Posted 18/11/06

Friday, November 17, 2006

LIBERALS TO PROTECT MACEDON & McHARG RANGES

Unlike Labor and its broken promises, a Liberal Government will move quickly to protect the Macedon Ranges and McHarg Ranges from inappropriate development, Liberal Leader Ted Baillieu announced today.

In 1998 Labor promised to “protect Melbourne’s green belts and sensitive areas such as the Dandenongs, Macedon Ranges and Mornington Peninsula” (Labor Position Paper on Planning Policy, August 1998). 

Despite its rhetoric, Labor has failed to protect the Macedon and McHarg Ranges Region.

A Liberal Government will withdraw Melbourne 2030, which in the Macedon Ranges vicinity is causing country railway stations to be interpreted as ‘transport nodes’, rural town centres as ‘activity centres’ and Regional Network Corridors as suburban growth corridors.

The provisions of Melbourne 2030 have meant the character of key towns in the Macedon Ranges and the McHarg Ranges and vicinity have been placed at risk.

The Liberal Government Plan to Protect the Macedon and McHarg Ranges Region will:

• Establish an overarching Macedon and McHarg Ranges Regional Planning Strategy (MMRRPS) to protect the region’s unique landscape and heritage values from inappropriate development
• Ensure the strategy is completed and in place to provide certainty to residents and applicants on the type and standard of development in the ranges
• Make any changes to the MMRRPS subject to Parliamentary ratification
• Restore the Statement of Planning Policy No. 8 (SPP8) planning framework as state policy for Macedon Ranges, and
• Withdraw Melbourne 2030.

“The Macedon Ranges and McHarg Ranges are a valuable asset for Victorians. A Liberal Government will not see them spoiled by inappropriate over-development,” Mr Baillieu said.

“Protecting these ranges is also important to maintaining Victoria’s biodiversity, along with its remnant native vegetation and unique tourism values so close to the metropolitan area.

“Despite its promises, Labor continues to do nothing about the development pressures threatening the unique character of these ranges.”

Media: Michael Gillies Smith 0419 19 31 31