, reduction in the associated car parking requirements, waiver of loading bay requirements and alteration of access to a road in a Road Zone, Category 1.
60-64 Rosstown Road CARNEGIE VIC 3163 – Demolition of existing buildings and the construction of an 8 storey mixed use building containing 40 retirement living apartments and a food and drink premises.
1032 Dandenong Road CARNEGIE VIC 3163 – Construction of a nine-storey residential hotel (comprising 49 lodging rooms), waiver of loading bay associated with a food and drink premises and a reduction in the associated car parking requirements
116-118 Grange Road CARNEGIE VIC 3163 – To construct a three storey building comprising 31 dwellings over a basement carpark, reduction of visitor car parking and to alter access to a Road Zone Category One
14-22 Woorayl Street CARNEGIE VIC 3163 – and for the 12 storeys, 134 apartments, there is now an amendment applied for.
Glen Eira Debates 