Macedon Ranges residents have slammed the council’s investigation into residential growth in Kyneton South, saying it is unnecessary.
Macedon Ranges Residents Association Inc (MRRA) took to social media last week, urging locals to ask the council to stop the “premature” Draft Kyneton South Framework Plan. The council plan was available for public viewing and comment until Friday.
It looks at 310 hectares of land south of Campaspe River and its potential to be used for medium to long-term (10-20 year) residential growth. The area was first identified for possible medium to long-term growth in the council’s Kyneton South Structure Plan, which was adopted in June, 2013.
Macedon Ranges mayor Jennifer Anderson said the framework plan was only a “preliminary investigation”.
“It’s saying, if [the area] was going to be residential, what would Kyneton need?” Cr Anderson said.
But MRRA said there was “no justification or need to investigate or rezone any more land”.
“[The plan] is grossly premature, and incomplete, pre-empts agreement or even discussion with community and is excessive to the shire’s Settlement for Kyneton,” the association posted on its website.
MRRA said the plan had “missed a step” – as the community had not been asked whether they supported expansion of Kyneton to the extent outlined in the plan.
“The framework plan shows a vastly expanded town boundary for Kyneton, which no one has been told about,” MRRA wrote.
A council report in 2011 stated that Kyneton could accommodate a population growth of about 2900 people without the need to rezone any additional land until 2036.
Responding to residents’ concerns about “resources being wasted” on the plan, Cr Anderson said it was funded by $60,000 allocated in the council’s 2016-17 budget.
She said the council would take on board residents’ feedback.
