Update: Weeks of uncertainty ahead for Wonthaggi homeowners

‘INITIAL advice from the EPA in three weeks!’

That’s the latest information from the Bass Coast Shire Council in its ‘EAO Update 2 (May 1, 2024)’ about the planning crisis which has engulfed Wonthaggi’s new North East housing precinct.

The Bass Coast Shire has just sent out its latest update and if you want to get on the mailing list, send an email requesting to be added to the EAO Wonthaggi update list at planningapplications@basscoast.vic.gov.au

You may get a return message saying “we are currently receiving more correspondence than usual”, which is hardly surprising, but you’ll be added to the list nevertheless.

Here’s the latest message (May 1, 2024) from CEO Greg Box:

“I am writing to let you know that I had a meeting yesterday with the Victorian Planning Authority (VPA) and the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) to discuss progress towards resolving the planning issue at Wonthaggi North East growth precinct.

“The EAO was placed on properties in Wonthaggi following the review process for the Wonthaggi North East PSP, and ultimately endorsed by the VPA Board and the Minister for Planning.

“Following yesterday’s meeting, the VPA will today formally refer this matter to the EPA for review. We expect to receive initial EPA advice in about three weeks.

“All authorities and the Council are working closely together to urgently resolve this issue to give homeowners certainty. I can confirm the matter has also been escalated to the Minister for Planning.

“We appreciate the stress the planning amendment has caused homeowners and ask for your continued patience while the EPA review is underway.

“We will continue to provide regular updates and if you have questions regarding the overlay and its requirements, our Duty Planner is available during business hours. Information on the amendment process can be found on the VPA website: Victorian Planning Authority - VPA

“There is information about the EAO on Council’s website including a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) and previous updates: Environmental Audit Overlay (EAO) | Bass Coast Shire

“If you have been forwarded this email, to be added to the distribution list please email planningapplications@basscoast.vic.gov.au.

“Thank you again for your patience, kind regards, Greg Box, Chief Executive Officer.

On the new ‘Wonthaggi Residents Affected by the Environmental Audit Overlay’ Facebook, a number of issues have been raised, including the fact that residents are having trouble working out if their property is included in the ‘high’, ‘medium’ or ‘low’ risk category for potential contamination.

Some say the maps used by the Victorian Planning Authority are wrong.

They have also pointed out that while its reasonable to require the developers to carry out environmental assessments before the land is approved for release as building blocks, there’s been absolutely no confirmation that any of the land in the North East Precinct actually has any issues with contamination at all.

And being largely former farming properties, no expectation that there would be any contamination problems found.

* There’s no reason to think that the land is toxic. There’s testing that should have been done for containments that the council has failed to act on, which has resulted in the state government blanketing the 4 estates concerned in an Environmental Audit Overlay that now shows on our titles. Whether or not there’s anything actually wrong with the land remains to be seen, but seems unlikely for at least one of the estates so far.