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Shock Decision For Ventnor

A decision by the State Planning Minister, Matthew Guy, to rezone 34 acres of farmland on the outskirts of Ventnor has shocked the local community.

By Bass Coast - 16th September 2011 - Back to News

Bass Coast Mayor, Cr Veronica Dowman, said the community felt let down because the government had promised genuine consultation and openness when making planning decisions.

"This decision has come out of nowhere and is completely at odds with the work Council and the community have done in this area," Cr Dowman said.

"Over the past ten years, the community has worked with us to develop the Phillip Island Design Framework and the Cowes Ventnor Silverleaves Structure Plan. Both of these processes confirmed the town boundary for Ventnor.

"When we were developing the Structure Plan, we received over 100 submissions opposing an extension of the boundary to include this land and only one in favour, from a representative of the landowner.

"An independent Planning Panel reviewed all the submissions and confirmed the decision to maintain the current town boundaries."

The Minister’s decision will rezone the land for residential development.

Cr Dowman said there had been no approach to Council to consider rezoning the land.

"This approval from the Minister has not gone through any of the normal planning channels.

"We organised an urgent meeting with Minister Guy and urged him to reconsider the decision, but unfortunately we were not able to change his mind," explained Cr Dowman.

"This is extremely disappointing, as this decision is not supported by our Structure Plan and Framework. While the Minister clarified his reasons for the rezoning, this decision doesn’t take ten years of work by our community into account.

"In addition, this land has a Significant Landscape Overlay on it that recognises that the southern and western coasts of Phillip Island are of State significance, the only coastline in our Shire that has that status. There are environmental reasons, including the presence of shore birds and penguins, which makes it unsuitable for residential development."

Cr Dowman said she expected there would be a strong reaction from the local community, who would be justified to ask serious questions about the decision.

"We hope this decision is not a sign of things to come," said Cr Dowman.

"We are very concerned about the impact of this on the Ventnor community, but we are also concerned what other proposals the Minister may be considering in Bass Coast and other parts of the Victorian coast.

"Local communities deserve to have input in these kind of planning decisions, but this process doesn’t provide any opportunity for that."

Cr Dowman confirmed that Amendment C93, the Bass Coast Strategic Coastal Planning Framework, was also discussed at the meeting with the Minister.

"This amendment sets the town boundaries for ten of our coastal communities," said Cr Dowman.

"We urged the Minister to adopt it in the form approved by Council as soon as possible. The Minister gave us an undertaking that his department would conclude its review of the amendment within weeks."

For more information contact:

Eleanor McKay

communications coordinator

t (03) 5671 2296 | f (03) 5671 2222 | m 0407 557 620

e e.mckay@basscoast.vic.gov.au

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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