C97 Panel Scathing of Council - 2009 Housing Strategy out the door!
"The
Panel concludes that Amendment C97 fails the elementary test of any
planning scheme amendment which is a strong strategic justification."
"The 2009 Housing Strategy has been strongly influenced by community consultation that has distracted Council from applying sound and logical planning principles to its assessment."
"The diversification of housing stock is the key to increasing housing choice but this must be provided in a variety of locations and not just be limited to the ‘consolidation areas’ as is the outcome of the 2009 Housing Strategy.
As repeatedly noted in the submissions, people want to be able ‘to age in place’ and remain living in their local communities. This is a central tenet of Council’s Ageing Policy and it is not assisted at all by the likely outcomes of Amendment C97."
"The Panel considers that the 2009 adopted Housing Strategy is a compromised version of the original that will not deliver on many of its key objectives. It seems to the Panel that while the implementation of the 2009 Housing Strategy has been strongly influenced by some elements of community consultation, it has not taken into account the interview survey results of a representative sample of residents who expressed the need for a range of housing options in their local area. As a result, the 2009 Strategy appears to lack balance and has been distracted from applying sound and logical planning principles to its assessment." - From the Panel Report.
“We will be preparing a report for Council to consider their preferred way forward.
In developing the housing strategy significant research and consultation was undertaken and the 2009 strategy was once again tested to ensure that it would enable Yarra Ranges to meet or exceed the expected housing targets.
The Yarra Ranges community and Council values the role of consultation in local democracy. Consultation is an important part of planning scheme amendments, as they can and will have significant impacts upon the area into the future. It is also a legitimate and accepted element of local government practice.” said Andrew Paxton, Director Planning Building Health Yarra Ranges Council.
It
appears to me that Council for some reason known only to the present
Councillors has failed the basic consultation process. And also has
failed to to make the hard decisions in the face of minority opposition.
This whole Housing Strategy/C97 saga has cost 'US' the ratepayer a
fortune and it is likely to cost us even more. - Time for a change!
Comment:
For those who do not know Jim, here are some facts about him. His site is well worth a visit as well.
http://jimchild.blogspot.com
Jim Child is passionate about the Yarra Ranges, in particular the
O’Shannassy Ward where he has worked, lived and been in business for the
past forty years.
Jim was born and bred in the Shire of Yarra Ranges, a fifth generation
resident of the Shire of Yarra Ranges, is the great great grandson of
one of the shires’ earliest settlers Matthew Child, who along with Jabez
Richardson and Isaac Jeeves made their homes on Running (Olinda) Creek
(Kalorama) in 1855.
A past councillor and Shire President of the Shire of Upper Yarra (now
O’Shannassy Ward), candidate for the O’Shannassy Ward and the previous
owner of a successful business in the O’Shannassy Ward.
Author: Jim Child.
1 comment:
From the C97 Pannel Report:
"Overall, it seemed to the Panel that Coldstream had many of the suburban settlement and built form attributes of Mooroolbark and Chirnside Park, albeit in more of a ‘village’ setting. To effectively limit any further development in this town to more of the same seems to the Panel to be a lost opportunity." - C97 Pannel Report.
Council has got it wrong again!
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