MEDIA    RELEASE  28/2/06

PLANNING MINISTER HULL’S ‘MIS-PLANNING DEBACLE' UNDER THE GUISE OF AMENDMENT C48

Independent MP Dianne Hadden, MLC for Ballarat Province, calls for the resignation of the Planning Minister for the mess delivered under the Macedon Ranges Planning Amendment C48.     “This is what happens when a Minister and his Department (DSE Bendigo) take both eyes off the ball.  It smacks of incompetence and laziness and Rural Victorians deserve better than this” said Ms. Hadden MP.

Ms. Dianne Hadden, Independent MP said “the Amendment C48 went before the Planning Panel back in 2002 and Macedon Ranges Shire Council had agreed to the proposed changes then put forward.  However, since then, DSE Bendigo Office has unilaterally determined to change the planning provisions without any consultation back with the Council who are elected to represent the Shire’s ratepayers and residents.”

Ms. Dianne Hadden, Independent MP said “The end result is that the Planning Minister Rob Hulls MP has signed off on the C48 Planning Amendment which was not what the Council and the Planning Panel had agreed on.   Also, the net effect of the C48 amendment is to delete the C38 Amendment, which was introduced by Council to ensure that all subdivisions were sequenced so that the necessary infrastructure was in place.  Further, the zoning has been changed because the maps are wrong, and there still has not been a proper Small Town Study done as promised by the Bracks Labor government.  The President of VCAT has already stated that Melbourne 2030 has limited application to rural shires such as Macedon Ranges.”

Ms. Dianne Hadden, Independent MP said “I am calling on the Planning Minister to resign or immediately fix up this mess and other anomalies.  However, the only way in which the Planning Minister can fix up his and his Department’s mess is to reintroduce the C38 Amendment which has been incorrectly deleted by the C48 Amendment, and do this by Ministerial amendment”.

DIANNE HADDEN MP

MEMBER FOR BALLARAT PROVINCE, 2 Peel St South, Ballarat 3350

Tel: 5332 2405

Contact mobile 0417 355 101