Thursday, 12 September 2024

Northern Victoria Region

Gaelle BROAD (Northern Victoria) (12:56): (1123) My question is to the Minister for Government Services in relation to the Victorian government’s online consultation platform Engage Victoria to ensure that resident views are being correctly represented. The Riddells Creek planning group wrote an open letter to the Minister for Planning on 13 August on behalf of local residents to raise serious concerns about major discrepancies in the community consultation process surrounding the proposed Amess Road development, which calls into question the integrity of the Engage Victoria website. In July the local member, Mary-Anne Thomas, said she had been advised by the Department of Transport and Planning that only 118 submissions had been received. After further questions were raised, on 12 August it was revealed that a further 1072 submissions had been received. The planning group has called for an immediate review and audit of the Engage Victoria site to identify any technical issues. As the government utilises it as a centralised platform, it is important that the data collected and presented is accurate. On behalf of local residents I ask the minister to facilitate an independent review and ensure that the residents receive a response to the concerns raised.