Petition Desist proposed Caulfield to Bentleigh and Elsternwick Train and Tram Zone Activity Centres

The petition of certain citizens of the State of Victoria draws to the attention of the Legislative Council that the Department of Transport and Planning’s proposed Train and Tram Zone Activity centres will permit high-rise, high-density zones across established suburbs, including McKinnon, Bentleigh, and Ormond. Under these proposals, planning powers will be removed from local councils and communities, with major developments approved as-of-right and decision-making centralised under State Government control. This represents a significant shift away from local input and democratic planning processes.

In addition to central precincts allowing developments of up to 20 storeys, the proposed zones disproportionately include extensive surrounding catchment areas. Within these areas, existing planning protections will be stripped away, allowing three to six story developments as-of-right. These changes will, remove important planning safeguards that currently protect the character and livability of established neighbourhoods; override municipal heritage overlays and designations, putting irreplaceable heritage homes at risk of demolition; further strain already stretched public infrastructure, like schools and medical clinics; weaken canopy tree protections, leading to the loss of green cover and neighbourhood amenity; and fundamentally and negatively alter how established communities will look, feel and function for future generations.

The petitioners therefore request that the Legislative Council call on the Government to immediately desist from the proposed Caulfield to Bentleigh and Elsternwick Train and Tram Zone Activity Centres, consider significantly reducing the catchment walking radius from the stations, revise the area to only include roads managed by the Department of Transport and Planning, remove streets within the catchment radius of McKinnon Station, outline the proposal’s environmental benefits and how it will provide promised 'jobs and services', engage in genuine and transparent consultation with affected local communities before decisions are finalised and make this consultation publicly available.