Amendment by amendment Wonthaggi will win this thing

BASS MP Jordan Crugnale has confirmed that each time a tranche of blocks in Wonthaggi’s north-east residential growth precinct is cleared of contamination risk, the highly-restrictive Environmental Audit Overlay will be removed from the title by government amendment.

It will be amendment, by amendment, by amendment as groups of the more than 600 privately-owned houses and building blocks are cleared by the Preliminary Risk Screen Assessment (PRSA) process.

In a statement on Thursday, June 20, Ms Crugnale confirmed that ‘Planning Scheme Amendment C167basc’ had been initiated by the government to remove the EAOs from 115 residential blocks, the bulk of which were assessed and cleared in the Parklands Estate by the developers.

“The amendment will be gazetted and take effect tomorrow, Friday, June 21,” said Ms Crugnale in an announcement on the ‘Wonthaggi Residents Affected by the Environmental Audit Overlay’ social media page.

More blocks are expected to be cleared of contamination risk on July 1, in a process carried out by environmental consultants PRENSA on behalf of the Bass Coast Shire Council.

Ms Crugnale has confirmed that another government amendment will follow soon after.

How many amendments will be needed is not known.

As much as this development has been welcomed by affected residents, others have noted it should never have happened in the first place.

“Sorry Jordan, you and your EPA and VPA are missing the point. The EPA say there is insufficient evidence to support the removal of the overlay placed on by the VPA. The essential facts are (1.) The estates currently occupied were approved in line with the processes of the day, (2.) There appears insufficient evidence for the EAO to be applied in January and (3.) This process appears to be a butt covering exercise in the unlikely and unexpected chance that someone may have contamination, even in the absence of evidence,” was one of the responses to Ms Crugnale’s statement on the Wonthaggi affected residents’ page.

Here’s Ms Crugnale’s statement in full:

“Planning Scheme Amendment C167basc will remove the Environmental Audit Overlay from three locations in Wonthaggi North-East,” Ms Crugnale said.

“As you all know, the preliminary risk screen assessment (PRSA) found the land is unlikely to be contaminated and does not require an environmental audit.

“The amendment will be gazetted and take effect tomorrow Friday, June 21.

“The amendment affects 115 lots; residential lots (formerly known as 173 Wentworth Road), 80 lots in Stage 5 of Parklands Estate and seven lots in the Powlett Ridge Estate.”

Ms Crugnale has advised that the details will be available at www.basscoast.vic.gov.au and www.planning.vic.gov.au/public-inspection

“Along with the Minister, VPA, EPA, and Council we have worked with urgency and am pleased the EAO is coming off for this tranche so soon after the PRSA was completed,” Ms Crugnale said.

“As the PRSAs come in and are cleared, the Minister will continue to expedite the EAO removal through this proper process.”

In State Parliament on Thursday, Ms Crugnale also asked a question about the EAOs that fall outside of the developer and council-led PRSA process, including Regency Drive, which came up at a meeting Ms Crugnale had with the committee last week.

Question in State Parliament

Jordan Crugnale (Bass). My question is to the Minister for Planning. What is the latest information for the environmental audit overlay areas of Wonthaggi North East precinct structure plan that currently sit outside both developer and council-led preliminary risk screen assessments, with particular reference to Regency Drive? Last week I met with a residents committee, and I thank them for their continued advocacy to ensure that all agencies, including council and state, continue to work with urgency to resolve this for all those impacted. My team and I have been out doorknocking, letterboxing and making phone calls, and I thank residents for their time and for sharing their stories, and also hearing about the evidence base and PRSA process being coordinated by the Victorian Planning Authority, EPA, council and developers. It is so important that this is done effectively and efficiently so that residents have certainty about their properties moving forward. I am pleased that as the results of the PRSAs come in, the minister has committed to making sure the necessary steps are taken as swiftly as possible, and I will continue to advocate for my local community during this stressful time.

Ms Crugnale will provide the answer to the question once it has been addressed by the Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny.