Last year I was sitting in a Darebin Council Planning Meeting where Councillors and planning officers were discussing a retrospective planning application. A resident spoke eloquently of the negative impact of the development on local residents. Councillors on the other hand were more upset by the disrespect shown to the process and themselves. I was very disappointed that at no stage in this discussion did any of the Councillors comment on the the disrespect to local residents as a reason for rejecting the application. I feel that it showed that they put their position and the process above the folk they are supposed to represent at council. I think this demonstrates how Councillors have really lost their way and need to be reminded of their obligations of representing the rate-payers of Darebin.
Cheers, Maria