Thursday, 29 August 2024

Boroondara planning

Jess WILSON (Kew) (17:16): (815) My adjournment is for the Premier, and the action I am seeking is for the government to reopen the public consultation period regarding the draft Boroondara planning scheme amendment relating to the old VicRoads site at 60 Denmark Street in Kew. This site is the former home of VicRoads and lies adjacent to the Kew Junction commercial centre as well as being in close proximity to residential areas and schools. It is a large site in the heart of Kew, which has the potential to reshape the character of our community and greatly impact surrounding residents and businesses.

The limited consultation period ran between 19 July and 16 August. This is simply far too small a window for residents to be able to understand what is being proposed, especially given its significance, and to have their say. I have heard from several local residents who either did not receive a letter notifying them of the consultation period or who received the letter over one week into the four-week consultation period. The Minister for Planning has even admitted that only residents within a 200-metre radius were notified and that the legislation does not actually require a sign on the site itself to advise locals. This is just not good enough, and it indicates that the government is not actually serious about hearing from the community and taking their ideas and concerns into consideration.

Unfortunately this approach is a hallmark of the Allan Labor government, whether it is silencing local voices in relation to planning decisions or ignoring residents affected by the construction of the North East Link. This is a government that consults in name only. How do we know it was a sham consultation? Because in the middle of the consultation period, on 5 August, the Age published a story with the headline ‘Decision made on future of prized Kew VicRoads site’. The government put out a media release that same day, stating that:

The Allan Labor Government is unlocking surplus government land to create more than 500 homes in Kew ‍…

Decision made: residents’ views ignored. Consultation must be reopened on the VicRoads site to allow greater input from the local community. Residents also need greater clarity and detail provided about the proposed rezoning changes as part of the consultation. The information provided by the Department of Transport and Planning online and via mail to residents lacks sufficient detail and information. There is too much ambiguity around the issue of what sort of land is being rezoned to general residential zones and commercial zones. To give you an example, there is no clarity on what will become of the narrow tail section of the site, which many residents have informed me they feel should not be developed into housing given how limited the space is.

I have written directly to the residents in the area surrounding the site to seek their feedback this week, and overwhelmingly they are telling me that they want to see open space incorporated into the site, especially in relation to a strategic bike path. They have also shared their concerns about the impact on already congested local roads and other infrastructure. It is not unreasonable for them to be able to put these concerns to the Allan government and to seek clarity about how they might be remedied under any redevelopment of the site. So once again I ask the Premier to reopen the consultation on the 60 Denmark Street site.