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ENOUGH !
UPDATE on PETITION to PARLIAMENT
We have lodged 1609 signatures with Danny Pearson to be presented to parliament this week.
Below is the letter we have sent Danny Pearson:
Dear Danny,
Thank you for agreeing to present this petition to the Legislative Assembly of Victoria.
The petition was initiated by Save Moonee Ponds Inc. in response to the Planning Minister’s approval of a 30 storey tower in the heart of Moonee Ponds. That decision shocked and angered many residents. Signatures were mainly collected at 3 street stalls in Puckle Street. People signing the Petition expressed a sense of betrayal in view of previous statements by the Minister. They recalled pre-election Labor policies against suburban high rise towers. Their mood was one of distrust and disbelief.
In our petition, we respectfully request the Minister for Planning to rescind the decision to allow the 30 storey tower, as well as introducing mandatory heights. We are delighted to hear that the Minister has now acted to impose mandatory heights in the Moonee Ponds Activity Centre on an interim basis.
SMP congratulates you on your role in ensuring these interim arrangements. We hope that it is the beginning of more reasonable permanent height limits consistent with the Minister’s statement of December 2016.
However, it does not address our Petition in its entirety. Sadly, the approval of a 30 storey development still stands. If it does go ahead it will be a permanent reminder to this municipality of the failure of Planning policies both at a State and Local Government level. The announcement of a mandatory 16 storey height limit is in agreement with the Council’s preferred height. In view of that we ask that the Minister’s previous decision to allow 30 storeys be rescinded. Clearly there is now a view at State and Local Government levels that 16 storeys is a more appropriate height.
The community have clearly expressed their concerns with more than 1600 people signing the Petition. They are people who live, work and shop in Moonee Ponds and they strongly oppose high rise towers in our suburbs.
We hope that you are able to impress upon the Minister the mood of the people and ask for a review of his earlier decision as requested by the Petitioners.
Yours sincerely
On behalf of
Save Moonee Ponds Inc.
Background to 'ENOUGH':
Community Campaign by ‘Save Moonee Ponds’ and let’s save Essendon, Ascot Vale, Aberfeldie, Strathmore … too!!!
1. What is ENOUGH???
· The 30 storey Caydon tower in the heart of Moonee Ponds is double the preferred height limit as per the Moonee Valley Council Structure Plan and more than triple the height other multi storey buildings around the junction. This means there will be 722 apartments and over 2,000 new residents on the site between Hall Street and Homer Street.
· 16 storey towers are high ENOUGH- the maximum height preferred by the Moonee Valley Council. A mandatory height limit needs to be imposed immediately. This 30 storey tower sets a precedent in the area. It will be used as an argument to build more towers!
2. Who is responsible for this decision?
· Richard Wynne- Planning Minister of the State Government.
· Poor decision making by The Moonee Valley Council in the past.
3. How does this development affect you??
· Traffic- huge increase in immediate narrow streets, and the flow on effect.
· Parking-a problem now. Shopping will be a nightmare!
· Catching public transport- trains, trams, buses- Imagine Moonee Ponds Station!
· Local services-medical, dental etc. under strain.
· General liveability-more crowds everywhere! You’ll have to walk to the shops!!
4. How can you help?
· Spread the word. Most people are not aware the tower will be 30 storeys!
· Contact local councillors, state and federal member of parliament to voice your dismay!
· Think about your vote and preferences at elections.
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Outrage over Planning Ministers approval for 30 Stories in Moonee Ponds!!
Save Moonee Ponds Inc is shocked and dismayed at the approval of a 30 storey development on the old market site by the Minister for Planning.
In December the Minister intervened in the approval process saying that people were tired of seeing proposals which reach far beyond controls. Council and the community were optimistic about his intervention which was headlined as a “Government crackdown on height controls”.
Although the Planning Panel noted that the “tower proposed at 30 storeys would not appear to have had proper regard to the preferred height of 50 metres (16 storeys) in the Moonee Valley Planning scheme”, it has been approved by the Minister.
SMP are very concerned about the precedent set not only by the height, but also by the decision making process.
SMP have determined to campaign to have the decision rescinded.
We need your help.
We know most of the community are opposed to this. We intend to collect enough signatures to demonstrate mass opposition.
Are you prepared to door knock your neighbours and ask them to sign?
SMP will provide Petitions and co-ordinate members to cover the whole area.
We want the Premier to know that his Minister has put this seat at risk.
Please respond if you are able to help.
(Herald Sun 15/12/2016).
Go to report
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Moonee Valley Race Course development proposal status: The ITP has been completed.
The Moonee Valley Race Course has met one of the specified requirements set by the Advisory Committee in 2014 to produce an ITP (Integrated Transport Plan).
The integrated Transport Plan (ITAP) and the transport assessment and management plan are of high interest to all residents in both Moonee Ponds and West Brunswick. Please refer to the MVCC site for more details on this plan.
"VicRoads and Public Transport Victoria each advised that the two plans were satisfactory on 23 June 2017". Please refer to www.mvcc.vic.gov.au/planning-and-building/major-developments/proposed-moonee-valley-racecourse-development.aspx
SMP Inc continue to work behind the scenes to ensure that politicians, the racecourse and our councilors know that the residents are still focused on this process. ariatur.