[Greens-Media] Minister fails to explain his approval of controversial Chapel St high rise

[Michelle.Panayi at parliament.vic.gov.au]

Media Release

Minister fails to explain his approval of controversial Chapel St high 
rise

Friday 14 March 2014

"Planning Minister Matthew Guy has failed to explain or account for his 
intervention to allow two high rise towers of 69 and 94 metres when the 
height preferred for the Forrest Hill precinct under Stonnington Council 
planning scheme is 38 metres," Greens MP for Southern Metropolitan Sue 
Pennicuik said in moving a motion in state parliament this week to 
disallow the Minister's amendment to the Stonnington planning scheme.

"The Minister has also allowed a reduction in the developer's open space 
contribution from 5 per cent to just 2 per cent. Stonnington Council has 
the second least public open space per capita in Victoria and is hoping to 
increase developer open space contributions to 8 per cent," Ms. Pennicuik 
said.
 
"Stonnington Council are outraged that their democratic decision to refuse 
the development application was overruled by the Minister in favour of the 
developer and that this was done without any consultation with them."

"In response to my motion in Parliament this week to revoke this 
development, the Minister claimed that Chapel St north is an area full of 
towers, when that is not what is envisaged for the precinct, which has a 
preferred height limit of 38 metres," said Ms. Pennicuik. "He also cited a 
list of examples of poor process undertaken by the former planning 
minister, but that is no excuse for this minister to engage in the same 
behaviour."
 
"The Minister also implied that I had no right to bring the motion, 
however, all planning scheme amendments come before parliament for 
approval or disallowance. Parliament has the final say on whether to 
approve amendments made by the Minister."

"I was simply doing my job in ensuring there was appropriate scrutiny of 
this planning matter and accountability, especially where the Minister has 
over ruled a decision by the council to refuse the development."

"The problem the Minister has is he has denied the citizens of Stonnington 
much needed public open space and foisted two huge towers of 69 and 94 
metres upon them when the limit for this precinct should only be 38 
metres."

For further comment: Sue Pennicuik: 9530 8399, 




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Parliament of Victoria                                                                                                                    . 
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