Heath calls on government to urgently overturn contamination issue

FOLLOWING the weekend public meeting attended by over 200 residents, Member for Eastern Victoria Region, Renee Heath, has called on the State Government to overturn the retrospective planning amendment which is affecting thousands of blocks of land, and many hundreds of residents in Wonthaggi North.

“This week I had the opportunity to raise this important issue on multiple occasions with the government. I will continue to advocate on behalf of the estimated 1,000 residents in over 500homes that have been affected by this retrospective decision that will affect their ability to build or extend their homes, or build any other structure on their own properties,” Dr Heath said.

“The decision by the Minister for Planning, Sonya Kilkenny, to approve planning amendmentC152, and the subsequent actions by the Victorian Planning Authority to place a retrospective environmental assessment overlay across 1,100 acres and up to 5,000 blocks of land in the Wonthaggi north-east precinct, has created fear and confusion for thousands of residents and landowners.

“Many of these residents and landowners were not even notified of this decision and now discover that they will require an expensive environmental assessment to build a home or add a structure on their own property,” Dr Heath said.

“It is entirely within Minister Kilkenny’s powers to reverse this decision and she should immediately do so and remove this unnecessary stress and burden from the affected residents.”

The Wonthaggi North-East Precinct Structure Plan (PSP) was approved by the Minister for Planning and gazetted on 18 January 2024 under Amendment C152 and will affect nearly 1,100acres, an estimated 1,000 plus residents in over 500 homes, and up to 5,000 blocks of land, including the estates of Parklands, Powlett Ridge, Summerfields and Northern Views.

Dr Heath is also sponsoring a petition to Parliament calling for this decision to be overturned. Once the petition is approved by Parliament it will be available to sign online, or in person at Dr Heath’s office or during any of the public events Dr Heath will be holding next Thursday May 23 in Wonthaggi.

For more information phone 5941 1112 or email renee.heath@parliament.vic.gov.au