Summary of Saturday meeting attended by Cr Trent McCarthy and the Hon Fiona Richardson

12-1 pm, 4th July: Bridge Street.

Street meeting attended by around 40 residents.

Cr Trent McCarthy spoke first - key points;

• Trent is the only Councillor representing Rucker Ward on council's 5 member planning committee. The two other Rucker Councillors are Cr Steven Tsitas and Cr Diana Asmar, who is also the Mayor.
• The other planning committee members are the 3 from Preston (Vince Fontana, Nick Katsis, Ben Morgan) and 1 from La Trobe (Tim Laurence).
• Spoke about Northcote Bowl development (96 apartments) that was called in by the Planning Minister Justin Madden MP before Council had a chance to vote on it.
• Note how council makes its decisions. Relies on planning staff to meticulously review the planning application, including all the objections and present a case to council either recommending the development be approved as is or (more likely) subject to the recommended amendments from the planning officer.
• If a council refuses a planning permit application, the proponent can take their case to VCAT.
• VCAT may or may not suggest amendments to the application.
• Review past minutes of the Darebin Planning Committee.
• Important to object on different points for example, if everyone objects on the basis of increased traffic, this counts as one point. So need to look at numerous reasons for the objection.

His key tips were:

• Look at what you can object to - stick to facts and the impacts on you. Do not comment who is going to live there.
• Beware of coming across as a NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard), an accusation often directed to the residents in the South end of Darebin. Emphasise that we genuinely welcome the development of the site, which was the unanimous position expressed by all those present at the meeting.
• There will be a planning consultant's meeting to which the developer and the objectors will be invited. You should attend this meeting and ensure the developer understands your concerns. If you have strong representation at this meeting a clear message is sent to the developer that this community is concerned about the proposal and wants a good outcome for this neighbourhood.

The Hon Fiona Richardson MLA, Member for Northcote in the Victorian Legislative Assembly, spoke on planning from a State perspective:

• If a planning application is called in by the Minister, the decision is taken out of council hands. In the case of the Northcote Bowl development Fiona took a delegation of residents in to see Minister Madden. At that meeting the Minister was persuaded that the Darebin community was able to make a decision and returned the application to Council.
• If a planning application is called in a panel is established and residents can present their concerns directly to this decision panel. This is not a VCAT panel.
• The State views Darebin as having a good reputation in planning.
• Understand the difference between your ambit claim and your bottom line (this is what you are willing to accept).
• Important to form a sub-committee through which all residents can work and present a united voice.
• Fiona can facilitate a meeting between residents and the Minister if it comes to that.
• Fiona advised that Minister Madden is an architect and does have a good sense of what makes a good development.
• Should try and keep decision making local.

Last points:

• People can send their objections directly to the other members of the Darebin planning committee.

ACTION: GET YOUR OBJECTIONS IN THIS WEEK.


Minutes: Anne-Marie Tenni