Close scrutiny warranted

Information from the South Gippsland Conservation Society (SGCS) in the Sentinel-Times (July 5) that no Bass Coast councillor accepted SGCS’s invitation for them to attend an onsite meeting at (2-4)

The Esplanade prior to councillors voting on that site’s proposed development, illustrates that the SGCS and the local community were denied the satisfaction and confidence in knowing that councillors were fully aware of all the issues involved.  

Even if all councillors had received a full copy of SGCS’s submission to council, actually seeing the site and discussing the implications and lost opportunity for alternative use, would have been an appropriate use of councillors’ ratepayer funded attention.

I also find it concerning that council has been quoted as regarding the Provisions of the Design Development Overlay (DDO10), which specifies a maximum building height of 9.5 metres currently applicable to (2-4) The Esplanade, as only “desirable” rather than “mandatory”.

This flexible attitude by council warrants close scrutiny by councillors and an ability to communicate directly with those affected, particularly when councillors are voting on an issue whose impact needs to be visualised on site rather than be approved, due to council’s defeatist belief that council could not win if the developer went to VCAT.

Rosemary Hutchinson, Inverloch