MITCHELL Shire Council’s bid to stop quarries within Melbourne’s urban growth boundary through an amendment to the Mitchell Planning Scheme has been squashed by Planning Panels Victoria, PPV.
Amendment C157 to the planning scheme contained a clause that council ‘facilitate growth of housing and employment above other uses that will undermine the delivery of housing and employment, such as extractive industry, within Melbourne’s urban growth boundary’.
The Mitchell Planning Scheme sets out state and local planning policies, zones and overlays, along with other land-use provisions.
While the council deny the amendment was in relation to a proposed quarry south of Wallan, a win by the council would have been favourable in their case against the proposed Conundrum Holdings quarry.
While the PPV report, released in late January, was generally supportive of the amendment, it took issue with council’s attempts to restrict extractive industry activities.
“The exhibited changes were not supported by council’s expert who proposed a refined policy,” the report said.
“Critically the state agency responsible for earth resources did not support the proposed changes … pointing out how they were contrary to existing state policy.
“The panel is not satisfied that the case for giving up potentially high-quality, well located significant resources has been made for all such resources in the growth area.
“In some cases allowing extractive industry for a defined period of time before urban development will deliver a superior planning outcome. These cases need to be determined on their merits.”
Mitchell Shire chief executive Brett Luxford said council continued to hold the view that proposed extractive industries inside the urban growth boundary were inappropriate.
“This was the basis of the council position through the course of the Planning Scheme Review process via Planning Scheme Amendment C157 to the Mitchell Planning Scheme and was not a direct submission in relation to the proposed quarry located within the Beveridge North West precinct,” he said.
“The proposed quarry in Beveridge/Wallan is subject to a separate planning process and is presently in the hands of the Minister for Planning who will be making the ultimate decision on this matter.
“We note Council is in receipt of the recommendations from the independent planning panel in relation to Planning Scheme Amendment C157 and will formally consider this matter at a future Council meeting.”
Conundrum Holdings managing director Ron Kerr said the report was a common-sense outcome.
“We are pleased the panel report has vindicated the planning policy framework and our application which officially commenced in 2011 having been proven over the six preceding years,” he said.
“This joins all other decisions by a range of independent arbitrators who have ruled in favour of the extractive industries and maintained the integrity of the approval process.”
Mr Kerr said he hoped the panel’s decision quelled council opposition to the quarry.
“Given the importance of resource security and the outstanding benefits being recognised including jobs and opportunities, we hope this report sees a reduction in the very personal ratepayer-funded attacks our locally owned and family-run business has been forced to endure,” he said.
People can read the PPV report online at cdn.mitchellshire.vic.gov.au/general-downloads/Amendment-C157mith-Panel-Report.pdf.
