Posted 9//7/06

MRRA MEDIA RELEASE: 

PLANNING BACKLASH  PETITION

7 July 2006

PLANNING BACKLASH, a Statewide community movement calling for change to how planning works in Victoria, is presently circulating a petition asking the Legislative Assembly of the Victorian parliament to support amendments to the Victorian planning system.

Changes being asked for are:

 
• Immediately (1) Prepare a new metropolitan strategy and revoke Melbourne 2030, and (2) Prepare a regional/rural planning strategy – both subject to an honest, transparent public consultation process. 
• Legislate to grant priority to approved local planning policies including effective controls over height and residential density;
• Stop eroding the planning powers of local municipalities;
• Maintain the Green Wedges;
• Protect environmentally sensitive areas;
• Stop VCAT acting as a de facto planning authority;
• Abandon the Priority Development Panel;
• Review ResCode;
• Stop usurping public lands and community assets;
• Provide higher levels of accountability; and
• Immediately start protecting what residents love about our Garden State.

MRRA Secretary Christine Pruneau says: “The issues identified in the petition are the cause of many problems and much anguish and contention, and are common to the whole State, including Macedon Ranges Shire.   We are asking residents to support the petition as a way of letting the State government know that, from the community’s perspective, the Victorian planning system is broken and needs to be fixed.”

Macedon Ranges’ residents can obtain petition sheets from Macedon Ranges Residents’ Association [MRRA] website at www.mrra.asn.au or call 5427 1481 for further information.  Petition forms with original signatures must be returned to MRRA (PO Box 359, Woodend, 3442) by 25 July, 2006.   Alternatively, contact Margot Carroll at PLANNING BACKLASH on 9510 4845.