NEWS DESK
Different aspects to planning rethink Stephen Taylor steve@mpnews.com.au CHANGES to the Mornington Peninsula Shire Planning Scheme under the proposed C219morn amendment could impact the size and scope of house extensions and unit developments. If adopted, the amendment could trigger a drop in property values as the building footprint on new homes and extensions will be reduced as setbacks from side and rear boundaries are increased. Community consultation for the planning scheme amendment closes 5pm, Friday 29 October. Submissions must be lodged by the closing date. The shire says the amendment will “ensure housing occurs in appropriate locations and respects the special values and character” of the peninsula which is expected to have more than 200,000 residents by 2036. It is projected that about 1200 new homes will need to be built each year to cater for the increased population. The shire says the amendment will provide a “sustainable approach” to homes, units, apartments and aged care centres and direct housing to appropriate areas while protecting the peninsula’s “special values and character”. Controls in the amendment cover building height and design, siting, landscaping and fences. The shire says the amendment will simplify planning controls to “make them easier to understand and reduce the need for planning permits, particularly for a single house on a lot”. “This means more applications will be processed under the building regulations, without needing a planning permit,” it says. However, an industry veteran says C219 will “erode the very important set of building standards embodied in Rescode and adopted Australia wide”. Paul Millsom, of McCrae, said claims that the
amendment would improve efficiency, and reduce the need for planning permits, were “total nonsense and a smoke screen”. “This amendment is supposed to be a road map to ensure there is sufficient housing in 2036,” he said. “It will do the opposite.” Mr Millsom, a builder and architect on the peninsula for more than 40 years, said the proposed changes would “impose controls on every residential property that seem arbitrary, punitive, and of no use in solving a housing shortage, but that, in the process, may actually cost ratepayers a fortune to comply with”. “I believe that the ‘character’ of the peninsula’s housing stock is, for the most part, intact, and don’t believe the perceived problems of over development and McMansions are so serious that there is a need for this complex amendment,” he said. “Why change the current planning scheme for about two or four per cent of the properties that can or may actually make a difference to neighbourhood character? “Every property will be impacted by increased side and rear setbacks which will create chaos for planning new houses and extension projects. “While there is a need for controls, those that don’t achieve anything other than ensure town planning has total control, while making planning more difficult and costly for ratepayers, should be rejected.” He said the “massive unexplained changes [will have] huge planning and financial implications for property owners” – even a drop in property values when a potential property buyer determines a planned renovation or extension may not now be possible on the reduced building footprint.” The shire’s planning and infrastructure director Mike McIntosh said the proposed controls would direct the predicted housing growth to the “right locations, near existing shops, services and facilities, and ensure that development respects and protects the special values and character of
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Porsche fire a challenge for CFA crews THE owner of a new electric Porsche was said to be mortified when his pride and joy was engulfed in acrid smoke at a Red Hill winery last week. The $350,000 2021 Taycan Cross Turismo had just been driven into Eldridge Estate, Arthurs Seat Road, when smoke began coming out from under the bonnet, 2pm, Wednesday 13 October. Red Hill CFA Lieutenant David Breadmore, who was on the scene within five minutes, along with three appliances and six firefighters, said their quick action prevented more extensive damage to the grey sports sedan – reputedly the only one of its kind in Australia. Extinguishing the blaze was problematic as the fire shut down the 12-volt electrical system preventing crews from opening the bonnet to get at the lithium battery. They were advised by Porsche Australia to use jumper leads to short-circuit the system so they could open the bonnet. “It was a real nightmare extinguishing the fire in the sealed lithium system,” Lieutenant Breadmore said. Adding to the problem was that wiring is colour-coded differently in Germany: brown is positive and blue negative and not red and black as in Australia. “The owner was very upset as he had had the car for only three days,” Lieutenant Breadmore said. “He was lucky he didn’t lose the whole car, but there was reasonably significant damage to the 12-volt system. He was able to get it trucked back to Porsche.” Lieutenant Breadmore said he was concerned about the increasing number of electric cars on the roads having different cut-off systems. “Extinguishing these types of fires is a very technical procedure,” he said. “Battery fires can stay hot and combustible for hours.” Stephen Taylor
the peninsula”. “The amendment’s design requirements for housing may constrain development potential in some areas, while in other areas it may increase or maintain development potential. “This may affect a person’s decision to buy a property. However, the design requirements are intended to protect and enhance local character and prevent inappropriate development. “This may further increase the desirability of the peninsula’s neighbourhoods as unique and distinct from metropolitan Melbourne and, therefore, support property values.”
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Southern Peninsula News
20 October 2021
PAGE 3