Tuesday, 18 February 2025

Brighton electorate

James NEWBURY (Brighton) (14:56): (984) My question is to the Premier. Why has the state Labor government started work on the Premier’s plan for high-rise apartment towers in Brighton despite her commitment to consult with the community first? In October the Premier snuck into my community to announce her plan to build 20-storey high-rise towers. The Premier gave her word that communities around the newly announced activity centres would be consulted. Despite that promise, the government has sneakily started environmental testing this week around Middle Brighton and North Brighton stations on VicTrack land. There is no doubt this testing is preparatory work for the Premier’s high-rise tower agenda. As we know, the car parks are the only free land available. All VicTrack will tell residents is that VicTrack has engaged consultants to carry out environmental investigations, that VicTrack will test ground conditions on land it owns and that the information is used to inform any future works. Despite approaches to the minister and relevant department, both refuse to provide details. The Premier has broken her word.