The Great Southern Star - May 17, 2011

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www.thestar.com.au

TUESDAY, MAY 17, 2011

$1.20

Dumped and forgotten SOUTH Gippslanders wanting to recycle their analog televisions have been overlooked by a State Government program. The government is proposing people travel to a regional recycling point at Sale – more than 130km away.

Up to 60 television sets have been dumped at transfer stations across South Gippsland Shire daily since the analog network was switched off and replaced by digital broadcasting on May 5. Other people have been dumping their old TVs at

opportunity shops, forcing charities to pay for disposal. Kevin Richardson, of Gippsland Waste Services, is pictured with a large number of TVs at the Koonwarra landfill last Friday. Read the full story on page 7.

Eco village uproar

Site for a village: State Planning Minister Matthew Guy (centre) braved freezing wind and rain to inspect the site of the Cape Paterson Eco Village. With him are Bass MLA Ken Smith (left) and village developer Brendan Condon.

By Jane Ross STATE Planning Minister Matthew Guy has turned government policy on its head by approving the Cape Paterson Eco Village. Mr Guy visited the site last Wednesday morning to make the announcement. The village will be Australia’s first carbon neutral housing project. The decision has outraged the Cape Paterson Residents and Ratepayers Association which has slammed the decision as “irresponsible” and “an abuse of strategic planning process”. And Municipal Association of Victoria president Cr Bill McArthur said, “The back door for planning has now become the front door. “If you don’t like a decision, just ask the minister and he’ll change it.” But Mr Guy said the matter needed resolution after dragging on for eight years and described the development as a showpiece for Victoria. During construction, the village is expected to generate 400 jobs. Mr Guy said he had met with the proponents and opponents before making his decision. “I think it will be quite a significant develop-

ment for regional Victoria,” he said. “It has a 7.5 star building sustainability rating and we want to make sure that is achieved. “We haven’t approved a gas guzzling high rise development. It is low density and ecologically sensitive.” Bass Coast Council had refused a planning permit and referred the development to the planning minister because of concerns it conflicted with the Victorian Coastal Strategy. Council CEO Allan Bawden said the strategy discourages linear development, such as the village, along the coast. Bill McArthur said, “That policy is now irrelevant.” He said the decision “also runs contrary to a state election commitment where Mr Guy said communities would come first. If the government intends changing policy, it should consult with councils and not make contrary, ad hoc decisions”. Eco village developer Brendan Condon described the minister’s move as one of “common sense”. He said the development was not linear and complied with the Victorian Coastal Strategy. Continued on page 5. ► Ratepayers association responds, page 5.


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