Today the Victorian Greens will introduce a motion calling on the Government to establish a Royal Commission into the state’s planning system.
The planning system is supposed to serve the community but too often decisions are made in the interests of property developers and their profits.
The Royal Commission would investigate the integrity of a number of urban planning, rezoning and land sale decisions including:
- The rezoning of Fisherman’s Bend
- The Docklands redevelopment
- The Kensington public housing redevelopment and associated subsidised land sale
- The Ventnor rezoning of land in Phillip Island
- The development at 661 Chapel Street in South Yarra
The proposed Commission would also investigate expansions of the urban growth boundary made by planning ministers since 2000.
Leader of the Victorian Greens, Samantha Ratnam, said it was important that the relationship between political donations and planning decisions be made transparent.
As stated by Leader of the Victorian Greens, Samantha Ratnam MLC:
“Governments at all levels should represent their citizens, rather than accepting dodgy donations and caving to the demands of property developers.
“The IBAC investigation into Casey council has already exposed what we’ve known all along – that property developers are in the pockets of our councillors and state politicians. This is only the tip of the iceberg.
“A broader Royal Commission would ensure transparency behind potentially corrupt planning decisions and let Victorians know whether their best interests are being served or not.”
