Exemption call

By Tania Martin
SHIRE of Yarra Ranges councillor Noel Cliff is calling for the Dandenong Ranges to be removed from the council’s draft housing strategy.
This comes after months of intense speculation over the strategy, which residents and environmentalists believe is flawed.
The strategy, which was released for public comment at the beginning of September, outlines intentions to introduce high density housing in areas such as Belgrave, Monbulk, Montrose, Mt Evelyn, Seville, Upwey, Tecoma, Woori Yallock, Healesville, Yarra Glen and Yarra Junction.
Cr Cliff said residents fear that if the housing strategy were to go ahead it would have a severe impact on the hills way of life.
“There are a lot of concerned people out there over this,” he said.
“People are really scared that the Dandenongs will be turned into another Coburg with no trees or bushland.”
Cr Cliff believes that the Dandenong Ranges needs to be pulled out of the strategy.
“We have got to stop and start again,” he said.
“The strategy is important and we have to have one but we need to do it all again.”
Cr Samantha Dunn said that introducing high-density housing into areas such as Belgrave and Tecoma would be a mistake.
“It is pretty clear that the community rejects the idea of high density housing,” she said.
“I will be advocating their position to the council – this area is far too sensitive for high density housing.”
However, Cr Dunn said she still has concerns over the lack of socially assessable housing for people living in the Yarra Ranges.
Cr Cliff also believes the council has started off on the wrong foot where the strategy was concerned.
“We need to get the community involved with the strategy before anything is put down on paper,” he said.
But Cr Dunn said the strategy was never meant to be a ‘done deal’ and that this misconception had caused a lot of problems.
She believes the process still works but that the community needs to remember the draft was put on display so people could have their say.
Cr Cliff plans to call for support from his fellow councillors to remove the Dandenongs from the strategy at an ordinary council meeting tonight (Tuesday).