With so many major developments going on, Council approval processes – more able to cope with residential renovations and dual occupancy applications – are not making decisions in a timely manner on major redevelopment applications that actually shape our communities.  Unfortunately, if the Council does not make a decision on a Developer’s Application within 6 weeks, Developers have the right to ‘take it to VCAT’.  Developers have easy recourse to escalate their application VCAT where it is harder for local residents to put their view, especially during COVID when VCAT Hearings are conducted on line. Under the terms of the original planning approval for the Paper Mills Site, there is no rights for the community to have a voice in planning decisions. Any VCAT hearings or applications are undertaken in closed door sessions with no local voice only Council planning officers.

Yarra Council is a party to these sessions. They are invited, get a seat at the table, and have the right to speak up. With support they can be encouraged to take a stand, but increasingly the risk is that, once it’s off to VCAT, the council may feel the issue has gotten away from them, and it slips out of sight and out of mind – particularly when meetings are held online.

The VCAT Hearing on Glenvill’s Application to increase the Height of Apartment Buildings along Grange Rd will be held in January 2022.  It is scheduled to be held online.  Glenvill has been working with their planning and design experts on the new planning scheme for the village and like their chances. There are many community concerns around the new scheme, and while we are glad to have time, we are asking Council that the Hearing is held at VCAT so that residents can attend.

Online meetings proving less inclusive or useful APMAG has found, for this kind of meeting, online sessions are not inclusive, or open, in practice.

These meetings are significantly less effective in representing the community when held online. As the Council is a party to the matters, it can request changes. APMAG is seeking better engagement with the Council, to give us an opportunity to support them is these significant, long term planning decisions. APMAG would encourage the community to also speak with the Council seeking their support for the scheduled VCAT application to be heard in person, not online.