Posted 14/11/06
 

FROM HANSARD 12 MAY 2004

Subject  Planning: Macedon Ranges

Speaker Ms Duncan (Macedon) 

I wish to raise a matter with the Minister for Planning, and the action that I seek from the minister is to ask her to support the Macedon Ranges Shire Council in developing a planning scheme which protects the natural beauty of this wonderful region.

Macedon Ranges Shire has for some time been working on developing a strategic framework for a new planning scheme for residential and industrial development in the Macedon Ranges.

After much work by council officers, councillors and the community, this proposed amendment was not supported by the planning panel. 

The findings of the panel were that there basically needed to be more work done on improving the strategic bases for this proposed amendment. 

This outcome was disappointing, as many people had put in a lot of work; there had been submissions and contributions from the community; and many meetings had been held over a long time.

The Macedon Ranges Residents Association met with me and the Minister for Planning. 

I thank the minister for taking the time to meet with the members of the association and to go through their issues and concerns with them.  It was a very fruitful meeting. 

At the meeting the Minister expressed her concern about the level of strategic protection for the Macedon Ranges.

And as a result the Minister requested that the deputy secretary of the Department of Sustainability and the Environment meet with the chief executive officer of the Macedon Ranges to discuss the scope of work that would be required to give the necessary strategic basis to the planning scheme.

Planning is a critical issue for many people, particularly in areas like the Macedon Ranges, which is a growing area in a rural setting with many small towns that have unique characteristics. 

Appropriate strategic planning is what is required to protect the natural environment and our small towns from inappropriate development. 

A lot of work has been done, but more needs to be done, and I ask the minister to provide assistance to the shire and to the community to enable them to prepare a strategic overview for the shire and to develop strategies that will be reflected in the planning scheme to ensure appropriate protection for the Macedon Ranges as an area of state significance.

Planned and appropriate development that protects the unique character of our towns, appropriate densities and the protection of farmland are what is needed to make sure that the reasons we move to this area in the first place are preserved for future generations. 

The significance of our water catchments and the growth along the Calder corridor all need to be considered. 

Macedon Ranges has always been seen as needing special protection.  Assistance to the council in preparing the strategic basis that would deliver this protection is needed.  I ask the minister to work with the council in bringing about this level of protection.