VICTORIANS opposing what they think is unsuitable property development will have a new rallying point next week after the launch of a public declaration for a “Liveable Victoria”.
The declaration is the joint effort of Planning Democracy, and Green Wedges Coalition.
Planning Democracy was formerly known as Planning Backlash, an umbrella group formed by veteran planning activist Mary Drost OAM in 2003.
Backlash was a loose alliance of 250 community groups across Melbourne and Victoria lobbying for more democracy in local and state planning.
Planning Democracy convenor Kelvin Thomson – the former federal MP for Wills with a long involvement in environment, overpopulation and overdevelopment policy – said the declaration aimed to “protect Victoria from overdevelopment at the hands of increasingly aggressive … property developers”.
“It seeks to safeguard our residential and environmental amenity, heritage, tree canopy cover, green wedges and open space. It asserts the right of residents to have a say about the character of the community in which they live.”
Launch speakers include planning specialist Professor Michael Buxton formerly of RMIT, Royal Historical Society of Victoria’s Dr Charles Sowerwine, and Mornington Peninsula resident Jenny Warfe, prominent in opposing recent high-rise development proposals in Frankston and a long-time advocate of low-rise development on the peninsula.
Liveable Victoria launch, 2-4pm Sunday 24 September, East Melbourne library, 122 George Street, East Melbourne.
RSVP to Kelvin Thomson at: pleasant123@me.com or Rosemary West, coordinator Green Wedges Coalition, rowest99@gmail.com
First published in the Mornington News – 19 September 2023
