Darebin Appropriate Development Association

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Darebin Appropriate Development Association Charter (November, 2022)   Since 2005 Darebin Appropriate Development Association DADA, is a group of residents of Darebin concerned with inappropriate development. DADA represents and provides assistance to residents who might feel unheard and powerless when development is happening near them. DADA acts to preserve the nature and character of our welcoming community and influence planning at all levels of government to ensure appropriate … Read More.. about About DADA

DADA Blog 12 – 64 years and counting!

I heard this quote and thought it still relevant.

“Good housing is the first of the social services. Bad housing makes more disease than any health service can cure”

Winston Churchill- 18th of May, 1951, Glasgow.

 

Meeting | Minister for Planning, Richard Wynne

Dear DADA Folk,

I have been invited to a meeting with the Minister for Planning, Richard Wynne on July 7th.  As this is a day before our next DADA meeting on July 8th, I am seeking endorsement and ideas about what I should say to make best use the little time I will  have.

I feel the most pressing issue for us is C152.  While we would want to support the improvements in zoning in C152 I would also like to point out it is not what we asked for and only gives us 36% NRZ protection.  What do you think??

Don’t forget to make a submission regarding the discussion paper on better apartments.

There are a number of ways to have your say on the Better Apartments debate:

  • Submission Form – Submissions can be made directly to the 14 issues affecting apartment amenity outlined in the Better Apartments – A Discussion Paper through the online submission form. You are encouraged to download a copy and refer to the discussion paper prior to making a submission.
  • Community Survey – a quick and easy survey allows you to have a say in how the internal design aspects of apartments in Victoria can meet the needs of people living in apartments into the future.

Online submissions and survey responses are invited until 31 July 2015.

Up-to-date information on the consultation process is available on the Better Apartments webpage www.delwp.vic.gov.au/better-apartments.

If you require further information, please contact the Victorian Government Contact Centre on 1300 366 356 or email planning.systems@delwp.vic.gov.au

Cheers, Maria

DADA

Next Meeting: Wednesday, July 8th, 2015

Next Meeting: 7.00pm, Wednesday, July 8th at 33 Dean Street, Preston.

Dear DADA Folk,
Our next DADA meeting is planned for next Wednesday. Hope you can make it, but if not please send me your objection updates to share.
Agenda items will include:
1. Meeting the Minister
2. Amendment C152
3. Better Apartments
Also, if you haven’t yet had your say on Better Apartments, the new state government draft apartment amenity guidelines, you can do so here: www.delwp.vic.gov.au/better-apartments
There is a short, 10 minute or so, survey.
For an even shorter survey on the new Darebin planning amendment, C152, go to: http://yoursaydarebin.com.au/amendment-c152/faqs
If you have had a say on both of the strategies, thank you for participating. At DADA we often complain about not getting a say in planning matters that effect us where we live.
It is important to take any opportunity to feedback even through tightly controlled surveys.
Enjoy your weekend. Maria

Alphington Station News

Congratulations to the Alphington group on this one!!

On Thursday, 18 June 2015, 19:27, Marion Gray wrote:

Dear Alphington Station Action Group members,

GREAT NEWS!!! THERE WILL BE NO DEVELOPMENT AT ALPHINGTON STATION!

See the email to us from Fiona Richardson MP, forwarded below.

The Northcote Leader newspaper will have a photo shoot at Alphington Station tomorrow (Friday) morning at 9.30am. Please try to be there if you possibly can … and pass the message on!

The Action Group is meeting with Fiona Richardson on Monday after work to hear the details. We will also be organising a celebratory get-together, so we will keep you posted.

In the meantime, thank you to everyone for all the hard work and support.

Cheers,

Marion Gray
for the Alphington Station Action Group

Dear ASAG members,
Alphington Station carpark
I am extremely pleased to announce that the Labor Government will no longer be proceeding with VicTrack’s plans to develop the Alphington Station carpark.
The carpark will not be sold. It will not be turned into a development. It will remain a carpark for people catching the train, as it should.
The decision by the previous Liberal Government to put the site out for tender was a ludicrous one that would have been damaging for our local community. As a general rule, I believe that park and ride arrangements at train stations are a crucial part of getting people off our roads and onto our rail network. This is an effective way of reducing congestion, making our communities more liveable and our city more efficient.
It has been pleasing to see the community response to the previous proposal to sell the Alphington Station carpark. Our community has been united in its opposition to this proposal and rightly so. It has been my pleasure to advocate on your behalf and get the result that we have all been hoping for.
If you or anyone you know has any further questions regarding this issue please do not hesitate to contact me by phone at 9481 5777 or by email at fiona.richardson@parliament.vic.gov.au
All the best,

Ammendment C152

Dear DADA folk,
At the Council Meeting, Monday 15th June, last, council unanimously supported the new planning and zoning schedule C157.
You can look at what was said on the archived minutes but more importantly take a look at Item 8.1 from the agenda for that meeting.Go to the Darebin website, click council meetings then agenda’s and minutes.
It is the revised housing strategy, quite a big document to download. Amendment C152 begins on page 114 and there is a map on page 121 that shows where the new zones are proposed. For many of you it will mean more protection from the development madness that has gripped Darebin in the last 5 or so years. It is a vast improvement on what that previous planning minister allocated us but still not the 80% NRZ we wanted.
We now have NRZ1 and NRZ2. The most protection is afforded by NRZ1 and I don’t think there has been much increase in that level of protection from C144.
There will be a process where we can all have a say in one form or another. Those of us who presented at the Panel Hearing on C144 should be notified personally.
Please take the time, when you have a chance to read and think about these new new zones and annoy the hell out of you local councillors about anything you don’t like!!!
Cheers, Maria
DADA

Meeting Notes: 3rd June, 2015

Dear DADA folk,
We were missing some regulars at last nights meeting but it was great that two new faces joined us.
Here is what was discussed and what we thought we should do about it.
Stay warm, Maria
DADA

Meeting Notes: 3rd of June, 2015

Present: Marion Coffey, Keith Coffey, Maria Poletti, Craig Walters, Mandy Baird, Kelly Wickham, John Gunson Apologies: Lina Mastroianni, Sally Mendes, Laara Eames, Chris Erlandson, Stewart Midgley

1. Business Arising:
a. New Zoning wash-up: Meeting with Robin Scott on 27th Feb. Chris, Craig and Maria attended. We asked him to organize a meeting with the Planning Minister, Richard Wynne. Discuss acting to organize a meeting with the Minister.
b. Golden Guys seem a popular idea but not at the moment, perhaps another time. Chris has suggested we go to council with the idea of an award for best sustainability practice Action: Chris to research other councils and bring back ideas to us to then take to council. Scrap book idea for DADA web site where people can send in photos of poor development, before and after shots, basic details like address, developers names, details of faults, what is planned.etc. Action: Maria
c. Council flooded with planning applications; Action: Nola sending a further letter asking for some clarification of money collected and spent. Action: Maria to seek out FOI process.
d. Question to council about developers recycling as many materials as possible. We will begin to talk and form more ideas on the quality of demolition as well as the quality of the build. Action: Craig will formulate and ask questions at a council meeting.
e. For the Blog, before and after photos, Gone but not forgotten, RIP houses, Action: Craig to send photos to Maria.
f. 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
g. Preston Market: Action: Craig to look at special meeting video and bring back to next meeting. Salter Group are the developers. Ask questions to Council regarding the discussions with the minister about Preston Market.
h. Planning Officers have prepared a plan with approx 88% protection under 3 zones. The 88% includes 62 % of NRZ 1 and NRZ 2. Action: Attend Council meeting and ask what does the new map look like and when will it be public for comment? What is the process for consultation? Next council meeting Monday night 18th of May, 7pm. Chris and Maria, Keith and Mandy. Always ask for a written reply. Please explain the difference between NRZ 1 and 2? Awaiting written replies to questions. Maria received a reply day of meeting and circulated.
i. 748 to 750 Plenty Road, 4 stories, 22 apartments with some at 40 square metres. Action: Mandy to keep an eye on it.

2.New Business:
a. Community Consultation in the development process – are there any precedents for making this compulsory? Kelly suggested a community consultation process where developers have to meet with the community in consultation before the planning application is submitted. Action: Kelly and Maria to work on basics of a community consultation process to bring back to meeting and to go to council.

3.Council Report:

4.Other:
a. Sale of 1/46 Murphy Grove; three bedroom sold for $905,000. This is proof that money can be made from high quality, three bedroom, design in development.
b. Chris has had an invitation from Council to make a verbal submission in the budget process on the water strategy. He is including development issues in his submission.

5.Press:
a. Age article about the new apartment guidelines pushing up the prices of housing.

6. Objector Updates:
a. What to do about the 470 High Street development – while it’s still going through the approvals process, workmen have been on-site undertaking preliminary works (are any developments fully stopped?) on an assessment of compaction. In mediation, last month, Action: Kelly to follow up with council planner on the mediation outcome.
b. 60 Mansfield Street went to VCAT on Monday 1st of June. Waiting to hear.
c. 136-138 Plenty Rd and 37 Flett St heard at Planning Meeting on Monday night, only had notification on Friday prior. Identified 18 non-compliances with clause 55.
d. 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.

7. Planning Alerts:
a. 376 Bell Street; Maria added comments on-line and has had a response from council officer indicating they would be treated as an objection. Faster process than filling out an objection form; waiting to see if it can/will carry to VCAT.
b. 70 Tyler Street, from Stewart; 107 dwellings = 44 (as 4 storey apts with 1 to 2 bedrooms) + 63 as 2 storey units. Some open space; parking spaces = TBD 50 x 3 (THREE) bed units 11 x 4 (FOUR) bed units all 4 bed apts have 2 car space, 37 of the 3 bed apts have 2 car spaces (as they should), remaining 13 have only 1. Instead we have (a) some open space plus (b) near 50% of the dwellings have more than 2 bed rooms! We could be writing letters of praise for this one.

8. Strategy Ideas 2015

Next Meeting: 7.00pm, Wednesday, July 8th at 33 Dean Street, Preston.