Wednesday, 6 March 2024

Southern Metropolitan Region

Katherine COPSEY (Southern Metropolitan) (12:55): (721) My constituency question is to the Minister for Housing. I have been contacted by a constituent, Steve, in Port Melbourne concerned about the lack of appropriate public consultation regarding the Barak Beacon estate. The public homes there were demolished by Homes Victoria, which is overseeing works on the site. Local residents were letterboxed with information stating that:

The final plans for the site will be informed by public consultation that is taking place until Sunday, 3 March …

But before public consultation even closed, residents were shocked to hear that a decision was already made to remove 93 out of the 97 trees from that site. Removing almost all the trees will certainly maximise developer profits, but it is in direct contravention of the City of Port Phillip’s urban forest strategy, which aims to increase total canopy coverage, and residents’ wishes. Minister, will you review this decision to remove most of the mature trees at the Barak Beacon estate site?