Whitehorse News - January 2022

Council is committed to open and transparent decision making and community engagement.

This is why we are concerned that the state government has introduced an array of legislative reforms which have significant implications for Whitehorse and all councils.

The reforms potentially strip Council of various planning responsibilities and powers, and exclude councils and communities from proper engagement and consultation. It also removes third party appeal rights for residents.

Council has invested heavily in understanding and planning for our precincts and activity centres, including extensive work on the future Box Hill Vision and current consultation work around Nunawading/Megamile and Mitcham, to ensure that planning controls and changes meet our community expectations, future population and economic projections.

Council is concerned that our local knowledge and voices are being significantly eroded, with power shifting to the Suburban Rail Loop Authority, Level Crossing Removal Project and other state government bodies.

In urgent business moved at the November council meeting, Councillor Denise Massoud asked that we advocate strongly for our local voices to be heard.

“We need proper consultation and changes to legislation needs to be thought through,” Cr Massoud said.

“The changes in planning are becoming bigger and bigger and our community is unaware of many of these changes. Our community deserves to be treated with respect and involved in these decisions.”

Council has written to the Premier, Opposition Leader, Minister for Local Government and the Shadow Minister for Planning, as well all local members of the Victorian parliament and all independent and minor party Upper House members. 

We encourage our local community to contact your local member and ministers to express your concerns about the lack of consultation and information available.