NEW ‘MINISTER FOR REZONING’ IN BAILLIEU GOVERNMENT

MEDIA RELEASE
20 February 2012
NEW ‘MINISTER FOR REZONING’ IN BAILLIEU GOVERNMENT

Following his outrageous and clearly suspect decision to rezone land at Philip Island to allow a Liberal ‘mate’ to make vast profits out a new housing development, Minister Matthew Guy is at it again in inner-city East Brunswick.
Last week with no warning he rezoned a large parcel of land along the Merri Creek from ‘Residential 1’ to ‘Special Use’ to allow power companies to proceed with a fourfold expansion of the existing Brunswick Terminal Station. This is despite the fact that local government, Moreland Council, has twice rejected this proposal on the grounds that it is an unsuitable development for such a highly residential and environmentally sensitive area.
It appears that we now have a new portfolio in the Baillieu Government – Minister for Rezoning.
When they don’t like a decision made at the local government level, they simply send in the Minister for Rezoning to make a decision that overrides the state’s democratic planning processes – and cut out any opposing voices. Those concerned at the Minister’s plans for greater development of the Melbourne skyline should be alarmed.
Minister Guy’s decision, based purely on the economic arguments put forward by power companies for development at this site in preference to moving the terminal station to a more appropriate industrial location, mean that social, community health and environmental considerations are being completely dismissed. It also means that a VCAT hearing due for March is now null and void.
“Both the Planning Minister and the power companies have deceived Council and residents by effectively removing this decision from VCAT’s hands, after having told us that they would follow by the ‘proper planning processes’ for this site”, said Merri Creek Residents Group spokesperson, Ramon Colodetti.
“People living in the vicinity of the Brunswick Terminal Station, and those who live under the high voltage power lines leading into the site, have serious concerns about the safety of the proposed new facility” said Mr Colodetti. “But now that the Planning Minister has intervened and effectively rezoned the site from Residential to an Industrial site, none of our concerns will be heard.”
For further information about the residents campaign to move the power station, contact Ray Colodetti on 0416 235 391 or go to http://powergridsolutions.blogspot.com/