- Published:
- Wednesday 21 February 2018
The Andrews Labor Government is taking urgent action to protect the future of Fishermans Bend from a swathe of inappropriate developments – a legacy left by former Planning Minister Matthew Guy.
Minister for Planning Richard Wynne today announced he is “calling in” 26 live development applications for towers, which were submitted after the former Planning Minister sent property prices soaring when he rezoned Fishermans Bend land overnight.
Matthew Guy gave a big pay day to developers but didn’t give a second’s thought to the facilities that families need.
Thanks to his mess, Victorians are having to pay more than a billion dollars for land for parks and community facilities that make great neighbourhoods.
The Labor Government is righting Mr Guy’s wrongs at Fishermans Bend, ensuring Australia’s largest urban renewal project creates a neighbourhood families can be proud of – and not just a windfall for lucky landowners.
The 26 applications will be referred to an independent advisory committee for thorough analysis, and won’t be approved unless they have the community’s interests at heart.
Currently, 11 of the 26 applications are before VCAT and, if approved, would create densities three times that of Southbank. It would be a fatal blow to the community’s recast vision for Fishermans Bend.
The Labor Government is working with the community on a new vision for Fishermans Bend that includes permanent planning controls, and won’t allow projects to proceed until they are introduced into the planning scheme.
Last year, the Labor Government unveiled the draft Fishermans Bend Framework – a plan to build a world-class community for 80,000 residents.
It features plans for 80,000 local jobs, four primary schools, a public secondary school and open space spanning the equivalent of two thirds the size of Docklands.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Planning Richard Wynne
“What Matthew Guy did at Fishermans Bend stinks.”
“We make no apology for putting a stop to this development free-for-all – we’ll get the planning right and give Victorian families a community they can be proud of.”
Quote attributable to Member for Albert Park Martin Foley
“Matthew Guy’s planning mess left us with a soulless Fishermans Bend where unplanned high rises were let loose on the community, and the interests of local residents were ignored. We’re fixing that mess.”