LABOR has pledged to “take the politics out of planning” if the party wins government this month.
Opposition planning spokesman Brian Tee has accused state Liberal Planning Minister Matthew Guy of “forcing intensive high-rise development in some areas, while locking up leafy Liberal suburbs”.
Mr Tee said Labor would order a full review of new residential planning zones “imposed on councils” and “the role of Planning Minister Matthew Guy and his office in that process” if it wins government.
Councils across Victoria spent 12 months consulting communities about proposed new residential zones after the state government announced in June last year that new development rules would be introduced.
Kingston Council had its request, after community consultation, to have more than 75 per cent of the region classed as non-growth areas, effectively rejected by the state planning department (‘Kingston back in the zone’, The News 17/9/14).
The government’s independent Residential Zones Standing Advisory Committee advised Mr Guy to give Kingston Council another chance to develop its future housing policy.
Some Kingston councillors are concerned Kingston may be earmarked for “excessive” development as Melbourne’s urban sprawl expands, while other suburbs such as those in the city’s east are protected (‘Kingston zoned out of state planning process’, The News 25/6/14).
Mr Tee said a Labor government would review “the botched planning zones imposed on councils” and force all Victorian councils back to the drawing board to “allow communities to have their say”.
“The Liberals can’t say they support growth and development in Melbourne if they target suburbs based on their politics,” Mr Tee said.
“Under the Liberals, local councils are getting trampled over, the community doesn’t have a say and some of our oldest and most vibrant neighbourhoods are facing the wrecking ball.”
Mr Guy hit back at Labor’s claims and said “Melbourne’s liveability would be put at risk by the Labor Party”.
“Labor’s pledge to ‘review’ the residential zones is the first step toward tearing them up,” he said.
“Labor wrecked our suburbs when last in government, and by ‘reviewing’ the residential zones, they’ll do it all over again under Daniel Andrews.”
He said “Labor will bring back their destructive zoning laws that promote high density development in every street of every suburb.”
Mr Tee said “Labor will take the politics out of planning”.
“We’ll meet the housing needs of our future but we’ll take communities and councils with us.”
