14 April 2010
Mr MORRIS (Mornington) — The Mount Eliza green wedge is once again under threat because of the inadequate, ineffective and dangerous planning laws put in place by the Bracks and Brumby governments.
These laws purport to protect sensitive areas of Melbourne’s hinterland but in reality they are doing nothing to stop the headlong rush to destruction.
In July last year I raised the issue of an application for a caravan park contiguous with the urban growth boundary in Mount Eliza. The application is nothing more than low‑cost housing dressed up as a holiday village.
Despite my warning, the minister declined to act and the matter is soon to go before the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT). Too late the minister exhibited an interim control which will prevent any further applications.
The minister must intervene in this hearing to ensure VCAT is aware of his new, belated policy position that such parks are not permitted to be built less than 2 kilometres from the urban growth boundary and must have a minimum lot size of 40 hectares.
It is not good enough for the minister to say, ‘Oh, well, we tried’. He must well and truly slam the stable door before this horse can find its way out of the stall.
Legislative Assembly 14 April 2010
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