Wednesday, 23 February 2022

Adjournment

Mr LEANE (Eastern Metropolitan—Minister for Local Government, Minister for Suburban Development, Minister for Veterans) (17:48): I move:

That the house do now adjourn.

Hanging Rock precinct development

Ms LOVELL (Northern Victoria) (17:48): (1758) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Planning, and it concerns the state government’s Hanging Rock master plan and a proposal to build a new visitors centre and a permanent stage in East Paddock. The action that I seek is for the minister to rule out development in East Paddock and to ensure the necessary planning amendments are made to strengthen planning protections for East Paddock, to protect the Hanging Rock precinct and to guarantee it is protected from inappropriate development in the long term.

Macedon Ranges residents have been concerned about inappropriate development of the East Paddock in the Hanging Rock precinct for some time. The East Paddock was purchased by the former Newham and Woodend shire in 1993 to relieve some of the pressure of visitation to the actual rock and surrounds but also importantly to act as a buffer between the rock and the encroaching development. The Hanging Rock Strategic Plan development from 2018 notes the importance of views both to and from the rock. The master plan states that some of the most exemplary and iconic views of the rock are from East Paddock and specifically states that this view is of state significance. The view from the rock is equally important, and the main objection against building in East Paddock is that when visitors stand on Hanging Rock and look down they will be looking down on unsightly buildings, a permanent stage and car parks.

Back in 2013 the Macedon Ranges shire revealed plans for commercial development within the council-owned East Paddock, including a hotel and conference centre. These plans were met with widespread anger, and the local community opposed the development. Thanks to a then member for Northern Victoria, Amanda Millar, who worked with the Hanging Rock Action Group, the then Minister for Planning, Matthew Guy, and the Macedon Ranges shire, an agreement was struck in May 2014 between the shire and the state of Victoria under the Napthine government. This agreement involved the state providing the shire with $1 million towards the upgrade of facilities in East Paddock and the shire working with the state to strengthen planning protections for the Hanging Rock precinct to protect East Paddock from future commercial development on the site.

The Napthine government lived up to its agreement and provided the $1 million, which has long been spent, but unfortunately the shire has been allowed to renege on its part of the agreement and has never fulfilled its responsibilities to strengthen the planning protections. The state, through Engage Victoria, is currently conducting consultation on the draft Hanging Rock master plan. That includes the sale of East Paddock by the Macedon Ranges Shire to the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning.

This proposed sale has caused significant concern in the local community as it goes against the original intent of the purchase of East Paddock. Also, the local sporting clubs, including the Hanging Rock Cricket Club and Hanging Rock Tennis Club, have been advised that they will be evicted from the site even before the consultation process takes place. Therefore it is imperative that the minister ensure the necessary planning amendments are made to strengthen planning protections for the Hanging Rock precinct and to guarantee East Paddock is protected from commercial development in the long term. Hanging Rock is an iconic and treasured place which needs to be preserved for future generations.