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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

Meeting Notes: April 9, 2014

Meeting Notes: April 9, 2014 Present: Laara Eames, Marion Coffey, Keith Coffey, Maria Poletti, Chris Erlandson, Nick McCubbin, Stuart Midgley Apologies: Sally Mendes, Craig Walters, James Dawson
1. Business Arising:
a. Ask for a report of the expenditure of the developers contribution levy.
Action: Bo will ask a question at council.
b. VCAT has approved the Grandview application for pokies. Susan suggested a study on what happens to the local shops and impact on neighborhood character.
Action: Susan to talk to Bo Li
c. Action: Craig, Robin Scott letter to ask question in parliament.
d. Action: Maria to draft a letter asking councilors to ensure that our third party objector rights are not removed in the schedules.
Action: put it to Darren Rudd Action: ask Ian Wood for his model
e. Action: Reminder to push for a much better planning register. When budget time comes up we should go in and bat on behalf of the planning department.
f. Planning Panels Victoria, Darebin Planning Scheme Amendments C136, C137, C138.
Action: Ask Darren Rudd about the New Zoning Committee and can we have representation Action: Ask to be sent a copy of the Panel’s report as early as possible. Maria Action: Attach copies of DADA member presentations. Action: Check the new draft zone map and see if your street is protected under the NRZ
g. Darebin Planning Dept’s proposed Governance Charter.
Action: for Maria to follow up on research.
2. New Business:
a. Amendment C144 new zones
Discussion of high density developments along Plenty and St Georges, the new zoning doesn’t quite fit the existing land use along these major corridors. Talk to panels to say we aren’t happy but also talk to councilors. Action: Maria to send out link and something written for people to make submissions. Keep them simple and remember that you will get a chance to talk to a panel and can elaborate in detail then.
b. DADA signs, Officeworks will print and laminate to big sizes.
c. Minister Guy letter on new zones,
Action: Maria to add in Chris’s suggestion. Send out to network to sign and send to the minister.
d. Planning Panels direction to Darebin council, passed around meeting recommendation.
e. Trees, signs on trees in Carlton gardens showing their cost value over life-time,
Action: Maria to do same for street trees. Council asking for help from community members to plant street trees.
f. Asbestos still a huge issue in Darebin with development and renovations putting people who live in the neighbourhood at risk. Council and Worksafe need to be rung if you think there is a problem. The rule is that if you don’t know if it is asbestos you treat it as if it is. Best don’t go near it if you can help it.
Action: Keith to local paper.
2
3. Correspondence:
a. Stuart Midgley: Photos of more poor quality developments in Darebin (the ones that got
away!) Strange brick work on Albert Road, rendering over poor brick work to conceal it.
b. James Dawson: submission on C144
c. Jeanette McCarthy new email address
d. Mary Drost: planning panel feedback to those councils who have asked for high NRZ rates
e. Mary Drost: significant tree register
f. Rudi Anders: Planning Panel presentation, to be sent out with notes.
g. Paula Venter: Generous offer of support for objectors
h. Mara Manfrin, sale of house at 26 Kitchener Grove, and an email about buying Birdseye
and Edgell food for distribution – sent sign designs. Decision not to forward network
anything that doesn’t relate to development issues.
i. Forwarded from Sally Mendes – No DADA follow up
Just wondering if anyone at TD has been involved in the St George’s Rd planning scheme process. I am really
happy with the work council has done towards incorporating sustainability into our precinct (Oakover village)
development plan overlay, and am now trying to pull together people who are interested in pushing for a
sustainability and social justice charter (or other such mechanisms) for the area … addressing not just new
developments, but also existing communities and streetscapes.
You’re welcome to pass on my contact details to anyone who’s interested.
Elizabeth Wheeler
Preston
0425 763 677
j. Laara Eames, on the Darebin Directory listing for DADA,
Action: Maria to ask Brian if he knows, ask if there can be a link from planning.
http://www.darebin.org/Directory/Agency.aspx?MKey=5455&S3Key=617#sthash.XhSKF9tv
4. Council Report:
Notification of new process for amendments.
5. Other:
6. Objector Updates:
a. 22 Sylvester Grove, Preston, please sign objection forms
b. 96 Cheddar Road, sold again, still concerned about bulldozing for a major development
7. Strategy Ideas;
a. Presenting Council with a bill for work done by objectors that should have been covered by
planning department
b. DADA on-line petition and in hard copy, Maria to send Nola a hard copy for printing as well as
developing the on-line petition.
8. Next Meeting: 7.00pm, Wednesday, April 30thth at 33 Dean Street, Preston. Main discussion on
rezoning panel presentations.

New Darebin Zoning Regulations | Submissions

Dear DADA Folk,

We have until Thursday the 17th of April to make a written submission regarding the application of the new zoning regulations in Darebin.

It is critically important that you participate in the feedback on draft amendment C144 to help ensure that you get the zoning protection you desire in your street/neighbourhood.  The right zoning protection in your neighbourhood will alleviate the ongoing vigil of planning applications and rounds of objections and VCAT appearances to try and prevent over-development in your streets.

Because your neighbourhood has its own specific characteristics that you appreciate and want protected a personal submission is appropriate to detail those in a way the DADA submission doesn’t.

I have attached the DADA submission in case it is of some help, cut and paste from it as you like, no need to reinvent the wheel.

If you are prepared to talk to the panel then I don’t think it is necessary to submit too much detail in writing, just broad points should be fine that you can flesh out later in person.

If you can’t make a panel presentation you might want your written submission to be more detailed.

Make your written submission at: http://www.yoursaydarebin.com.au/new-residential-zones-draft-amendment-c144

For most of us the key issue will be protection from over-development under the Neighbourhood Residential Zone (NRZ).

Look up your street on the map; and see if in the draft it is protected.

I have attached a document, AN50, which outlines criteria for application of the NRZ so that you can decide if your street qualifies.  Even if it doesn’t strictly qualify you can argue that council does have flexibility in applying the criteria and so your street should be considered.

If you are near a school you should push protection for that reason alone – see the DADA submission.

Contact me if you have any questions. Good luck.

Maria

DADA

UPDATE

Monday 14th April 2014

Dear DADA folk,

Thanks to those who have sent me feedback on the DADA zoning submission.   As it hasn’t yet been submitted I have been tweaking in the light of that feedback.

I added a slide on Schedules to include tighter regulations on landscaping and tree replacement:

1. Schedules should insist the inclusion of a landscape plan with the planning application so that planners, councilors and objectors can see a more compete picture of the development planned.

2. To stem the ongoing loss of canopy vegetation due to over-development in Darebin, schedules should mandate the replacement of substantial canopy trees at a rate of one for every ten years of life of the tree removed.

I also upped the request for the School Protected Zones to cover 5 blocks around schools and take out the statement about not crossing a major road.

Cheers,

Maria

DADA

22 Sylvester Grove, Preston

Dear DADA folk,

Our friends at Ikonomidis Reid are at it again.  This time with a development  proposal for 22 Sylvester Grove, Preston which seeks to remove a three bedroom house with a magnificent old Magnolia tree in the front yard and other established trees in the backyard to build three, 2 bedroom units.

A partly filled objection form is attached.  Please help by filling in your details and emailing or posting before Monday the 14th of April.  The addresses are at the top of the form.  If you CC me in when you email or reply that you have sent I can keep a track of the numbers, which helps to convince council of a need to reject.

Thanks for your help.

Cheers,  Maria

DADA

New Residential Zones | Amendment C144

Dear DADA Folk,
Below is the latest information on the planned changes to zoning in Darebin. Another round of submissions are being called for. Not enough of our streets are protected from over-development with only around 36% in the NRZ. If you are tired of fighting inappropriate development at council and VCAT or worried about what might happen in your street you need to act now. Once the zones are set you will not be able to object.
Cheers, Maria.
DADA

Re: DRAFT AMENDMENT C144 – NEW RESIDENTIAL ZONES FOR DAREBIN

In 2013, the Victorian Government released new residential zones to replace existing zones in the Planning Scheme. These new zones aim to ensure a range of housing choices to meet the needs of a growing population and provide certainty about locating different housing types and densities. The purpose of draft Amendment C144 is to implement these reformed zones into the Darebin Planning Scheme.

Between 2011 and 2031, it is anticipated that an additional 30,300 residents will call Darebin home. This means that Darebin’s housing supply will need to increase by around 13,600 dwellings during this time. The new residential zones will assist Council in managing this growth.

Councils are required to implement the new zones into the planning scheme and identify appropriate locations for each zone. For Darebin, this involves translating the existing Residential 1 Zone into the following new zones:

  • Neighbourhood Residential Zone (NRZ)
  • General Residential Zone (GRZ); and 
  •  Residential Growth Zone (RGZ).

Introducing the Zones in Darebin

The Minister for Planning has appointed a Standing Advisory Committee (the Committee) to report on proposals to rezone land from the Residential 1 Zones to the new NRZ, GRZ and RGZ. The role of the Committee is to:

  • Give submitters an opportunity to be heard by an independent body in an informal, non-judicial manner. An Advisory Committee is not a court of law; and
  • Gives independent advice to the Minister for Planning as outlined in the Terms of Reference. 

Information about the Advisory Committee including its Terms of Reference can be found here: www.dtpli.vic.gov.au/residential-zones-advisory-committee
On 3 March 2014, Council requested that the Committee review the introduction of the new residential zones into the Darebin Planning Scheme through draft proposed Planning Scheme Amendment C144 (draft Amendment C144).

Draft C144 implements two of the three new Residential Zones; the GRZ and the NRZ. It is not proposed to apply the RGZ through draft Amendment C144. Please refer to the enclosed zone map.

The application of the RGZ in Darebin is currently underway via two separate planning scheme amendments; Amendments C136 and C137, which apply to two key growth corridors within Darebin (St Georges Road and Plenty Road). The application of the RGZ outside of these corridors will be subject to further work and a separate Amendment process.
Council is seeking your views of the on its proposed residential zones. Details of the proposed changes can be viewed here: www.yoursaydarebin.com.au

How can you have your say?
If you would like to make a written submission to the Committee in regards of Amendment C144, you can do so before 17th April 2014.
Submissions can be made online at www.dtpli.vic.gov.au/residential-zones-advisory-committee and you must complete the online Submission Coversheet. Parties wishing to post in a written submission will need to contact Ms Cutting at Planning Panels Victoria to obtain a hard copy of the Submission Coversheet.
Please note that submissions must be directed to the Committee through Planning Panels Victoria. Please note that Council cannot accept submissions.
The Committee has pre-set the Hearing dates for the week starting 5th May 2014. If you wish to present at the Hearing, please complete the relevant section of the Submission Coversheet. All submissions and all information provided at the Hearing will be treated as public documents.
If you have any questions regarding the proposed changes to the residential zones, please contact Strategic Planning Unit on 8470 8768.
If you have any questions regarding the Advisory Committee, how to make a submission or the public hearing, please contact Jessica Cutting, Senior Project Manager at Planning Panels Victoria on 8392 6383 or jessica.cutting@dtpli.vic.gov.au

Yours sincerely

Darren Rudd
Manager City Development