Inner urban conservation and development - An independent panel report on a proposal for Smith Street, Collingwood, under Melbourne 2030. Edited by Miles Lewis, August 2004. Info + Order your copy
INFORMATION RELEASE: BANCO DEVELOPMENT - PRIORITY PANEL PROCESS LEAVES COMMUNITY OUT IN THE COLD
The ‘Priority Panel’ process adopted by Planning Minister Rob Hulls to assess the proposed ‘Banco’ development on Smith Street Collingwood, is skewed in favour of the developers and little better than the VCAT rules, Collingwood Action Group said today. Taking to the streets may be the only way for people to have their say about planning.
INFORMATION RELEASE
Thursday 1 September 2005
BANCO DEVELOPMENT - PRIORITY PANEL PROCESS LEAVES COMMUNITY OUT IN THE COLD
The ‘Priority Panel’ process adopted by Planning Minister Rob Hulls to assess the proposed ‘Banco’ development on Smith Street Collingwood, is skewed in favour of the developers and little better than the VCAT rules, Collingwood Action Group said today.
The Panel had its first meeting on 31st August. At that meeting, a QC representing Banco argued that parties to the Panel should have the right to cross-examine witnesses in full legal mode. The Panel agreed, and have now set aside 3 days of hearings starting 3rd October, at which parties and expert witnesses will have to submit to full cross-examination.
Any individual objector, or community group, will thus have to guarantee the appearance of their expert witnesses during these days and engage QC level representation in order to be fully heard.
‘This is a huge free kick for developers’ CAG spokesman Earl Sakareassen said today. ‘They can pay their experts and QCs. Individuals and community groups relying on experts working for free may risk not being heard. And they have to find $15,000 for 3 days of a QC, and thousands more to prepare the case, or find a pro bono lawyer. This is VCAT by stealth’.
‘The Panel is an advisory body to the Minister – it is not itself a legal or binding process. It should be conducted in a manner that is fair to all parties by taking into account the limited resources of individuals and community groups’.
According to Mr Sakareassen, the community had advice from the Panel that it would rely on written reports, with opportunity for exchange of comments by both parties, ‘Now the ground rules have been changed.’
The Collingwood Action Group is currently considering its position. ‘We want to participate in a fair process, but this is ridiculous’ Mr Sakareassen said. ‘The process includes a closed session where Banco’s architects get to brief the panel without scrutiny. If Minister Hulls wants genuine compromise between community and developers, the panel process ensures this won’t happen.’
‘It looks like the only way people will get to have their say about planning is on the street, with protests and community pickets’.
FOR MEDIA COMMENT
Collingwood Action Group, Earl Sakareassen 0425 748 888
Yarra Council, Cllr Steve Jolly 0437 856 713
Save our Suburbs, Ian Quick 9421 2373
State Member for Richmond, Richard Wynne, 9429 1813
Posted by CAG