John Elder December 26, 2010 THE AGE
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Friday, December 24, 2010
Land rezoning push
24 Dec, 2010 09:29 AM
Latrobe Valley Express
A PUSH by Latrobe City Council for the mass rezoning of about 800 hectares of land across the Valley has yielded little success.
``We will liaise with the department about how quickly the (recommended) rezoning would occur and encourage it to occur as quickly as possible.''
To read the FULL story, please click on the TITLE
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Police paddock Sold
A SOLD sticker has just been put on the for sale sign outside IGA re the Police paddock for sale.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Urban growth boundary could extend
20 Dec, 2010 04:00 AM
The Northern Weekly
The coalition has proposed a new system of reviewing the UGB every two years, involving a panel independent from the Planning Minister.
This would be overseen by the new independent commissioner against corruption.
"We would like to put a process of boundary review every two years. That doesn't mean the boundary will change every two years, it will just mean people can propose changes to government," Mr Guy said.
Comment: The Coldstream 2020 group believe Coldstream is ready!
Build-up of Yarra Ranges fuel load raises fear - Emergency Services - News - Lilydale & Yarra Valley Leader
Build-up of Yarra Ranges fuel load raises fear - Emergency Services - News - Lilydale & Yarra Valley Leader
HEAVY late rains, which have delayed the onset of Yarra Ranges’ fire danger period until at least 2011, may have simultaneously increased the fire risk.
HEAVY late rains, which have delayed the onset of Yarra Ranges’ fire danger period until at least 2011, may have simultaneously increased the fire risk.
66-dwellings earmarked for former Heathmont Secondary College site
A DEVELOPER’S medium-density housing bid on the former Heathmont Secondary College site has been backed by the Maroondah Council, despite one councillor’s fear of a backlash.
To read the full story click on the TITLE above.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Coalition eyes crown land for new housing sites
Ruth Williams December 19, 2010 THE AGE
THE Coalition will scour government-owned land around Melbourne for potential new residential development sites, in a bid to ease the city's problem of increasingly unaffordable housing.
Read the rest by clicking on the title
Comment: We welcome Matthew Guy to look at Coldstream as a possible site to help with housing affordability. Our surveys indicate that the residents want an expansion of Coldstream.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Coldstream shelter gets animal rescue vehicle - Emergency Services - News - Lilydale & Yarra Valley Leader
Coldstream shelter gets animal rescue vehicle - Emergency Services - News - Lilydale & Yarra Valley Leader
THE task of rescuing large animals in catastrophic situations like Black Saturday will become safer for a Yarra Valley animal welfare group with the arrival of a specialised emergency response vehicle.
Animal Aid general manager Nell Thompson said the emergency response unit and rescue vehicle would help the Coldstream shelter transport companion animals, wildlife and livestock in times of disaster.
To read the full story click on the TITLE above.
Promises, promises | Mountain Views Mail | Star News Group Local community news
Promises, promises | Mountain Views Mail | Star News Group Local community news
THE Liberal National Coalition has committed to more than $60 million in promises for the Shire of Yarra Ranges.
The Mail intends to hold the new government and its local MPs Brad Battin for Gembrook, Evelyn's Christine Fyffe and Seymour MP Cindy McLeish to their promises.
Residents have already seen Premier Ted Baillieu close the Sugarloaf Pipeline.
To read the full story click on the TITLE above.
THE Liberal National Coalition has committed to more than $60 million in promises for the Shire of Yarra Ranges.
The Mail intends to hold the new government and its local MPs Brad Battin for Gembrook, Evelyn's Christine Fyffe and Seymour MP Cindy McLeish to their promises.
Residents have already seen Premier Ted Baillieu close the Sugarloaf Pipeline.
To read the full story click on the TITLE above.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Step 2. Meeting with SYR
I write to advise that I have had confirmation from Glenn Patterson (CEO), Andrew Paxton (Director, Planning Building & Health) and Cr Jeanette McRae that they will be attending the meeting with yourself and representative of Coldstream 2020 scheduled as follows :-
Date: Thursday 3 February 2011
Time: 4:30pm
Venue: Chamber Meeting Room, Civic Centre, Anderson Street, Lilydale
Comment: All going to plan at the moment.
Coldstream 2020 Group will meet and try to convince the Shire that we need the UGB around Coldstream expanded. This would almost double the size of the township.
In the meantime, I wish you all a Merry Christmas and thank you for your on line and e mail comments.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Terry Avery - Shire of Yarra Ranges Mayor
Cr Terry Avery, Melba Ward
Melba Ward covers: Lilydale and Mooroolbark.
Cr Terry Avery has spent most of his life in the Yarra Ranges and is committed to protecting what is special about the region and providing opportunities for people to keep living here as they age.
His priorities as a Councillor have included the establishment of community hubs that provide convenient community access to a range of services, more medium density living options in appropriate places, tackling community safety issues such as graffiti, and road safety.
He would also like to see bike paths extended, the Lilydale to Healesville rail trail development commence, and progress on the Lilydale bypass.
Terry's favourite spots to share with friends and family in Yarra Ranges are Lillydale Lake, the Yarra Valley and the Warburton Trail. He keeps fit by riding his bike, and enjoys listening to music.
Terry represents Council on the following groups:
The Community Safety Committee, Road Wise - Yarra Ranges, Eastern Transport Coalition, Graffiti Working Group, Positive Ageing Executive, Community Housing Group and Mooroolbark Traders Community Group.
The Community Safety Committee, Road Wise - Yarra Ranges, Eastern Transport Coalition, Graffiti Working Group, Positive Ageing Executive, Community Housing Group and Mooroolbark Traders Community Group.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Fuel reduction
Re: the Yarra Ranges council has decided that it WILL NOT have free tipping for ratepayers this year for fuel reduction purposes - apparently last year it cost $250,000 - which I find a little unusual - since last year the council was claiming the cost was about $750,000 - not to worry - accounting procedures explain this discrepancy?
The Coalition party - now the govt. of Victoria - indicated that it would have about $2 Million dollars available in the first year of govt. to be used for fuel reduction projects - and to assist with council subsidies such as the free tipping offered by Yarra ranges in 2009.
Did you know that the tip/recycle centre in Burwood Hwy Vermont operated by Whitehorse Council will accept garden prunings and similar FREE OF CHARGE. They have a contractor on site who recycles this garden waste in a huge shredder for compost. If it's not too far to travel maybe this is a solution to Fire Ready gardeners.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
New broom sweeps away planning laws
Jason Dowling December 11, 2010 THE AGE
Read it all by clicking on the title
In a wide-ranging interview Mr Guy also promised that:
■ His first priority will be to tackle housing affordability with increased land supply and urban renewal.
■ The Growth Areas Authority will be incorporated in the Department of Planning.
■ He will not retrospectively block the Hotel Windsor redevelopment, but believes it should not have exceeded the recommended height controls for the precinct.
■ Has no intention of reviewing the Heritage Act.
■Will work on housing more of Victoria's booming population in regional centres such as Geelong.
Mr Guy said Victoria's new Treasurer, Kim Wells, would soon announce the promised stamp duty cuts of 50 per cent for those buying a first home valued up to $600,000.
Friday, December 10, 2010
The Victorian Liberal Nationals Coalition Plan for Planning
The Victorian Liberal Nationals Coalition Plan
for
Planning
for
Planning
comment: A few paragraphs from this document are added below.
I suggest ALL land owners in and around Coldstream to read this document as it has major changes from the Labour Party way for the past decade. Is "Melbourne 2030" dead? How about "Melbourne@5million"? Read about the new sub division size!
Read about peri-urban areas!
The Liberal Nationals Coalition will follow an inclusive approach to achieve urban renewal and believes urban change can occur while respecting existing height controls in existing planning schemes. This will also take the pressure for high-density housing off many suburbs.
The Liberal Nationals Coalition reaffirms that communities, via their local council, should maintain their role as a decision-maker over planning decisions within their municipality.
The Liberal Nationals Coalition acknowledges that many metropolitan and regional councils’ planning departments, and councillors themselves, are currently stretched for resources and require direct assistance from the state government.
A Liberal Nationals Coalition Government will:
Establish localised planning statements for a number of key areas around Victoria.
These new Statements of Planning Policy will apply to:
The Mornington Peninsula;
o
The Yarra Valley;
Establish localised planning statements for a number of key areas around Victoria.
These new Statements of Planning Policy will apply to:
The Mornington Peninsula;
o
The Yarra Valley;
Seek to have the UGB in growth areas identified along existing and clearly defined natural markers or infrastructure routes where possible, so that it will come to form a defined permanent boundary as exists in European cities; and
Allow local residents in growth areas boundary inclusion areas to be a part of the UGB review where they can choose to opt out of boundary expansion.
Allow local residents in growth areas boundary inclusion areas to be a part of the UGB review where they can choose to opt out of boundary expansion.
Abolish Labor’s bureaucratic Growth Areas Authority and the wasteful Development Facilitation Unit to create a new Urban Planning Unit (UPU) that is committed to managing population growth, improving operational and regulatory processes and identifying areas of planning delay in local and state government.
The UPU will be dedicated to:
o
Managing population growth across the metropolitan area through the development of new communities and the reinvigoration of existing communities;
o
Managing population growth across the metropolitan area through the development of new communities and the reinvigoration of existing communities;
Under a Liberal Nationals Coalition Government local councils will be given the flexibility to review the operation of their farm zones and in particular whether the 40-hectare minimum subdivision rule is appropriate across all non-township areas of their municipality.
Increase flexibility and housing choice on the outskirts of our cities and towns – particularly regional cities – by introducing a new Urban Interface Zone (UIZ).
The new UIZ will allow for housing on a minimum lot size of 2 hectares and will be determined by local government.
Further, the Liberal Nationals Coalition reaffirms its strong support for immigration to Victoria as a key component of our state population growth.
VCAT
A Liberal Nationals Coalition Government will:
Legislate to limit access to VCAT for the review of determinations for projects which are deemed to comply substantially with the relevant Municipal Strategic Statement (MSS);
Require councils to advise a council view on the degree of MSS compliance, with their determinations;
Provide for VCAT to determine whether an application for review qualifies on the grounds of substantial compliance; and
Publish clear and transparent guidelines on the determination of substantial compliance.
The Liberal Nationals Coalition wants to ensure that VCAT is used for its original purpose – as an independent arbiter, not a de facto responsible authority.
While much of this will depend on the establishment of a new metropolitan planning scheme for Melbourne, the operation of VCAT can be improved.
A Liberal Nationals Coalition Government will:
Legislate to limit access to VCAT for the review of determinations for projects which are deemed to comply substantially with the relevant Municipal Strategic Statement (MSS);
Require councils to advise a council view on the degree of MSS compliance, with their determinations;
Provide for VCAT to determine whether an application for review qualifies on the grounds of substantial compliance; and
Publish clear and transparent guidelines on the determination of substantial compliance.
The Liberal Nationals Coalition wants to ensure that VCAT is used for its original purpose – as an independent arbiter, not a de facto responsible authority.
While much of this will depend on the establishment of a new metropolitan planning scheme for Melbourne, the operation of VCAT can be improved.
What's in store for planning in Victoria?
To read the full story click on the TITLE above.
some paragraphs are below:
Mr Baillieu yesterday named his cabinet of 22 ministers, with Matthew Guy retaining his former shadow portfolio and named Minister for Planning.
The 26-page plan foreshadows audits, departmental restructuring and amendments to the urban growth boundary (UGB). It also signals the end of Melbourne's current metropolitan planning strategies, Melbourne 2030 and Melbourne @ 5 million.
A population strategy for all of Victoria will be developed with an investigation of new population corridors in regional and peri-urban municipalities. The Coalition also states that it will work with relevant municipalities to assess "logical inclusions" in Melbourne's growth boundary.
A Housing Affordability Unit is proposed to be established within the Department of Planning and Community Development (DPCD) to provide a "whole-of-government overview to the Planning Minister about state and local government policies, legislation or procedures that could be reformed to help improve housing affordability."
limiting access to VCAT for the review of determinations for projects which are deemed to "comply substantially" with the relevant Municipal Strategic Statement (MSS); and a full review of Victoria's planning zones.
Comment: Full steam ahead for COLDSTREAM 2020
Wednesday, December 08, 2010
CFA goes mobile
Key information from the CFA website can now be easily accessed on just about any mobile with internet access.
The CFA mobile website and CFA FireReady smartphone application allow you to easily access timely and accurate information on just about any mobile device with internet access.
Mobile website
The mobile internet versions of the key CFA pages (Warnings & Advice, Incidents, Fire Danger Ratings, Total Fire Ban, Victorian Bushfire Information Line and Can I Can't I) have been specifically designed for mobile phones.
This means they will load faster and consume less data than accessing websites designed for viewing on a computer. Information will also be easier to view and navigate in a smaller screen.
Visit this URL in your phone's browser: cfa.vic.gov.au/mobile
All sections of the CFA mobile website are designed to display on just about any mobile phone with mobile internet access.
The CFA mobile website and CFA FireReady smartphone application allow you to easily access timely and accurate information on just about any mobile device with internet access.
Mobile website
The mobile internet versions of the key CFA pages (Warnings & Advice, Incidents, Fire Danger Ratings, Total Fire Ban, Victorian Bushfire Information Line and Can I Can't I) have been specifically designed for mobile phones.
This means they will load faster and consume less data than accessing websites designed for viewing on a computer. Information will also be easier to view and navigate in a smaller screen.
Visit this URL in your phone's browser: cfa.vic.gov.au/mobile
All sections of the CFA mobile website are designed to display on just about any mobile phone with mobile internet access.
To read the full story click on
Tuesday, December 07, 2010
My word, we'll do it all: MP
To read the full story click on the TITLE above.
BY ELISA MILLER 07 Dec, 2010 01:00 AM
RETURNING Evelyn MP Christine Fyffe has guaranteed the constituents of the Yarra Ranges that every promise made during the state election campaign will be honoured, sooner rather than later.
BY ELISA MILLER 07 Dec, 2010 01:00 AM
RETURNING Evelyn MP Christine Fyffe has guaranteed the constituents of the Yarra Ranges that every promise made during the state election campaign will be honoured, sooner rather than later.
"We will work through getting all our commitments delivered as quick as possible, but I can guarantee that every one of the promises for Evelyn will be met."
Ms Fyffe, who is set for a third term in parliament, said she was surprised her winning margin, according to the latest Victorian Electoral Commission results, had increased to more than 13 per cent.
She said she looked forward to working on several key priorities including better access to mental health services, a reliable and improved public transport service and improved speech therapy services to schools.
"In regard to mental health, we need to ensure that the funding actually reaches those on the ground through better management of services and more accessibility for the people, especially our youth."
Ms Fyffe said increased reliability and frequency of train and bus services was high among her priorities.
"First we have to fix the basics: make the tracks and signals work in order to decrease the number of cancellations."
She said the presence of armed officers to be placed at each station at night would ensure that commuters, particularly the elderly and women, would feel safe.
Monday, December 06, 2010
Land prices shatter mortgage belt dreams
Simon Johanson December 6, 2010 THE AGE
To read the full story click on the TITLE above.
'By the time the Growth Areas Authority and everybody else has a say, including councils … it takes up to four years and sometimes five years to get the thing [land] on the market.''
Victoria's new Planning Minister, Matthew Guy, is similarly critical of the perceived impact of the urban growth boundary on land values.
''Constricting supply at a time of great demand has an obvious price impact. That is the case in every city around the world and I fail to see how Melbourne could be any different,'' he says.
Federal funding at risk in urban planning showdown
Jason Dowling December 4, 2010 The AGE
To read the full story click on the TITLE above.
Victoria's new Planning Minister, Matthew Guy, has warned Canberra against dictating to the states on urban planning.
''The federal government can manage Canberra and their affairs up north - the Victorian government is responsible for managing Melbourne and Victoria's planning scheme and that's the way we intend it to stay,'' Mr Guy told The Age.
The Baillieu government promised to scrap new planning rules facilitating high-density housing along public transport corridors and move immediately to expand the urban growth boundary in areas where there are ''logical inclusions''.
''We will not turn Melbourne into Sydney, we will not allow the entire metropolitan area to become a construction site - we will have urban renewal and higher-density development in targeted areas,'' Mr Guy said.
Comment: Lets hope Coldstream is a "LOGICAL INCLUSION" for expansion of the UGB.
Voters defend the quarter-acre dream
This is worth a read and shows the Liberals approach to urban planning.
To read the full story click on the TITLE above.
To read the full story click on the TITLE above.
But on Saturday the suburbs hit back, attracted to Baillieu's promise to return more planning control to local communities, overturn Labor's "keep Melbourne moving" clearway restrictions outside arterial shopping strips and to shift population expansion away from suburban infill to new growth areas farther out. The Liberals vowed to cut the infrastructure charges on greenfield developers, arguing that the "decentralising of jobs to outer urban areas is of major long-term importance to Melbourne".
Second, the housing market is refusing to respond to the mining-fuelled immigration boom that has pushed population growth to its fastest rate since the 60s. And it's not just the mining states. Melbourne has been growing by 93,500 people a year, or 1600 a week. That has generated an unprecedented 200,000 housing supply gap that ANZ economists figure could widen to 400,000 dwellings by 2015.
The weak supply response is extraordinary given Australia has virtually unlimited available land. The problem is it's tied up in red tape. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development says Australia's housing supply "is heavily restricted by existing regulations", including limits on infill density and on city fringe land release. Residential land development is "legally complex and time consuming".
Comment: These are just a couple of paragraphs from the article.
Sunday, December 05, 2010
Land Scarcity
Land Scarcity
A shortage of land is creating tremendous pressure on potential home buyers. Massive growth in population has created an overwhelming demand for accommodation that is not being supported.
The issue of dwindling supply of suitable land has caused fierce competition and is driving up prices to record highs. Many Australians now find that they are in the devastating position of not being able to afford to purchase a home.
Andrew Perkins, Research Manager of Oliver Hume stated that, ”Single-income households, which equate to around 15 per cent of all growth area buyers, cannot afford to enter the market.”
This scarcity of land is particularly prominent in Melbourne’s newer suburbs of Wyndham, Whittlesea, Casey and Melton. These suburbs experienced a dramatic growth to $212 750 in the previous 12 months. The increase in value was a staggering 24%.
A rise in land prices has occurred across all areas, from the cheaper suburbs to the more expensive regions. This has affected the values of land and housing considerably, driving up the average cost on the city fringe to $428 847.
With the consistent rising land values, there are fears that the median cost of purchasing land will soon overtake the median cost of building. The current gap between a block of land and the costs associated with constructing a house was only $3000. In 2006 the respective gap was $43 700.
Mr Perkins commented on this by saying, “land prices were likely to exceed the cost of building by the end of the year.”
Brian Welch, Chief Executive of Master Builders Association, expressed his concern on land scarcity and implied that the importance of the housing affordability crisis wasn’t being properly addressed.
He said, “The most basic thing, which is accommodation, is not given the attention that it deserves. Despite the urban growth boundary expansion, the state government failed to maintain an adequate buffer of land supply. It’s little surprise … we’re seeing an escalation in the price of land because there is too little available for sale.”
Liberal government planning spokesman, Matthew Guy, commented on the findings. ”The affordability question is the greatest challenge for Melbourne’s planning future,” he said.
Due to the high demands, from a growing population, the amount of available land is shrinking rapidly.
Melbourne suburb Mitchell, experienced a reduction in average land area by 54 square metres in the last 12 months. Similarly this occurred with Whittlesea by 29 square metres and Hume by 178 square metres.
Gill King, the executive director of Housing Industry Australia said, “The trend is that land lots will become smaller. This is a direct policy of government to reduce the size of land and property to create reasonable sized homes to detract from mansion type constructions. This is resulting in a greater demand for larger allotments across the state, which is conflicting with the scarcity of the land. Melbourne's housing market is certainly robust, it's no worse than Sydney.”
Simon Best, Director of Barry Plant Real estate commented, “Although the demand for land and homes was high, the supply was limited".To read the FULL story, please click on the TITLE
Surge in outer area land costs
FOR the first time on record the median cost of land in the outer growth area suburbs is likely to eclipse the cost of building a house, research shows.
The median land price in Melbourne's growth areas such as new suburbs Wyndham, Whittlesea, Casey and Melton rocketed 24 per cent in the past 12 months to $212,750 last quarter.
To read the FULL story, please click on the TITLE
Comment: Would this be true if there was more land available? Free more land and make land more affordable.
Saturday, December 04, 2010
Friday, December 03, 2010
Weather data for November 2010
Averages\Extremes for the month of November 2010
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average temperature = 16.4°C
Average humidity = 72%
Average dewpoint = 10.8°C
Average barometer = 1016.0 hPa
Average windspeed = 3.0 km/h
Average gustspeed = 5.6 km/h
Average direction = 133° ( SE)
Rainfall for month = 98.0 mm
Rainfall for year = 893.0 mm
Maximum rain per minute = 5.0 mm on day 13 at time 08:09
Maximum temperature = 32.2°C on day 22 at time 14:35
Minimum temperature = 3.4°C on day 04 at time 06:23
Maximum humidity = 97% on day 21 at time 07:43
Minimum humidity = 29% on day 09 at time 13:28
Maximum dewpoint = 20.0°C on day 12 at time 18:37
Minimum dewpoint = 2.3°C on day 04 at time 5:45
Maximum pressure = 1025.3 hPa on day 20 at time 09:08
Minimum pressure = 1002.6 hPa on day 12 at time 17:15
Maximum windspeed = 24.1 kmh from 023°(NNE) on day 12 at time 10:35
Maximum gust speed = 42.6 km/h from 338°(NNW) on day 27 at time 12:57
Maximum heat index = 32.3°C on day 12 at time 16:42
Avg daily max temp :23.6°C
Avg daily min temp :10.6°C
Total windrun = 2198.1km
-----------------------------------
Daily rain totals
-----------------------------------
03.6 mm on day 1
02.4 mm on day 2
00.4 mm on day 3
00.4 mm on day 4
08.0 mm on day 12
10.0 mm on day 13
00.6 mm on day 14
12.6 mm on day 24
10.4 mm on day 25
15.0 mm on day 26
34.4 mm on day 27
00.4 mm on day 28
00.2 mm on day 30
A hot wet n windy month!
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