SAVE WILLIAMSTOWN
Green land cut back as Melbourne grows much bigger
The Age
by Jason Dowling July 29, 2010 - 12:02PM
“Melbourne has today become much, much bigger.
Already one of the world's largest cities by geographic footprint - stretching 100 kilometres from east to west - Victoria's Parliament today voted in favour of expanding Melbourne by another 43,600 hectares.
The land - roughly equal to four Phillip Islands - is on the city's western, northern and south-eastern fringes.
The expansion is the biggest change to the size of Melbourne in almost a decade and will destroy thousands of hectares of Melbourne's green-wedge land - once dubbed the city's "lungs" - as well as fertile food-growing areas to Melbourne's east.
Today's vote was opposed by the Greens but supported by the Liberal-Nationals coalition.
Developers argue the decision, and any subsequent residential development, will ease pressure on housing supply and affordability....
.....A spokeswoman for Planning Minister Justin Madden said the planning scheme amendment to expand the urban growth boundary was "fundamental to maintaining housing affordability".
"Expanding the boundary is a major component of the Brumby Labor Government's long-term plan to manage growth, keep house prices affordable and ensure our city remains one of the world's most welcoming and livable cities," she said.”
Does this mean more emphasis on preparing suitable land for population expansion and not putting pressure on inner suburbs which lack infrastructure to expand...? Is the Planning Minister becoming more rational?
Thursday, 29 July 2010
