Mr. Geoff Howard,

Member for Ballarat East,

47 Little Bridge Street,

Ballarat, 3350.

11th March, 2005

Re:  Reinstatement of State Level Planning Protection In Macedon Ranges

Dear Geoff,

Thank you for your letter dated 2nd March 2005 in response to receiving a copy of MRRA’s 31st January letter to the Minister for Planning, Rob Hulls, asking him to meet with Association representatives.

We believe State government help and action is urgently needed if the State significance and prized resources and values of Macedon Ranges Shire are to be preserved for present and future generations.

Consequently we are greatly encouraged by your advice that you and member for Macedon, Joanne Duncan, have taken action on this matter and will be following up with Minister Hulls.  We ask that you pursue this course vigorously.

As you will be aware, there is strong community support for State level protection and for the State government to act expeditiously.  That these have not yet been seen to occur has led to considerable community frustration and anger, which led to a breakdown of relations with the State government late last year.

The Association welcomes Mr. Hulls’ appointment as Minister and believes this change signals a renewed commitment by the government to improving planning in Victoria.  We feel it also provides an opportunity for fresh consideration of the situation in Macedon Ranges and of working co-operatively to resolve issues.

To better illustrate the pressing nature of those issues, the Association has forwarded to Minister Hulls a list of still-to-be-implemented Panel recommendations, and Ministerial instructions, for actions to be taken to complete Macedon Ranges’ planning scheme.  These requirements date from 1999 and 2000 respectively.  A copy of this correspondence is enclosed, for your information.

Your assistance and support in this matter is appreciated.

Yours Sincerely,

Christine Pruneau,

Secretary.