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by Amy Hume
MITCHELL Shire Council is pushing to remove the Lockerbie and Lockerbie North precinct structure plans from the Growth Areas Authority’s “rushed” accelerated approval process.
The plans, concerning big development in the south of the shire, were ruled “questionable with a range of inaccurate information,” at council’s last meeting.
Lockerbie and Lockerbie North are expected to accommodate an increase of 45,000 residents in the shire over the next 10 to 15 years.
The PSPs allow for two new train stations, an activity centre and 10 primary/secondary schools as well as significant upgrades to road networks and connections to the Hume Freeway and public transport.
Cr Graeme Coppel said the PSPs were too significant for the strategic planning of the shire to be rushed into.
The former mayor warned council of a future developer contribution income of about $1.5 billion during his outgoing speech in November. He said this is the first $300 million.
“An accelerated process has no advantage,” he said.
“It is likely to result in poor planning outcomes as significant issues such as road network planning have not been considered thoroughly or resolved appropriately. This leaves council with a lot of uncertainty.”
He said removing the PSPs from the accelerated process will allow for “further investigation of unresolved issues” and prospect of having the plans independently reviewed.
Cr Ross Lee agreed council should not be rushed into the approval process.
“Warning bells started going off when officers highlighted several errors in the plans. More time should be taken with this,” he said.
“What about Beveridge?”
Councillors highlighted many flaws but were particularly concerned to see towns like Beveridge and Kalkallo not considered in the planning.
Cr Kelley Stewart said it was “astounding the Beveridge township doesn’t appear to change but everything around it will.”
“The people in Beveridge are just going to be left,” she said.
Cr Coppel said there would be significant amenity impacts for Beveridge if the plans were approved without being properly reviewed.
“[Lockerbie North] refuses to address the existing townships,” he said.
“There’s no planning that says how the traffic will get in and out. We’re going to end up with another Sydney Street but 1000 times worse.”
Cr Coppel said other concerns are the location of the proposed Beveridge train station, lack of detail surrounding the intermodal freight terminal and minimal community consultation.
He said the rush to sell 500,000 lots was an insult to the council and the community.
Sped up for Melbourne
GAA CEO Peter Seamer said the acceleration process was a move to “address a shortfall of residential land” and affordable housing in Melbourne.
“The GAA identified Lockerbie and Lockerbie North as suitable projects for acceleration because both areas have good road access and are considered to be suitable areas for development,” he said.
“We understand that these projects have increased workload for everybody, including Mitchell Shire Council. However, the issues in Mitchell Shire are relatively straightforward.”
He said the GAA “is working on plans for Beveridge and is working with Mitchell Shire to resolve planning issues for the area.”
“All PSPs are designed to provide access to quality infrastructure and facilities for new and existing residents and residents at Beveridge and Kalkallo will benefit from the GAA’s planning for the area,” he said.
Draft precinct structure plans for Lockerbie and Lockerbie North were released for public consultation on November 21, with consultation closing on December 23.
Mr Seamer said submissions are now being reviewed.
The standard process of approval could take anywhere between 18 months and three years. Accelerated PSPs can take anywhere between six and 12 months to complete.
Council’s draft submission requests removal of the PSPs from the accelerated approval process with numerous suggestions to improve the planning.