Thursday, 9 June 2022

Towong Shire land rezoning

Mr TILLEY (Benambra) (17:17): (6424) I wish to raise a matter for the attention of the Minister for Planning, and the action I seek is for the minister to give certainty or advice to the Towong shire over the expensive and time-consuming restructuring plans that continue to underdeliver. Towong shire, as most of us know, is a rural shire with a small rate base but carrying the burden of a massive road network and geological footprint—geographical footprint, that is, but geological as well; there is plenty in the ground there, believe me. It sits next to Wodonga and Albury, and the growth in the twin cities has created great interest in developing parts of the Towong shire for residential estates, creating dormitory, outlying suburbs.

It could be a win-win for people looking for an idyllic lifestyle and could create relatively affordable land, as well as the council growing its population and rate income. But it has turned into a series of frustrating and fruitless exercises. Repeatedly the potential rezoning of land for rural living is whittled down to a fraction of what is intended. I am informed that one rezoning had the potential to create almost 1100 lots, but by the time various exclusions were applied, including the assumption that there was insufficient evidence to demonstrate demand, the rezoning created only 36 lots. Surely a rezoning that ends up with about a 3 per cent success rate must ring alarm bells somewhere.

There is a peace offering, however. The recommendation was that the council could look to rezone some land around the township of Tallangatta—again, about a 30-minute drive from Albury-Wodonga. But after two years of energy, time and dollars, about four properties are now deemed suitable. Towong has been offered the opportunity to do further rezonings around Corryong and Bellbridge—and do not get me wrong, they are certainly thankful for that opportunity—but they rightly ask, ‘What’s the point?’. If the end result is a piecemeal approval of a handful of lots, there is none. I understand the council has reached out to the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning as the overseer of this process, asking, pleading, for advice on how this could be better done and how they could overcome the failings. I will be honest with you; the answers are less than informative and forthcoming.

Rental properties in our region are at a premium. The official line is that the vacancy rate is less than 1 per cent, but really it is zero. Blocks of land have all but dried up. The lack of water infrastructure is a massive handbrake on the release of any new housing estates. It seems a no-brainer that the opening up of more land for cheaper housing, improving the financial viability of a small shire and putting roofs over the heads of people should be a priority. Towong is not asking for a magic bullet; they just want to know how they can address the perceived shortcomings of the past and how they can improve the outcomes of this rezoning. If you do not, we certainly have a good shadow minister who would love the minister’s job when he retires, and we will do it.