Thursday, 10 February 2022

Caulfield Racecourse Reserve

Mr HAYES (Southern Metropolitan) (12:18): My question is to the minister representing the Minister for Planning regarding the approval of amendment C229glen and its devastating impact on the Caulfield Racecourse Reserve. Glen Eira City Council and residents are outraged by the approval process whereby, despite formal communication from the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning that council would be included in formal consultation, notice was given on Christmas Eve that the minister had approved this development in favour of the Melbourne Racing Club without any consultation with council or providing any documentation. Council has written to the minister to express disappointment at the lack of consultation and transparency. Can the minister please provide me with reassurances to the community that work will cease on this site until the concerns of both Glen Eira City Council and the Heritage Council, which was granted an interim protection order, have been considered?

The PRESIDENT: Before I call the minister, please, members in the gallery, you are not allowed to take photos, and we expect you to cooperate with that.

Ms SYMES (Northern Victoria—Leader of the Government, Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:19): Mr Hayes, I have missed being the representative minister taking planning questions for Mr Wynne in the other place, so it is a pleasure to pass on, again, a planning question to Minister Wynne.

Mr HAYES (Southern Metropolitan) (12:20): Thanks, Minister, and I have missed asking you the questions too. I have got a supplementary for you too. Minister, this planning chaos has resulted in the unnecessary loss of 42 mature heritage trees, including an Aleppo pine grown from seed obtained from the historic Lone Pine at Gallipoli. Glen Eira City Council believes this decision undermines the strategic work that has been undertaken in relation to tree canopy retention and open space planning. Local groups, including the Caulfield Racecourse Reserve Trust, which was specifically established to oversee any development of this historic site, have been disappointingly ignored. Given the site’s historical, social and environmental importance, I ask that the minister provide me with reassurances for the community that this unnecessary destruction of heritage and urban tree canopy will be addressed.

Ms SYMES (Northern Victoria—Leader of the Government, Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:21): I thank Mr Hayes, and I will also pass on that further question to the Minister for Planning.