Darebin Appropriate Development Association

Protect our community

meeting notes

Meeting Notes: 8th December 2015

Dear DADA Folk,
We made many decisions at the DADA meeting last night to allow incorporation.

The notes are attached.
Also, a reminder of the two State lead community consultations.

  1. Your Community You Council; a review of local council governance.
    You can make a written response at http://www.yourcouncilyourcommunity.vic.gov.au/
    A meeting is planned for this consultation on Wednesday the 16th of December at the Preston Shire Hall at 5.30 pm.
    It would be great if you can be there to have your say.
  2. Plan Melbourne Refresh: A review of the recent rezoning which left us with only 11% Neighbourhood Residential Zone protection against overdevelopment.
    Follow the link: http://refresh.planmelbourne.vic.gov.au/ to have your say.
    Cheers, Maria

Darebin Appropriate Development Association
Web: https://www.darebinada.org
Meeting Notes: 8th of December, 2015, AGM

Present: Marion Coffey, Keith Coffey, Chris Erlandsen, Maria Poletti, Meryl Waugh, Mandy Baird, Craig Walters, Sally Mendes Apologies: Stewart Midgley

1. Membership:
a. At least 5 members. Members have to submit in writing. Circulated membership form.
b. Annual subscription and fee on joining agreed at $10 for first year and we will review next year.
c. Date for payment of the annual subscription was set to be by the next AGM.
d. Decided DADA would not have associate members
e. The Secretary must keep and maintain a register of members.
f. The register will include for each former member, the date of ceasing to be a member. Members will have one year grace. Membership to be paid before the next AGM.

2. AGM is to be the October meeting each year.

3. Composition of Committee, The Committee consists of— a President; Chris Erlandsen elected unopposed a Vice-President; Mandy Baird elected unopposed a Secretary; Maria Poletti elected unopposed an Assistant Secretary; Meryl Waugh elected unopposed a Treasurer; Craig Walters elected unopposed

4. Registered address;
The registered address of the Association is— 1/17 Murphy Grove, PRESTON, 3072.

5. Purpose: The DADA charter is our Statement of Purpose. See the DADA website.

6. New DADA Logo:
The Current Logo is shown at the top of the minutes. Redesigned the DADA logo to be more reflective of the DADA community. This will be used when DADA is incorporated in 2016.

7. Objector Updates:
a. 137 Mansfield Street, 2nd day in VCAT, Member said she will visit the site and that we will all be invited to attend. No word yet of the visit date. Expect a decision in January. Member put a time limit on objectors to ask questions of expert witness. The member would not accept the number of objectors. James Livingston acting for Council asked only one question of the first expert witness. Action: Meryl to write to Darren Rudd after DADA is incorporated regarding the work of the council representative. The letter will have DADA imprimatur.
b. 108 Wood Street, going to VCAT, Action: All to send in statement of grounds
c. Smorgies; parties have been asked to agree to more amendments to the VCAT ruling. This is a process through VCAT. Some parties have stated they will only agree if there are no more amendments to the planning proposal.

8. Other:
a. From Masha: Notes in the plans for 24 Leamington that some dwellings could be easily turned from a 2 to 3 bedroom with the replacement of a wall. She suggests objectors discuss with council a section 173 agreement on title that states it can only be a 2 bedroom dwelling.
b. Discussed how Darebin counts the number of objectors and how there are variations of numbers.
c. Maria found a variation in the Planning Committee minutes. Action: Maria to write to the CEO and CC Councilors after checking with Robert Phillips as to how this can happen.
d. Sally suggested we go to town planner courses and ask if final year students will do pro-bono work on behalf of objectors. Action: Sally
9. Planning Alerts
This month’s list: 24 Leamington St Reservoir 742-752 High St Preston 131 Plenty Rd 10 Symons St Preston 534 Plenty Rd Preston 105 Wood St Preston 501-3 Plenty Rd 109 Wood St Preston And a fantastic comment by Craig alerting objectors to the DADA meeting and website. Action: Develop a set statement for planning alerts. ‘If you would like some help with objecting to this planning application come to the next DADA meeting on …. At 33 Dean Street, Preston or go to the DADA website https://www.darebinada.org

Next Meeting: 7.00pm, Tuesday, February 9th, at 33 Dean Street, Preston | Here

All the very best from DADA to you and your loved ones for a safe and happy festive season.

Meeting Notes: 3rd June, 2015

Dear DADA folk,
We were missing some regulars at last nights meeting but it was great that two new faces joined us.
Here is what was discussed and what we thought we should do about it.
Stay warm, Maria
DADA

Meeting Notes: 3rd of June, 2015

Present: Marion Coffey, Keith Coffey, Maria Poletti, Craig Walters, Mandy Baird, Kelly Wickham, John Gunson Apologies: Lina Mastroianni, Sally Mendes, Laara Eames, Chris Erlandson, Stewart Midgley

1. Business Arising:
a. New Zoning wash-up: Meeting with Robin Scott on 27th Feb. Chris, Craig and Maria attended. We asked him to organize a meeting with the Planning Minister, Richard Wynne. Discuss acting to organize a meeting with the Minister.
b. Golden Guys seem a popular idea but not at the moment, perhaps another time. Chris has suggested we go to council with the idea of an award for best sustainability practice Action: Chris to research other councils and bring back ideas to us to then take to council. Scrap book idea for DADA web site where people can send in photos of poor development, before and after shots, basic details like address, developers names, details of faults, what is planned.etc. Action: Maria
c. Council flooded with planning applications; Action: Nola sending a further letter asking for some clarification of money collected and spent. Action: Maria to seek out FOI process.
d. Question to council about developers recycling as many materials as possible. We will begin to talk and form more ideas on the quality of demolition as well as the quality of the build. Action: Craig will formulate and ask questions at a council meeting.
e. For the Blog, before and after photos, Gone but not forgotten, RIP houses, Action: Craig to send photos to Maria.
f. Discussed other city councils plan for buying up houses to eventually convert into public open space. Action: Maria to do more research to bring back to the meeting. Stonnington Council
g. Preston Market: Action: Craig to look at special meeting video and bring back to next meeting. Salter Group are the developers. Ask questions to Council regarding the discussions with the minister about Preston Market.
h. Planning Officers have prepared a plan with approx 88% protection under 3 zones. The 88% includes 62 % of NRZ 1 and NRZ 2. Action: Attend Council meeting and ask what does the new map look like and when will it be public for comment? What is the process for consultation? Next council meeting Monday night 18th of May, 7pm. Chris and Maria, Keith and Mandy. Always ask for a written reply. Please explain the difference between NRZ 1 and 2? Awaiting written replies to questions. Maria received a reply day of meeting and circulated.
i. 748 to 750 Plenty Road, 4 stories, 22 apartments with some at 40 square metres. Action: Mandy to keep an eye on it.

2.New Business:
a. Community Consultation in the development process – are there any precedents for making this compulsory? Kelly suggested a community consultation process where developers have to meet with the community in consultation before the planning application is submitted. Action: Kelly and Maria to work on basics of a community consultation process to bring back to meeting and to go to council.

3.Council Report:

4.Other:
a. Sale of 1/46 Murphy Grove; three bedroom sold for $905,000. This is proof that money can be made from high quality, three bedroom, design in development.
b. Chris has had an invitation from Council to make a verbal submission in the budget process on the water strategy. He is including development issues in his submission.

5.Press:
a. Age article about the new apartment guidelines pushing up the prices of housing.

6. Objector Updates:
a. What to do about the 470 High Street development – while it’s still going through the approvals process, workmen have been on-site undertaking preliminary works (are any developments fully stopped?) on an assessment of compaction. In mediation, last month, Action: Kelly to follow up with council planner on the mediation outcome.
b. 60 Mansfield Street went to VCAT on Monday 1st of June. Waiting to hear.
c. 136-138 Plenty Rd and 37 Flett St heard at Planning Meeting on Monday night, only had notification on Friday prior. Identified 18 non-compliances with clause 55.
d. 672 Plenty Road, revised plans adding a story making it 4 at front, 5 at back, Action: Mandy and neighbours will send new objections on the amended plans.

7. Planning Alerts:
a. 376 Bell Street; Maria added comments on-line and has had a response from council officer indicating they would be treated as an objection. Faster process than filling out an objection form; waiting to see if it can/will carry to VCAT.
b. 70 Tyler Street, from Stewart; 107 dwellings = 44 (as 4 storey apts with 1 to 2 bedrooms) + 63 as 2 storey units. Some open space; parking spaces = TBD 50 x 3 (THREE) bed units 11 x 4 (FOUR) bed units all 4 bed apts have 2 car space, 37 of the 3 bed apts have 2 car spaces (as they should), remaining 13 have only 1. Instead we have (a) some open space plus (b) near 50% of the dwellings have more than 2 bed rooms! We could be writing letters of praise for this one.

8. Strategy Ideas 2015

Next Meeting: 7.00pm, Wednesday, July 8th at 33 Dean Street, Preston.

Meeting Notes: April 9, 2014

Meeting Notes: April 9, 2014 Present: Laara Eames, Marion Coffey, Keith Coffey, Maria Poletti, Chris Erlandson, Nick McCubbin, Stuart Midgley Apologies: Sally Mendes, Craig Walters, James Dawson
1. Business Arising:
a. Ask for a report of the expenditure of the developers contribution levy.
Action: Bo will ask a question at council.
b. VCAT has approved the Grandview application for pokies. Susan suggested a study on what happens to the local shops and impact on neighborhood character.
Action: Susan to talk to Bo Li
c. Action: Craig, Robin Scott letter to ask question in parliament.
d. Action: Maria to draft a letter asking councilors to ensure that our third party objector rights are not removed in the schedules.
Action: put it to Darren Rudd Action: ask Ian Wood for his model
e. Action: Reminder to push for a much better planning register. When budget time comes up we should go in and bat on behalf of the planning department.
f. Planning Panels Victoria, Darebin Planning Scheme Amendments C136, C137, C138.
Action: Ask Darren Rudd about the New Zoning Committee and can we have representation Action: Ask to be sent a copy of the Panel’s report as early as possible. Maria Action: Attach copies of DADA member presentations. Action: Check the new draft zone map and see if your street is protected under the NRZ
g. Darebin Planning Dept’s proposed Governance Charter.
Action: for Maria to follow up on research.
2. New Business:
a. Amendment C144 new zones
Discussion of high density developments along Plenty and St Georges, the new zoning doesn’t quite fit the existing land use along these major corridors. Talk to panels to say we aren’t happy but also talk to councilors. Action: Maria to send out link and something written for people to make submissions. Keep them simple and remember that you will get a chance to talk to a panel and can elaborate in detail then.
b. DADA signs, Officeworks will print and laminate to big sizes.
c. Minister Guy letter on new zones,
Action: Maria to add in Chris’s suggestion. Send out to network to sign and send to the minister.
d. Planning Panels direction to Darebin council, passed around meeting recommendation.
e. Trees, signs on trees in Carlton gardens showing their cost value over life-time,
Action: Maria to do same for street trees. Council asking for help from community members to plant street trees.
f. Asbestos still a huge issue in Darebin with development and renovations putting people who live in the neighbourhood at risk. Council and Worksafe need to be rung if you think there is a problem. The rule is that if you don’t know if it is asbestos you treat it as if it is. Best don’t go near it if you can help it.
Action: Keith to local paper.
2
3. Correspondence:
a. Stuart Midgley: Photos of more poor quality developments in Darebin (the ones that got
away!) Strange brick work on Albert Road, rendering over poor brick work to conceal it.
b. James Dawson: submission on C144
c. Jeanette McCarthy new email address
d. Mary Drost: planning panel feedback to those councils who have asked for high NRZ rates
e. Mary Drost: significant tree register
f. Rudi Anders: Planning Panel presentation, to be sent out with notes.
g. Paula Venter: Generous offer of support for objectors
h. Mara Manfrin, sale of house at 26 Kitchener Grove, and an email about buying Birdseye
and Edgell food for distribution – sent sign designs. Decision not to forward network
anything that doesn’t relate to development issues.
i. Forwarded from Sally Mendes – No DADA follow up
Just wondering if anyone at TD has been involved in the St George’s Rd planning scheme process. I am really
happy with the work council has done towards incorporating sustainability into our precinct (Oakover village)
development plan overlay, and am now trying to pull together people who are interested in pushing for a
sustainability and social justice charter (or other such mechanisms) for the area … addressing not just new
developments, but also existing communities and streetscapes.
You’re welcome to pass on my contact details to anyone who’s interested.
Elizabeth Wheeler
Preston
0425 763 677
j. Laara Eames, on the Darebin Directory listing for DADA,
Action: Maria to ask Brian if he knows, ask if there can be a link from planning.
http://www.darebin.org/Directory/Agency.aspx?MKey=5455&S3Key=617#sthash.XhSKF9tv
4. Council Report:
Notification of new process for amendments.
5. Other:
6. Objector Updates:
a. 22 Sylvester Grove, Preston, please sign objection forms
b. 96 Cheddar Road, sold again, still concerned about bulldozing for a major development
7. Strategy Ideas;
a. Presenting Council with a bill for work done by objectors that should have been covered by
planning department
b. DADA on-line petition and in hard copy, Maria to send Nola a hard copy for printing as well as
developing the on-line petition.
8. Next Meeting: 7.00pm, Wednesday, April 30thth at 33 Dean Street, Preston. Main discussion on
rezoning panel presentations.