Today (on Wed 13th October) six Meander Valley Councillors voted to throw out the Draft Planning Scheme 2007 that has the potential to provide relief for people who are disaffected by Council’s Protection of Agricultural Land [PAL] Amendment 1/2007.

Councillors Elizabeth Nowell and Ian Howard, both of whom had campaigned to support those disaffected ratepayers, asked what seemed to be intelligent questions about the proposal but a few tweaks of the proposal wording saw them voting to abandon the Draft Planning Scheme that could solve many of the problems brought about by PAL.

Only Mayoral candidate, Councillor Bob Richardson, Deputy Mayor Bob Loone and Councillor Rodney Linger stood by the people they had promised to help. Councillor Richardson estimated “scores if not hundreds” of people have their land tied up by the PAL amendment.

It was astounding to find out that the reason for abandoning the Planning Scheme is that the town planner admitted she doesn’t have the capacity to complete the project and work towards regional planning.

Given that the process for the new Meander Valley planning scheme commenced back in 2001 and the current planner came on board five or six years ago, one wonders what she’s been doing all that time. Perhaps Meander Valley Council needs more or different planning staff.

Current Mayor, Mark Shelton argued that it would be a waste of ratepayers’ money to go ahead with the Draft Scheme but didn’t even consider the substantial amount of money that has already been spent on work towards a new Planning Scheme that is now being thrown in the garbage bin, in breach of Council’s own Strategic Plan.

The decision taken today puts the Meander Valley Municipality in the position of moving into a regional planning scenario with its planning scheme stalled in the last century.

Meander Valley ratepayers need to give very serious thought to how they vote in the current local government election. It would be good to know where all the candidates stand on this vital issue. I ask that the new councillors who will be elected very soon propose, at their earliest opportunity, that today’s decision be rescinded .

Annemaree Woodward
Reedy Marsh
Annemaree Woodward