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PAGES 26–27 18 September – 24 September 2013
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Planning delay a win for waste By Neil Walker DELAYS in implementing parts of Kingston’s Green Wedge Plan have left areas of the protected zone vulnerable to industrial development, according to councillors who have questioned the hold up. City of Kingston councillors voted in August last year to approach state Planning Minister Matthew Guy to approve planning changes to prevent new waste-related activities on land zoned as green wedge. However, some councillors were surprised to discover earlier this month the amendments had not been put in place. The revelation came at the most recent council meeting as they discussed a planning application by demolition and recycling company Delta Group to build a concrete crushing facility at Heatherton within the green wedge. Kingston Council acting CEO Paul Franklin told The News the green wedge zones were formally finalised by the Planning Minister only last month. “It was prudent to wait until the final version of the revised zones was known,” Mr Franklin said. North Ward Councillor Steve Staikos said he was concerned about the delay. “As a councillor, I expect a resolution to be implemented by council officers when it is passed by councillors,” Cr Staikos said.
Features inside
“It disappoints me that we’re now vulnerable to concrete crusher applications being approved because the resolution passed last year was not actioned,” he said. Councillors voted at the latest meeting to order council officers to “request the urgent assistance” of the Planning Minister to “immediately approve a planning scheme amendment to reintroduce an interim protection against materials recycling in the green wedge”. A previous two-year interim protection control expired in June 2010. Council officers wrote to the Mr Guy in May and October last year requesting an extension but no reply was received. Mr Franklin advised The News that officers had written again this month to the Mr Guy requesting the reinstatement of the interim protection. Defenders of the South East Green Wedge president Trevor Shewan said the failure to implement the council resolution last year would make it difficult for the concrete crusher application to be stopped. However, the conservation group would continue to oppose it. “It’s just a joke that nothing has been done and council officers are engaging in delaying tactics that make more development in the green wedge more likely,” Mr Shewan said. Continued Page 3
Home truths
The Voice winner Harrison Craig enjoyed some down time back in his home town of Chelsea last week where he caught up with The News to share his reflections on his meteoric rise to the top of the pops. See story Page 5. Picture: Yanni