Elsie Lange
Hume council has requested the state government intervene in a Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) process to bring forward the development of a long-awaited multi-deck carpark in Sunbury.
The carpark, proposed for 106-112 Evans Street to provide more than 600 car spaces in the town centre, had been delayed until after August following two appeals to VCAT against the council-approved plan.
At a planning meeting on Monday, March 28, councillors discussed correspondence between Hume and state and federal governments, including a request from mayor Carly Moore to Planning Minister Richard Wynne to “call in” the VCAT process.
It said that on February 14, council would consider a resolution to formally request the minister “exercise your powers … to call in the abovementioned appeals which are being reviewed by the Planning Division of the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal”.
Unconfirmed minutes from a council meeting on March 15 show the council did vote in favour of making the request.
According to the VCAT Act, to call in an appeal the minister must consider that the proceeding “raises a major issue of policy” and the determination of the proceeding “may have a substantial effect on the achievement or development of planning objectives”.
At the meeting, councillor Trevor Dance said asking the government to call in the decision could be viewed as a “double standard”, because objectors should be given “their day in court”.
Last week Mr Dance told Star Weekly people had a right to go to VCAT and appeal planning decisions because it was the function of the tribunal.
“Requesting the minister to use his authority to make a determination as suggested by the letter takes away the ability for objectors to use the tribunal process,” Cr Dance said.
“That is quite ironic at a time when we’ve been critical of the planning minister for using his authority to determine the planning scheme changes for the Hi-Quality Toxic Soil site.”
At the March 28 meeting, Cr Jarrod Bell said he was “pleased” to see council take steps to “fast track” the process of getting the carpark built.
“We’re talking 693, that’s almost 700 additional carspots for both our retail and shopping community, as well as the commuter community,” Cr Bell said.
