CLARKEFIELD will be used as a vote swinger at the November election, with the Liberal and Nationals government committing to returning planning decisions for the small country town back to the Macedon Ranges Shire Council.
The proposed housing development is set to potentially bring 2,500 homes, with some lots measuring as small as 84 square metres.
Candidate for Macedon and former MRSC mayor Kate Kendall said she respects the locals and will put the decision-making back where it belongs.
“This announcement shows that a Jess Wilson Liberal Government will work with communities, not over them. In the Macedon electorate, we’ve already seen what happened in the case of Amess Road, Riddells Creek, when the community voice was completely ignored. Labor is making this the pattern, not the exception.”
“We respect locals and will put decision-making back where it belongs, with the people who know their communities best.”
The current Minister for Planning, Sonya Kilkenny, was supposed to make a decision in August about Clarkefield but has yet to release a statement about the small town.
The Shadow Minister for Planning, David Southwick, believes that locals deserve more choice in planning decisions.
“Locals deserve a say in their community, and we are giving locals that say on planning decisions in the Macedon Ranges.”
“Labor would rather dictate from Spring Street than listen to locals on the future of their area.”
It will be fascinating over the next couple of months before the election to see how the current government responds and whether Clarkefield could receive more than 2,000 new homes.
