LANDOWNERS have been accused of trying to carve up Kingston Green Wedge land for residential development under the guise of horse agistment. Two applications by landowners to subdivide land for “horse agistment” in recent months have been narrowly voted through by councillors against the advice of council officers. In September last year a five lots subdivision at 2 Leslie Rd, Clarinda was narrowly approved by councillors for horse agistment against council officers’ advice (‘Green light for wedge carve up’, The News 24/9/14). At the latest public planning meeting last month, councillors voted to approve a ten lots subdivision of land…
Author: Neil Walker
NEW residential planning zones across Kingston are no closer to coming into force almost two years after being flagged by the previous state government. Kingston Council had its request, after community consultation, to have more than 75 per cent of the region classed as non-growth Neighbourhood Residential Zone areas, effectively rejected by the state planning department (‘Kingston back in the zone’, The News 17/9/14). Neighbourhood Residential Zones “protect and maintain liveability and neighbourhood character” under the state government proposals. The government’s independent Residential Zones Standing Advisory Committee (RZSAC) advised former planning minister Matthew Guy (Liberal) to give Kingston Council another…
GREATER “transparency and accountability” around planning applications is set to be enforced at Kingston Council. Cr David Eden’s suggestion that a councillor’s name be listed on a planning report if a councillor “calls in” a planning application to be debated and voted on in council chambers was backed by the majority of Kingston councillors at last week’s public council meeting. The reason for calling in the planning application will also be listed. “I’ve had considerable community feedback over the last few years where residents come to me and they say ‘why did this application end up on the agenda?’ and…
ANOTHER landslip at Olivers Hill last week has again focused attention on safety concerns in the prestigious area. Falling debris blocked a footpath on the corner of Liddesdale Ave and Nepean Highway last Monday morning (23 February). Fortunately, no-one was walking past at the time of the latest landslip. It comes just three years after a major landslip caused a gabion wall near Nepean Hwy to collapse, closing southbound lanes. Homes in the Liddesdale Ave area were evacuated in 2007 when a similar landslip also occurred. Coincidentally, a report about landslip susceptibility around the Cliff Rd area atop Olivers Hill…
A THREE-YEAR saga over three licences at Mordialloc Creek has reached a compromise of sorts. On Monday evening Kingston councillors decided to split three licences currently held by the Pompei family estate between Leon Pompei, son of the legendary “Mr Mordialloc” Jack Pompei, the Mordialloc Boating and Angling Club and council. Council had sought expressions of interest in three leases on Crown land along Mordialloc Creek at Pompei Bridge held by the Pompei’s family estate. Last month The News revealed three parties had made applications to apply for the licences. Councillors decided to offer Leon Pompei a three-year licence for…