Thursday, 30 July 2026

 Sarah MANSFIELD (Western Victoria) (14:45): (2458) My question is to the Minister for Planning and is in regard to planning permit application PA2604229. Residents in Anakie and Staughton Vale in my electorate were shocked to discover that Bacchus Marsh Grammar has bypassed council and requested fast-tracking of a 300-student campus on land that is zoned farming land under the development facilitation pathway. A similar application was previously rejected by VCAT in 2015. The community has been given until 28 July to review 23 complex planning documents, an unreasonably short timeframe to raise critical concerns regarding bushfire risk, traffic congestion and infrastructure. Will the minister urgently intervene to reject this inappropriate application outright, extend the public submission period by six months or refer the decision back to the City of Greater Geelong for proper council assessment?