CAG's submission re: Melbourne 2030 to State Minister for Planning

We demand that the Premier, Steve Bracks, and the Minister for Planning, Mary Delahunty, preserve Melbourne as the world’s most liveable city and:

• Halt the implementation of the Melbourne 2030 Strategy,
• Withdraw any Ministerial Directions relating thereto,
• Publicly release all submissions received last year on Melbourne 2030,
• Introduce accountability and transparency into the process, as well as conduct a full, open and public review of those submissions and publish the findings of that review and,
• Re-open submissions on the existing Melbourne 2030 strategy.

We are appalled by the impact the implementation of the Government’s Melbourne 2030 Strategy will have on the amenity of our municipality and on the independent planning processes of the City of Yarra.

In particular, we refer to the current proposal to develop the site of 132-172 Smith Street, Collingwood as part of a Major Activity Centre under the Melbourne 2030 Strategy. We demand that the Bracks Government ensure that the plans for development are abandoned in their current form, that they actively promote community consultation to develop the site in a more sympathetic and appropriate manner, which will preserve the heritage of Smith Street, avoid any diminution of the liveability of the surrounding areas, increase the amount of public space available to the community and prevent any loss of the current diversity of trade in the street.