The Minister is also responsible for approving the Planning Scheme Amendment to provide planning approval for the project across each of the local council municipalities.
This means that the Planning Minster is “calling in” those planning approvals that would otherwise be required to be lodged and managed via the respective local council.
The local councils will not have any powers nor is there any appellant avenue which typically would afford residents recourse through VCAT and ultimately the courts.
The core issue is that the Minister is providing immediate planning approval for what really is a ‘concept plan’.
We support the building of the North East Link but strongly believe that there is a better way to design and build the Link without dividing Banyule, destroying the local environment or impacting on businesses and homes.