PLANNING Minister Matthew Guy has handed down the long-awaited Ports and Environs Committee report, which includes a string of new planning controls for Victoria’s ports.
A new “ministerial direction” will be introduced to prevent the encroachment on sensitive land uses such as dwellings and hospitals near the ports.
The report recommends a port environs overlay applies in the areas bounded by Nelson Place, Ann, Aitken and Kanowna streets and also Aitken Street, Windsor Terrace and Cecil and Kanowna streets.
It was first given to former Labor Planning Minister Justin Madden in October 2010, followed by a sustained community campaign pushing for its release.
“There were a number of complex issues that needed resolution by a whole-of-government approach and the respective departments have worked closely together to achieve good planning outcomes for the ports,” Mr Guy said.
Ports Minister Denis Napthine said the implementation of port zones was vital for the future of the state’s economy.
“These new planning protections are another key element in our plan to secure the growth of the Victorian economy and support our freight and logistics industry.”
On hearing the news about the release of the report, Save Williamstown spokesman Godfrey Moase said “it’s about time”.
“Everybody has known about the report, but only a few select people have been aware of the details until now,” he said.
“It’s made for a strange policy discussion about such a critical issue. The release of the report is good news, but we’re still wary of the details and how they’ll be worked through.”
Opposition planning spokesman Brian Tee has previously stated the secrecy surrounding the report – which reviews planning controls for Melbourne’s ports – was starting to impact on investment in areas such as Fishermans Bend and Williamstown.
In March last year, the Weekly lodged a freedom of information request with the Planning Department to obtain the report, but it said after a thorough search it had not located a copy.
Following an appeal, the department said the 228-page report was exempt from release under sub-section 30 (1) of the FOI Act, which exempts “internal working documents where disclosure would be contrary to the public interest”.
