Page 10 The Moorabool News – 21 December, 2021
News
Email - news@themooraboolnews.com.au
VCAT ruling disappoints By Lachlan Ellis Council’s rejection of a planning application in June has been overturned by VCAT, and Council remains concerned of the impact the development could have. The original application was made at Council’s Ordinary Meeting on 2 June, with 75 dwellings planned on the corner of Gisborne Road and Clifton Drive, Bacchus Marsh. Council’s planning department expressed its concerns over a variety of issues such as traffic, a narrow access point, parking, and noise impacts. Council unanimously rejected the application, but after a three-day VCAT hearing in August, the development will now go ahead, with conditions. On 14 December, Council issued a media release expressing its frustration. “The applicant lodged an appeal for failure to make a determination, as Council officers were trying to secure an improved outcome for the site. After the applicant lodged the appeal, Council determined it would not support the application,” Council CEO Derek Madden explained. “Council attended the hearing and had legal and planning experts representing Council… VCAT has made the decision to approve the application,” he said. As a result of Council’s presence at the hearing, 18 per cent of the site was dedicated to Council for the Aqualink cycling/ pedestrian network without cost (as opposed to the required 5 per cent under the Subdivision Act), and six dwellings were reduced, for a total of 69. In addition, at least eight dwellings on the eastern boundary will be single storey as opposed to double storey, and sound acoustic treatment and landscaping will be improved on the original plans. Despite the conditions, East Ward Councillor David Edwards told the Moorabool News he was “incredibly disappointed” in VCAT’s decision.
The original plans for 101 Gisborne Road from the 2 June Ordinary Meeting of Council. “From my perspective, it’s quite disappointing, as there were many aspects such as parking requirements, and the lack of size of roads in the area. If we’re going to get these high-intensity developments, and VCAT’s going to overturn every Council decision without understanding the context of the local area, that’s pretty disappointing,” Cr Edwards said. “It frustrates me that we go through quite an extensive process, yet VCAT can just overturn it. I thought Council were elected to make these decisions on behalf of the community, understand local context.”
Cr Edwards said he was “absolutely” concerned the decision could set a precedent for developers bypassing Council decisions through VCAT. “Why does Council spend literally hundreds of thousands of dollars going through planning processes? I understand there needs to be a right of appeals, but this is a very unique development in Bacchus Marsh, the likes of which we haven’t seen, to be honest,” he said. During the hearing, VCAT said the site at 101 Gisborne Road is “earmarked for increased density”, and defined the site as an “island location”, which Council says it “does not agree with”.
Trees targeted in attack Vandals have struck in the quiet rural township of Bungaree, and it comes with a cost. Around 23 trees have suffered damage that Council’s Parks and Gardens crew planted over the past two years. “Unfortunately, with this Bungaree incident, there are a number of trees snapped off and the trees left with stem damage will have to be removed,” a Council spokesperson told the Moorabool News. The cost for the damage is just under $6000 and approximately $250 per tree. “This cost is taking in to account the initial planting costs and the ongoing maintenance and watering applications given so far.” The incident has been reported to the police and Council is asking for your help. “Please report any damage or suspicious activity in the area on 5366 7100,” the spokesperson said. “If you saw the vandals, please call Crime Stoppers on One of the trees on the reserve of Old Melbourne Road at Bungaree that was 1800 333 000.” vandalised. Photo - MSC
Complaints during election skyrocket
The Local Government Inspectorate has seen a sharp increase in complaints, due mainly to last year’s council elections. The Inspectorate issued its annual report this month, with a total of 1164 complaints assessed, and 51 investigations completed, during 2020-21. The bulk of these complaints, 848 in total, were sent in during the general council elections held in October 2020. It was a significant jump not just from 2019-20 (272 complaints), but also from the last election year in 2016-17, in which 576 complaints were assessed by the Local Government Inspectorate. Chief Municipal Inspector, Michael Stefanovic AM, praised Inspectorate staff for handling a record number of complaints during an extremely busy election period, hampered by the limitations of COVIDSafe work practices. “A robust integrity system requires accountability and transparency, and the past year was challenging in that many council decisions were not as open for public scrutiny, despite the efforts of councils to live-stream meetings and move many functions online,” Mr Stefanovic said. “We saw a significant increase in complaints about social media and online activities during the elections and this has helped identify further opportunities to strengthen legislation around the rules and definitions of electoral material.” During 2020-21, the Local Government Inspectorate issued 139 warnings for election matters and 25 for non-election matters, used coercive powers on 50 occasions to obtain documents or interview people, and interviewed 28 individuals in relation to matters under investigation. To view the Inspectorate’s 2020-21 Annual Report, visit www.lgi.vic. gov.au.