Hulls Letter to Ed, MRRA Response

MRRA PRESS RELEASE

(13/6/05 – SP)

9 June, 2005

Response to Minister Hulls’ Criticism Of MRRA

Letter To Editor, Leader Newspaper 31^st May, 2005

Macedon Ranges Residents’ Association [MRRA] is disappointed that the Minister for Planning, Rob Hulls, has seen fit to publicly attack the Association. His comments suggest a lack of understanding and information about the Association, Macedon Ranges and relevant issues.

The Association is a volunteer-based, incorporated community group. It has amongst its purposes the objectives of upholding residents’ rights, representing broad community interests and values, and defending Macedon Ranges’ environment.

For the past 7 years the Association has approached successive governments and Ministers asking for State-level action to protect Macedon Ranges from urbanization and over-development. The response has been broken promises.

The Association met the Minister on 29^th April sustained by a resolution of Council and two community resolutions calling for the government to act. MRRA has itself called for the Bracks government to show leadership and support, to provide the State’s ‘best and brightest’ and to work in partnership with Council and the community to resolve the planning crisis in Macedon Ranges quickly. Despite wide-spread support for that to happen, the Minister has said ‘no’, insisting that to do so would ‘usurp a democratically elected Council’ – the same Council that has itself asked for the government’s help.

MRRA is under considerable community pressure to act. While we would of course welcome further dialogue with the Minister, we ask the Minister to be mindful that MRRA will continue to put forward the view of most residents without fear or favour, and that the Association does and will continue to represent planning (and other) issues factually.

Christine Pruneau,

Secretary.

Macedon Ranges Residents’ Association.

MINISTER HULLS’ LETTER TO THE EDITOR