The Save Williamstown lobby group has sent survey questions to state election candidates for the Greens, Labor, Liberal and Palmer United Party (PUP) seeking their views about sustainable development, particularly at the former Port Phillip Woollen Mill site.
One question relates to Planning Minister Matthew Guy approving new planning zones for 22 of Melbourne’s 31 councils.
The zones divide suburbs into streets deemed “no-go” where nothing over two storeys can be built, “slow-go” where up to three levels is permitted, and “go-go” areas where up to four levels is allowed.
“Councils have put forward their plans for where high-density development should be banned, but those in the city’s leafiest suburbs have had greater success in convincing Mr Guy to sign off on their proposals,” the survey states.
“If elected, will you support a major review of these rules that discriminate against the western suburbs?” the survey asks.
Western Metropolitan Greens MP Colleen Hartland, Williamstown Labor MP Wade Noonan and PUP candidate Trevor Dance replied ‘yes’.
Williamstown Liberal candidate Alan Shea did not respond to the survey.
Ms Hartland said the Greens supported local government in planning decisions.
“Local government is the level of government closest to the people so they are the appropriate body to adopt the new planning scheme,” she said.
The survey states that Mr Guy had given the mill site developers carte blanche to build “inappropriate” high rise and high-density residential towers.
It asks candidates if they and their party support the introduction of height limits on 60 per cent of the site that has not yet received planning permit approval.
Ms Hartland, Mr Noonan and Mr Dance responded ‘yes’. All three supported a review of the government’s decision to increase objector fees at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).
Ms Hartland and Mr Dance supported the removal of VCAT’s authority to award costs against objectors.
Mr Noonan said Labor supported changing the law to require VCAT to take into account the extent of community opposition to development.
The Greens and PUP said political donations from developers should be banned, while Labor did not support such a ban.
