Matthew Guy in the Press

 Government rules over Wangaratta Council

BRAD WORRALL

21 May, 2011 12:00 AM

 

WANGARATTA Council’s contentious plans to change how farmland can be developed may be abandoned after one of its key recommendations was ruled out and panned by the Victorian Planning Minister.Yesterday the council was asking for an urgent meeting with minister Matthew Guy to see what else in their draft plan was now off the table.
Mayor Anthony Griffith said as recently as Monday the state government’s planning department had endorsed the proposal.
More than 300 people called for the council to scrap the plan at a meeting in Moyhu this week.
One of the chief concerns was a ruling that would have taken the minimum farming land subdivision from 40 to 250 hectares.
But Mr Guy has ruled that out altogether.

Read the rest by clicking the title of this story

Melbourne's UGB 'may expand'

Victoria's Coalition government is set to establish an independent advisory committee to review Melbourne's urban growth boundary (UGB).

The move has been warmly welcomed by the Property Council of Australia, which it identified as "a step in the right direction".

It has called on the Victorian government to engage with the community as well as industry insiders to ensure "logical inclusion cover".

The body claims it will work closely with the government to ensure land meets a variety of criteria, including consistency with local council concept plans, proximity to the existing UGB and be located near public transport and have existing servicing infrastructure.
In addition, land to be considered for inclusion in the UGB must be able to be developed for housing as a priority.

"Logical inclusion should be about bringing developable land inside the UGB so that Melbourne is able to make use of the maximum land available for housing and development," commented Jennifer Cunich executive director of the Victoria branch of the Property Council.

Melbourne has recently been identified by one expert as a stable destination for property investment.

Andrew Wilson, senior economist at the Australian Property Monitors, commented that the Melbourne market is enjoying steady recovery thanks to a number of fundamentals, including rising salaries and record levels of employment.

Read the rest by clicking the title of this story

Eco village uproar

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.”

Read the rest by clicking the title of this story