Further evidence that closed committees are making planning decisions in Victoria as reported in The Age

The Age by Clay Lucas
July 6, 2010 - 3:00AM

Developers face off in South Yarra war of the high rises

“A BATTLE between two powerful developers over the height of a South Yarra skyscraper is to be settled behind government doors today, amid growing fears that planning in Victoria is increasingly out of control.

Toll Holdings managing director Paul Little - ranked by BRW as Australia's 38th richest man, with a fortune of $855 million - is also a property developer. His company, Little Project Developments, wants to knock down an old ANZ building on Toorak Road, near the corner of Chapel Street....

.......... In May, Mr Little convinced Planning Minister Justin Madden to step in and take the decision out of the hands of the planning tribunal - which last year rejected an application from developer Stockland for a similar apartment block just around the corner.

In a closed hearing today, the Department of Planning's Jane Monk will hear from both sides, before making a recommendation to Mr Madden.

APN spokesman Grant Muller said the project should be decided in a public hearing.

Victoria's Planning Institute yesterday agreed. ''Having things done behind closed doors like this is concerning,'' institute president David Vorchheimer said.

But Little Project Development's Mr Fox said APN was behaving badly. ''They are being a pain in the arse,'' he said. ''They think they are only people entitled to a tower in the whole of South Yarra.''

The opposition said Mr Madden should have let the state planning tribunal rule on the case. ''We can't continue to have a planning system where the minister just erratically calls in projects like this,'' planning spokesman Matthew Guy said.........”

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/developers-face-off-in-south-yarra-war-of-the-high-rises-20100705-zxnf.html