North-Eastern Metropolitan Region
Richard WELCH (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (12:42): (1402) My question is directed to the Minister for Planning. The Blackburn station shopping strip in my electorate has been central to the Blackburn community, supporting small businesses and being a place to connect. It is of a perfect scale in harmony with the area. The imposition of an activity centre at Blackburn without any consultation, allowing 20-storey developments, puts all that at risk. Under the activity centre model, the intention is that the entire strip will be demolished and replaced with towers. My constituents are deeply concerned that high-rise towers will displace small businesses, overwhelm the infrastructure of the area and further erode livability. It is so inappropriate it defies any logic. Minister, my constituents seek your guarantee that the Blackburn station shopping strip will not be destroyed and replaced with high-rise towers.