Tuesday, 28 May 2024

Eastern Victoria Region

Renee HEATH (Eastern Victoria) (12:45): (875) My question is for the Minister for Planning: when will you finally act to remove this arduous environmental audit overlay which is affecting so many innocent home owners in Wonthaggi North? My constituent bought a house two years ago in Wonthaggi North. When they bought the house there was no environmental audit overlay, but the government has applied one retrospectively. She and her partner have a two-year-old daughter and one on the way. They have saved to build a verandah for their young family to play on, and this cannot happen because if they pay the $15,000 to $80,000 required to satisfy the EAO, they will have used their savings and have none left for the verandah. This has caused an enormous amount of stress, and young families that are on one income are under enough pressure as it is. I ask the Minister for Planning to act on this straightaway.