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What’s the Campaign About?

(26/4/05 – SP)

Here are two MRRA press releases which describe the problem and community sentiment.

MRRA Press Release: Pre Woodend Public Meeting 9th September, 2004

Macedon Ranges Calls For Urgent State Government Action on Planning Protection

Macedon Ranges Residents’ Association [MRRA] has, since March, pursued a campaign to have State-level planning protection re-instated in Macedon Ranges, an action also supported by Macedon Ranges Shire Council and Macedon Range Conservation Society.

In April the Association met with Planning Minister Delahunty and got a firm commitment that the government will act to protect Macedon Ranges as a State significant and environmentally sensitive area. The type of protection MRRA sought from the Minister included:

Production of a Macedon Ranges’ Strategy
Changes to legislation and the VPP planning system to accommodate Macedon Ranges’ specific planning needs (similar to changes made for Yarra Ranges and Mornington Peninsula)
Completion of a planning scheme to deliver the Strategy, and
Immediate introduction of an interim measure to control development while the above work is done.

MRRA understands the Bracks' government has indicated to Macedon Ranges Shire Council it supports a program of strategic work being undertaken, has appointed a project co-ordinator and provided $70,000 funding. Macedon Ranges Council, which is putting almost $300,000 towards strategic work, has estimated around $1 million is needed.

Two critical elements are not addressed as part of the strategic work program supported by the government. These are agreement from the State government to make changes to the law and planning system to accommodate Macedon Ranges’ special needs, and immediate implementation of an interim protection measure to control current over-development.

VCAT decisions repeatedly over-turning Council refusals are evidence that Macedon Ranges is powerless to control rampant speculative and damaging development. That development is compromising State significant resources and out-stripping the ability to provide services and infrastructure.

“Gisborne, the ‘village in a valley’, is beginning to resemble suburban Taylors Lakes. 200 wind turbines are poised to invade the Cobaw Range, industrializing our rural landscapes. We’ve run out of water and are about to be hooked up to Melbourne’s supply. Small-lot subdivisions are being approved where sewerage isn’t available, effluent to be shipped out by truck. VCAT’s approved rifle ranges next to State forests and supermarkets in floodways. Inner Melbourne-style medium density housing is sprouting like weeds, our trees are coming down and our water catchments are being choked with houses. It’s out of control. Residents across the Shire are angry at what’s happening, particularly at not being able to stop Melbourne values being implanted into a rural area with high environmental significance.” said MRRA Secretary Christine Pruneau.

“In 1998 the (now) Bracks’ government promised to re-instate State-level protection in Macedon Ranges. Yet in 2004, we have none. We haven’t even finished our planning scheme; work identified as needed in 1999 and 2000 still hasn’t been done. Residents have worn a path to Spring Street complaining about it. Instead we find Macedon Ranges, courtesy of Melbourne 2030, included in a growth corridor. It’s a tragedy - the Macedon Ranges so many Victorians love is in real and imminent danger of becoming an industrialized suburb, and a sub-standard one at that.”

To put a community view on the record and to get community endorsement for further action, MRRA has called a public meeting at St. Ambrose Hall, cnr Anslow and Templeton Streets, Woodend, on Thursday 16th September, at 7.30 pm.

All mainstream political parties have been invited to attend and each party has 5 minutes to address the meeting. Speakers also include Macedon Ranges’ Shire Council’s CE Ian Morris, John Lawson former resident, and Annie Phelan, actress and local resident. Questions and comments will be taken from the floor.

“This is about Macedon Ranges’ future and right now it’s five minutes to midnight”, Ms Pruneau said. “Neglect sees Macedon Ranges, an asset to the state of Victoria, hanging on by a thread. We’re losing things here that can never be replaced or repaired. Macedon Ranges needs help. We want across-party political endorsement for State-level protection, a large turn-out by residents and support from the Victorian public for the State government to act NOW. “

MRRA Press Release: Post MRRA Woodend Public Meeting

16 September 2004

Public Meeting Calls for Immediate Planning Protection in Macedon Ranges Shire

Between 250 and 300 residents of Macedon Ranges Shire attended a public meeting in Woodend last Thursday night. The meeting, called by the Macedon Ranges Residents’ Association, is part of an on-going campaign to have the State government provide immediate interim, and long-term, State level planning protection for Macedon Ranges Shire.

Macedon Ranges, a rural shire, has with Yarra Ranges and Mornington Peninsula long been recognized as environmentally sensitive and of State significance.

In 1998, the Bracks’ government promised protection for Macedon Ranges. The Minister for Planning re-affirmed the government’s commitment to providing State level planning protection in April 2004.

Macedon Ranges Shire Council, Macedon Ranges Residents’ Association, Macedon Range Conservation Society and the Macedon Ranges’ community are united in calling for the State level planning protection promised by but yet to be provided by the State government.

MRRA Secretary Christine Pruneau said, “It’s been a mystery why the government wouldn’t act but now I think we know why it’s been dragging its feet. Local MP Joanne Duncan (member for Macedon) stunned those at the meeting with the advice that Macedon Ranges is in a ‘growth corridor’. That means Macedon Ranges has gone from being a place that’s ‘off limits to urban development’ to ‘growth corridor’ overnight, which reverses the policy direction that’s been in place for 30 years. The local community hasn’t been consulted.

People are very angry at this duplicity and hypocrisy. The government’s credibility has hit rock bottom: on the one hand it tells us interim development controls can’t be introduced, then announces interim planning controls for metro Councils. It tells us to be grateful for $100,000 government funding towards strategic work, when it’s spending $13.5 million on the Great Ocean Road Strategy. It tells us we’ll be protected, and all the while it seems a hidden growth agenda is being silently implemented. Macedon Ranges’ residents made it clear they aren’t going to wear this. Future community action protesting the lack of planning protection in Macedon Ranges Shire, as an area of State significance, will be taken. The fight has only just begun.”

Five resolutions put to the meeting received overwhelming support:

“This meeting, representing a broad cross section of the Macedon Ranges community, resolves:

That the Macedon Ranges’ community calls for bi-partisan political support for interim and long-term State planning protection for Macedon Ranges Shire.
That the State government provide all necessary support to the Macedon Ranges Shire Council and community to ensure long-term State level planning protection for the Macedon Ranges.
That the State government provide immediate interim planning protection for the whole Shire to control development pending completion of the necessary strategic work and planning scheme improvements.
That the meeting’s resolutions be forwarded to the Victorian premier, the planning and environment ministers and relevant sitting members, and their counterparts in opposition, with a request for an urgent response.
That the Macedon Ranges Shire Council be requested to expedite its strategic planning program aimed at providing more effective guidelines and controls in the urban and rural areas.”