By KATH GANNAWAY
A DRAFT planning document that will set out policy and guidelines for Yarra Ranges Council was given the go-ahead for public consultation at the 12 July council meeting.
The Draft Localised Planning Statement was initiated at the request of the State Government, aimed at identifying and protecting areas of Victoria that have highly significant geographic and physical features.
Yarra Ranges was one of four areas identified for a bespoke set of policies and guidelines that Yarra Ranges Councillors said on Tuesday night had been a year in the development and was referred to as “a serious document” and “a critical position statement for future planning”.
The draft document is the combined work of Yarra Ranges Council and the Community Reference Group made up of community representatives from across the shire.
Reference group chairman Rick Houlihan spoke briefly to the document, pointing out that the incorrect version had appeared in the agenda, and calling for the community consultation period to be extended to 60 days.
An amended version of the draft scheme was presented to the meeting to be adopted as the correct version.
The scheme looks at planning around a number of areas including activity centres, the Urban Growth Boundary, residential and green wedge policies, economic development, commercial activity in the green wedge, agriculture, tourism development, extractive industry, recreation and open space, environment, landscape and heritage, community safety, community infrastructure, public works and forestry.
It was forestry, and the wording that Council “Support a transition to sustainable forestry” that caused passionate debate, and ultimately a successful alternative recommendation.
Cr Child called for the word ‘transition’ to be eliminated, arguing the existing forestry industry was sustainable and that the suggestion that a transition was required could raise doubt that Yarra Ranges Council recognised the industry as sustainable.
He said the State Government recognised the forestry industry as legal and sustainable and said it was an important part of his O’Shannassy Ward, and of the shire.
“To me the timber industry, whether on private land or public or crown land, is being planted and harvested in a sustainable manner,” Cr Child said.
He said while he congratulated the refernce group on the document, their input was only one part of the document.
“I believe as councillors we do have the right to vet this document,” he said.
Cr McAllister argued for the retention of ‘transition’ saying the process had taken a year to get to draft and it was the start of the next part of that process which was consultation.
“I would rather we run with it as it sits and if the consultation process raises it as an issue, we deal with it,” she said.
Councillors Cox, Avery and Clarke also supported retaining the proposed wording, with Cr Cox saying that to get to the core of the matter would require defining ‘sustainable’.
Cr Avery also questioned the definition of sustainable.
“I have seen with my own eyes what the timber industry has done in the water catchments around Toolangi and I am appalled,” he said.
“I am all for sustainable forestry, but when you see the havoc wreaked on some of the sensitive parts of our bushland, I can’t support this and think it should sit.”
Councillors Maria McCarthy, Jason Callanan and Andy Witlox supported Cr Child.
Cr McCarthy said she believed Yarra Ranges had a sustainable timber industry.
“It would not be there if not supported by the government,” she said. “I believe what Cr Child has said and support his view.”
Cr Callanan argued the industry was already working as a sustainable industry with a view to the future.
“They won’t be around in 20 years’ time otherwise,” he said.
“If they want to compete, want to survive, they have to find ways to become sustainable.”
He said either wording was supporting a sustainable industry.
With a four/four split, Cr Child’s amendment was carried on the casting vote of Mayor Callanan.
The proposal to extend the consultation period to 60 days was also not supported.
To view the Draft Localised Planning Statement, and for a closing time for submissions, visit www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au
