Last week a small delegation of DADA folk meet with our local member, Minister for Finance and Multicultural Affairs, Robin Scott. We had tried to get a meeting while he was acting Planning Minister to discuss the outcomes of the new zoning policy that left Darebin with approximately only 10% protection under the Neighbourhood Residential Zone (NRZ). We had 2 pieces of good news and a chance to share ideas often discussed at DADA Meetings. The good news is that it looks like there will be a review of the new zoning wash-up and given we really can’t do much worse it is hopeful that we will do better with increased protection from over-development under more of a share of the NRZ. Also the State Government is moving ahead with the legislation to allow VCAT Members to include the number of objections in their deliberation on development proposals. Once this is in place it will make it impossible for Darebin Councillors to argue that the number of objectors makes no difference to planning decisions. This is something Vince Fontana has claimed on more than one occasion, in Planning Meetings. You can check the archived video footage from the meetings online at the Darebin website. Robin Scott also promised to get us a meeting with the Planning Minister, Richard Wynne. Stay tuned but don’t hold your breath!!
Cheers, Maria.