This week Matthew Guy, opposition planning spokesperson asked the following question of Justin Madden, Minister of Planning on Tuesday. To date he has not received a reply.
Tonight I raise an issue for the Minister for Planning concerning
development occurring in the city of
suburbs. Recently I was alerted to an interesting newspaper article in the
Knox Leader of 23 September where I noted a member representing Eastern
Metropolitan Region, Mr Leane, calling for a moratorium on all development
in the suburb of Knoxfield until neighbourhood character studies have been
completed by the council.
Development moratoriums are an interesting topic particularly here in
Gippsland where the minister has recently placed one at the request of the
moratorium closing off the rights of local people to build on their own
land, even something as small as a garden shed.
But Knox is suffering what many people across the metropolitan area are now
dealing with -- that is, a complete change in urban character thanks to
Melbourne 2030. Melbourne 2030 has forced high-density development in
smaller streets, such as
of character with the existing urban and street character of the suburb.
It is only when listening to the concerns of local residents, and viewing
maps that give an indication of the change that is happening to some of the
smaller streets in Knox, that you can appreciate the concerns that many
locals have with such enforced change and a one-size-fits-all
2030 policy and what it has brought to those local communities. But worse
-- and what I fear more is planned for Knox -- is development that will be
out of step with this urban character that is planned through the new
residential zones (NRZ) document.
The government's NRZ plan will destroy the semblance of urban character
that the suburb has through the mandating of high-rise, high-density
dwellings with no corresponding upgrades in road, rail, water or power
infrastructure. The NRZ plan will change the way the suburb looks. The plan
contains three new zones, two of which mandate high-rise. This plan will
devastate many areas of
areas that are such a drawcard for people to live in
be a thing of the past.
Tonight I ask the Minister for Planning to listen to the people of Knox, to
listen to the local residents and to local members on both sides of the
house who understand that inappropriate development in this suburb is
getting way out of control, and to do one good thing for the people of Knox
-- that is, to scrap the planned new residential zones document.
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