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RESIDENTS’ objections to development are falling on deaf ears, with Maribyrnong Council and the state government knocking back just 3 per cent of applications last financial year.
This is despite residents opposing more than one in five applications lodged in 2010-11, an increase of 12.3percent on the previous year.
The council approved 685 of 706 applications lodged in 2010-11, according to the recently released Planning Permit Activity Report produced annually by its planning department.
Of those, 350 required public notice so that residents have an opportunity to lodge objections. In that year, 803 planning applications were lodged, up 9.3 per cent on the previous year, for more than $480million worth of development in Maribyrnong.
More than half the applications were for residences, and 174 of those were for buildings consisting of between two and 10 dwellings. Eleven were worth between $10million and $50million.
Fifty decisions went to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal to have the decision to appeal or reject reviewed.
Former Labor planning minister Justin Madden and current Coalition Minister Matthew Guy were responsible for deciding on eight applications.
Recent major decisions include Mr Guy’s controversial green light for a $90million, 25-storey building in the Joseph Road precinct in Footscray.
The department is also considering a plan launched by Mr Madden for a $350 million development at McNab Avenue, next to Footscray railway station, which will include office space and 600 units for residential and student housing.
Maidstone and West Footscray Residents Group organiser Wendy Lang said residents had made a very clear statement to councillors and staff during consultations for various planning strategies that residents expected a “lifting of the bar”.
“We would like to see a raising of the standard and quality of urban developments being proposed in Maribyrnong, especially regarding sustainable building design, and how these were being handled by the [council]. This topic is, of course, a major concern for residents.
“We are here for the longest haul and how this area is handled will affect our main investment – our homes.”
Ms Lang said urban development could be a key topic in this year’s council elections.
She said it was much more efficient and cost-effective to work with the residents on planning.
“It would be fabulous to say we have a council leading the way in local government, working with their community at the cutting edge of urban design and development.”
Maribyrnong mayor John Cumming said the council recently created a city development special committee to help provide the community with more opportunities to present its views on a range of development issues.
“The committee meets once a month and community members can speak directly to council about items listed on the agenda for consideration at the special committee meeting.
“The committee deals directly with statutory planning and building controls, heritage, strategic planning – including land use, developer contributions and transport planning, planning scheme amendments, urban design, public space and economic development.
“Under the Planning and Environment Act 1987, the planning permit process allows for community participation during the public notification period of an application.
“The council must consider every objection it receives against the requirements of the relevant planning scheme as such planning applications with an objection can still meet the requirements and should not necessarily be refused because of an objection.
“The act also allows for objectors to lodge an appeal with VCAT if they disagree with a council decision.”
