Darebin Appropriate Development Association

Dear DADA Folk,

Meeting notes and related documents from our February meeting.

Cheers, Maria

DADA

• 20160209-DADA-notes

Darebin Appropriate Development Association: Protect Your Community
Inc. No. A0094111Q
Web: https://www.darebinada.org

Meeting Notes: 9th of February, 2016

Present: Marion Coffey, Keith Coffey, Chris Erlandsen, Maria Poletti, Mandy Baird, Craig Walters, Sally Mendes, Geoff Toll, Kay Wawn Apologies: Stewart Midgley, Meryl Waugh

1. Business Arising:
a. Discussed other city councils plan for buying up houses to eventually convert into public open space. Action: Maria to do more research to bring back to the meeting. Stonnington Council
b. 748 to 750 Plenty Road, 4 stories, 22 apartments with some at 40 square metres. Action: Mandy to keep an eye on it.
c. 672 Plenty Road, revised plans adding a story making it 4 at front, 5 at back, Action: Mandy and neighbours will send new objections on the amended plans.
d. Reply from the Minister’s office to Mandy’s emailed letter circulated and discussed Action: Mandy to reply in disgust to how condescending and deflective it is.
e. Discussed standing orders. Action: Craig to talk to Trent about the best way to get something like standing orders on all decisions so we can have more transparency on how councilors vote.
f. 13 Brown Street, demolished house, worried about asbestos. Also concern that work has started without planning permission. Action: Craig to ask council if they have a planning application and do they know the development has begun.
g. Follow-up with Robin Scott’s office. Maria called back and spoke to Robin’s assistant but there was nothing new. Action: Maria to call and ask to speak to Robin or for him to call back.
h. Discussion of lot consolidated sites over 1000 square metres or 1200 square metres. Also the interface is a concern that it isn’t integrated. Action: Craig to ask D Rudd about footprint on consolidated blocks and the status of garage
i. 137 Mansfield Street, 2nd day in VCAT, Member said she will visit the site and that we will all be invited to attend. No word yet of the visit date. Expect a decision in January. Member put a time limit on objectors to ask questions of expert witness. The member would not accept the number of objectors. James Livingston acting for Council asked only one question of the first expert witness. Action: Meryl to write to Darren Rudd after DADA is incorporated regarding the work of the council representative. The letter will have DADA imprimatur.
j. 108 Wood Street, going to VCAT, Action: All to send in statement of grounds Done
k. Maria found a variation in the Planning Committee minutes. Action: Maria to write to the CEO and CC Councilors after checking with Robert Phillips as to how this can happen.
l. Sally suggested we go to town planner courses and ask if final year students will do pro-bono work on behalf of objectors. Action: Sally
m. And a fantastic comment by Craig alerting objectors to the DADA meeting and website. Action: Develop a set statement for planning alerts. ‘If you would like some help with objecting to this planning application come to the next DADA meeting, 7pm on February 9th 2016 at 33 Dean Street, Preston or go to the DADA website https://www.darebinada.org Done

2. DADA Incorporated: on 8th December 2015
a. Composition of Committee; Add Brian in position of Webmaster.
b. Raising funds: Do we need to open a bank account? Bunning’s sausage sizzle? Maria rang but all booked out for this year. Discussed possibility of a cake sale. Have to write a letter on letterhead to request. Some discussion of sign making and workshops on either objecting or, offered to council, as a fund raisers. Action: Craig to pursue opening a bank account with Bendigo Bank.

3. Letter from Fiona Richardson; circulate letter from Minister Wynne. Action: Maria to write a reply to Fiona express our deep disappointment of the Minister’s decision to not sign off on C152 that this means further poor impact on our streets from over development.

4. Better Apartments survey results: Sent summary to network.

5. Regular Meeting with Council Planning; D Rudd emailed Council’s submission to the Plan Melbourne Refresh process and the VCAT decision handed down by Member Byard in relation to a complete parking waiver (supported by Council) for a development in Brunswick.
No new meeting date yet but emailed sent to ask if it is OK to share submission via DADA website and for a new meeting time. Action: Maria to follow up.

6. Managing Residential Development Advisory Committee: List of suggested Improvements circulated. Documents can be found here: http://www.dtpli.vic.gov.au/planning/panels-and-committees/current-panels-and-committees/managing-residential-development
Submission can be made here: http://www.dtpli.vic.gov.au/planning/panels-and-committees/current-panels-and-committees/managing-residential-development/managing-residential-development-submission-form Submission period closes at 5.00pm Monday 29 February 2016 Help needed to produce DADA submissions; for further discussion.

7. Blog: Seems to be getting a response. Ideas for content welcome.

8. VCAT:
a. Decision to support planning application with zero parking in Brunswick. Something to look forward to in Darebin. No member name attached but Maria suggested we name Members who make such appalling decisions.
b. Suggestion from Planning Backlash that some developers ask for and get their planning application heard by specific members. Maria suggested this equates to corruption and that somebody should collect the data and talk to the papers. Action: Mary Drost, Planning Backlash, to ask somebody to collect data. Action: Maria to contact Lucas Clay from the age to ask if he will do the research.

9. Objector Updates:
a. 1 Hawker Street, council planning rejected now going to VCAT.
b. 27 Murphy Grove, council planning rejected
c. 13 Dean Street, Action: Sally to lead this objection
d. Clyde Street, Thornbury, opp. the old pottery site is to have 20 apartments over 3 levels.
The developer has sent an open invitation to an informal presentation of the development.

10. Other Business:
a. Information on Asbestos and how to deal with:
Try contacting these organizations; http://www.asbestos.vic.gov.au/contact-us/who-should-i-call How to identify asbestos sheet “Products that may contain asbestos include cement roof sheeting and wall lining, vinyl floor tiles lagging and jointing material and fire blankets.” – surface may have hex pattern of dimples like a golf ball. – take sample, break off a small section (postage stamp), inspect visually for short hairs sticking out of fracture site. the asbestos sheet has short hairs approx 1 mm long and very narrow – consider gathering photographic evidence of sample collection from site, bagging (lunch) and labeling on site with address, date, location (nature strip rubble pile) and number (01, 02, etc) A collection of post card size evidence would be useful for proving the case amongst the different agencies who are supposed to help manage this legacy. Also consider talking to the EPA, worksafe, and others http://www.epa.vic.gov.au/our-work/publications/publication/2009/july/iwrg611-1 http://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/forms-and-publications/forms-and-publications/management-and-disposal-of-asbestos

11. From the papers: A number of Age articles and local paper letters discussed.

12. Planning Alerts: Changed process with sending objections to the network.

Next Meeting: 7.00pm, Tuesday, March 8th, at 33 Dean Street, Preston.