Morwell electorate
Martin CAMERON (Morwell) (14:55): (828) My question is to the Minister for Planning, and my question is: will the minister commit to a review of the coal overlay provisions in the Latrobe Valley? The current coal overlay planning provisions in my electorate are more than 40 years old. They are outdated and stifling development. They are preventing construction of the Traralgon bypass and the development of the Traralgon East precinct and wasting hundreds of hectares of land outside of Morwell that could be used for housing. It is not good enough the minister refuses to revisit and review these coal overlay provisions, and the argument that they still are relevant is flawed and contradictory. In 2018 Labor removed coal overlays altogether on 18 square kilometres of Morwell South. It said that the coal overlays were introduced:
… when it was envisaged the Latrobe Valley would have many more power stations …
The former planning minister said the review of the coal overlay is:
… about modernising planning provisions in the Valley, to support … economic development …
Minister, these overlays are outdated, preventing critical economic development. Will you commit to reviewing the coal planning overlays in the Latrobe Valley?