Why Premier Allan’s response is shockingly out of touch

WONTHAGGI’S problem has “been an issue for a number of years now”!

So said Premier Jacinta Allan in State Parliament last week to calls from Opposition Leader John Pesutto for her to lift the retrospective planning overlays slapped on hundreds of existing homes across the Wonthaggi’s north-east residential neighbourhood.

But she’s wrong, of course.

The State Government’s statutory planning arm, the Victorian Planning Authority, introduced the highly-restrictive planning overlays, without promised consultation with affected homeowners and titled block owners, on Thursday, January 18, this year.

It came as a shock to almost all concerned, with many affected property owners, new buyers, conveyancers and builders completely unaware of the introduction of the Environmental Audit Overlays (EAOs), on thousands of blocks until mid-April.

Some of those impacted are still unaware of the potential costs and restrictions involved.

Chair of the Save our Wonthaggi North-East Residents Community Action Group, John Duscher was critical of the lack of understanding of the issue at the highest level.

“A meeting will be held next week with the Bass Coast Shire Council and correspondence has been sent to the Premier, Planning Minister and our local MP in response to their disgusting inaction, lack of understanding of the issue and lack of compassion for our ratepayers,” said Mr Duscher.

He said a lot was at stake.

Mr Duscher said we continue to get reports and worrying stories of the terrible impact this is having on people’s lives, intolerable stress, injustice, loss of value of their homes and property, building put on hold, people unable to sell their properties, residents unable to move into their new homes, people who built their homes several years ago who now find they are included in this overlay and sadly the inability of some to secure or access bank loans.

“These are all real people, real stories. A cruel situation that is unwarranted, unwanted, and unnecessary.”

How Premier Allan got it so wrong

True to his word, Opposition Leader John Pessuto, put his counterpart, Jacinta Allan, on the spot during Question Time in State Parliament last Tuesday, May 28

• John PESUTTO (Hawthorn, Leader of the Opposition): My question is to the Premier. A retrospective planning overlay has been imposed on hundreds of existing homes across the Wonthaggi North-East Precinct, leaving vulnerable home owners facing up to $80,000 in costs to clear this blight on their properties. Brett and Amy, who have been supporting their one-year-old daughter Milly, who has recently been in hospital receiving brain surgery, have spoken about the crippling costs that clearing the government’s overlay will have on their family. Does the Premier stand by this unfair decision?
• Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East, Premier): In answering the Leader of the Opposition’s question, he is referring to a planning issue that has been an issue for the Bass Coast community for a number of years now. I know the Minister for Planning has been working with the council and also the Victorian Planning Authority. The Leader of the Opposition referred to a family who are experiencing some hardship and distress. That is obviously a concern, and I will refer that matter to the Minister for Planning for her follow-up.
• John PESUTTO: The opposition has committed to ripping up the Labor government’s unfair and retrospective decision. Will the Premier adopt the opposition’s policy?
• Jacinta ALLAN: I think those opposite know that when you agree with the Leader of the Opposition, you end up getting letters that end you up in court, so, no, I will not be agreeing with the opposition. As I said earlier, I will refer this matter to the Minister for Planning for her follow-up.