Victorian Political News		www.robertclark.net

RESCODE: DESPERATE MINISTER LOOKS TO OPPOSITION FOR HELP

News Release - Wednesday 23rd August 2000

In an extraordinary move, the Minister for Planning, Mr Thwaites, has called on the Opposition for help in sorting out the problems with his draft new residential planning code, ResCode, Shadow Planning Minister Robert Clark said today.

In a media release the Minister devoted five paragraphs to lamenting the fact that the Liberal and National Parties had not made submissions to the ResCode Advisory Committee.

"This call for Opposition help shows the desperation of a Minister whose draft code has received near universal criticism from resident groups, planners, developers and local government alike," Mr Clark, said.

"It is not usual practice for Oppositions to make submissions to Government planning inquiries. In the seven years they were in Opposition, neither Mr Thwaites nor his predecessor Mr Dollis made a single submission on a planning policy issue.

"However, if Mr Thwaites is serious in seeking Opposition help, we would be happy to meet with the Advisory Committee to discuss the draft ResCode. Mr Thwaites need only ask - something he has not done.

"It seems more likely, however, that Mr Thwaites' attack on the Opposition is simply an attempt to divert attention away from the weaknesses of the draft ResCode and the fact that the Government is backing down on many of its key proposals even before its Advisory Committee reports.

"You normally expect some adjustment to a draft document after consultation, but the draft ResCode has been shown to be a half-baked, ill-considered document that should never have been issued publicly in its current state."

Some of the key problems and concerns that have emerged from the Opposition's examination of the ResCode documents and from consultation with interested parties include:

o the cost of site analyses, which are estimated to add $800 or more to the price of a single home

o dual occupancy developments being allowed without a planning permit

o uncertainty caused by case by case decision-making by Council officers on key factors such as setbacks for single homes, coupled with the lack of appeal rights or opportunities for resident input

o the massive increase in council workloads involved, which will lead to delays, the need to recruit extra planners (already in short supply) and possibly rate rises

o no time limits within which Councils must make decisions on site analyses, meaning that home building proposals could pile up in Council in-trays indefinitely, bogging down the construction industry and costing jobs

o in country areas, the travelling times involved in council officers travelling from site to site to verify site analyses

o the need for councils to quickly formulate detailed policies, undertake urban character studies and prepare local variations, with no provision made for them to do so

o excessive restrictions on front fence heights

o restrictions on factors such as upper storeys, side windows and side boundaries that will be unworkable in many instances, especially in inner city areas

o a loophole allowing mature tree protection to be avoided by "moonscaping" a site prior to preparing a site analysis.