Tuesday, 1 April 2025

Constituency questions

North-Eastern Metropolitan Region

Richard WELCH (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (12:54): (1495) My question is to the Minister for Planning. The Blackburn RSL is a vital part of our community, a home to veterans, a meeting place for local clubs and a longstanding social hub. It sits within the Blackburn activity centre, where locals are increasingly concerned about the impacts of high-density development and the possible application of windfall gains tax. Given the RSL’s importance and rising concern about planning that prioritises towers over people, this community asset must not be put at risk. The forced relocation of Waverley RSL due to the Suburban Rail Loop shows this government has form when riding roughshod over veteran communities that are in its way. My question to the minister is: will the Blackburn RSL be protected from closure or relocation under the new activity centre controls, and will it be impacted by the windfall gains tax if rezoning occurs?