Thursday, 30 May 2024

Wonthaggi planning

Renee HEATH (Eastern Victoria) (09:54): Residents of North Wonthaggi recently found out by accident that the government has applied a retrospective environmental audit overlay to 500 homes and thousands of blocks of land. The government did not even have the courtesy to tell them that this had happened. This has caused enormous stress. Residents have been left in the dark, and they feel like they have been blanked by the Minister for Planning when they have looked for answers. At a gathering of hundreds of residents at the park in Wonthaggi three weeks ago a committee was formed, the Wonthaggi north-east residents action group. Five members were unanimously selected to lead the campaign against this. Their names are Helen, Pru, Liam, John and Alan, and they are doing an incredible job. They are fighting for their community, they are lifting people up when they are feeling down, they are holding people together and they are lobbying the government. They know that this is something that is unjust. It is something that is well within the minister’s authority to change with the stroke of a pen, and they have my full support. They are fighting hard, and I can confidently say that the people of Wonthaggi are very thankful for them.