Tuesday, 15 October 2024

 David HODGETT (Croydon) (12:53): The Allan Labor government has quietly approached local councils across 10 activity centre areas with secret plans to scrap existing planning protections and encourage high-rise development. That approach was made in the council caretaker period so the councillors could not oppose the secret plans, which include allowing buildings of 20 storeys or more in the major centres and six storeys in the 800-metre catchment zone outside the central activity centres. These plans will mean that heritage protections will need to be cut up for the government to reach their proposed targets.

Ringwood is set to have between 8200 and 12,200 new homes built, with no consultation with stakeholders and residents. If this happens, will Croydon or Bayswater be next with 20-storey high-rise towers built next to residential homes? These changes are being proposed under the background of taking away third-party rights from the community, which is completely underhand and unacceptable.

The Liberals and Nationals will oppose any attempt to remove third-party rights in the planning process and any attempt by Labor to remove heritage protections. We will also oppose Labor’s imposition of major activity centres where they have not had genuine community consultation and involvement. This move is another example of the Labor government removing the rights of Victorians and is completely unacceptable.