Important breakthrough on Banco last night

Comrades.



At the Planning and Community Development Committee meeting last night Councillors unanimously accepted a report that, amongst other things, establishes a Steering Committee of Councillors and community group reps (from CAG, 3068 etc) to oversee the development of an interim structure plan (a set of controls and rules over development) for the Smith St area. This marks the end of the beginning of this bitter process over Smith St and the start of the real work - working out what type of city we want built in the next years.



Last nights decision stems directly from the CAG resolution passed at the public meeting on March 23rd which sought to get community control or at least greater influence over this process. CAG and others (including SP) believed that Council should have started the work to get a community-endorsed structure plan many months ago. Now at the last minute, Council tried to rush it through undemocratically. The legacy of the March 23rd public meeting is that the community flexed their muscles and now are part of process, not on the outside with their noses on the window.



I was reported in the Melbourne Times today as warning the State Planning Minister, Rob Hulls, that if he approved the Banco development we would take to the streets. He would be better adviced taking our advice: 'Call In' the Banco application (that is take it out of VCAT's hands and make the decision himself, as he can do in emergency situations), and then wait until our Steering Committee and Council sort out our alternative for the area (an interim structure plan). We aim to have the plan ready for Council approval in June which will mean very tough work starting almost immediately. The Minister can then use the interim structure plan to modify Banco's application.



The main sticking point last night was whether or not the Steering Committee would use the work already done by Council officers as the basis for their deliberations. The Mayor and the Planning Department were concerned that this work would be ignored or torn up by the Steering Committee and we would never finish the interim structure plan on time.



On the other hand community groups believed there were weaknesses in document (I outlined the key ones at the public meeting) and they didn't want to be tied alone to it. In reality this issue is a storm in a teacup in that no-one seriously thinks we can ignore the work done by Council officers already, especially the data accumulated - however the work submitted by experts such as Miles Lewis and groups like 3068 will also play a vital role.



We want an interim structure plan finished on time, that has strict height controls, setbacks, heritage protection, and provision of low cost housing and social services in all bigger developments in Yarra. This will give clarity to developers (who need us more than we need them) and more importantly give protection to residents.