Northern Victoria liberal MP Wendy Lovell delivered a petition to the planning minister planning signed by Macedon Ranges residents opposed to the plan for the Amess Road development in Riddells Creek.
Containing 1278 signatures, the petition outlined residents’ concerns with the Draft Macedon Ranges Planning Scheme Amendment C161macr at Amess Road.
As reported by Star Weekly, the development application was accepted to be reviewed through the state’s development Facilitation Program (DFP), which accelerates the assessment pathway for eligible projects and makes the planning minister the responsible authority rather than the council.
According to the Department of Transport and Planning’s website, the DFP is an accelerated assessment pathway for projects that “inject investment into the Victorian economy, keep people in jobs and create homes for people.”.
The planning minister referred the plan to the Priority Projects Standing Advisory Committee (SAC) for advice, with a date not announced for when this committee will review the application and submissions from the public.
Community action group Riddells Creek Planning Group co-lead Aaron Goldsworthy said some of the changes to the development plan the group is calling for are increased property lot size, better transport connections and walkability, and for the development to be matched with developer contributions to infrastructure in other parts of Riddells Creek.
“The emphasis is on the lot sizes and the town character, but there’s frustration that it’s in the government program when it doesn’t meet the government criteria in terms of affordable housing … the current guideline doesn’t have a mandatory requirement for affordable housing across the entire site,” Mr Goldsworthy said.
Star Weekly understands that a public referral letter will specify the issues the planning minister seeks advice on and once a date has been finalised, submitters will be notified.
The Department of Transport and Planning said the proposal remained under consideration.
