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Wednesday 14 August 2024
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New tankers for brigade
Tanker handover: At the tanker handover to Moorooduc Fire Brigade are Geoff Goding (on the truck at left), Tom Winkle, former captain Nev Jones, Tom McIntosh MP, Justin Newson, and Megan McDonald (in truck at right). Picture: Supplied
MOOROODUC Fire Brigade last week took delivery of a heavy tanker and an ultra heavy tanker to increase its firefighting capabilities. MP for Eastern Victoria Tom McIntosh joined brigade members and representatives from the Country Fire Authority to handover the tankers and thank volunteers for their service to the community. Valued at $460,000, the heavy tanker is one of 48 being rolled out by the state government to brigades across the state. The heavy tanker includes features to help reduce firefighter fatigue, including electronic monitors and electric rewind hose reels. The government also provided 29 ultra heavy tankers, including the one at Moorooduc, valued at $440,000. The ultra-heavy tanker can carry 10,000 litres of water and will mainly be used to combat grass fires. “We are ensuring our volunteers have the equipment they need to look after their safety and that of the community, and I look forward to seeing the positive benefits the new tankers will bring to the brigade,” McIntosh said.
New planning scheme amendment adopted Cameron McCullough cameron@mpnews.com.au A PLANNING scheme amendment that allows for 1,200 new homes a year to be built on the peninsula was adopted by council at their meeting last week (6 August). The shire states the amendment C219morn provides a sustainable approach to housing on the Peninsula by: n directing future growth to areas close to shops, jobs, schools and public transport n ensuring all types of housing
can be accommodated (homes, units, apartments and residential aged care facilities) n protecting the Peninsula’s special values and character A shire release stated “Amendment C219morn meets the State Government’s draft housing targets under its long-term housing plan for Victoria. The amendment will provide for about 1,200 new homes per year to house our growing population which is expected to reach 180,000- 200,000 residents by 2036,” and insisted the new planning scheme would not affect the Green Wedge with the Urban Growth Boundary unchanged.
One speaker at the meeting, Lyle Ridout, expressed concern the changes would have adverse intentions on the housing market, not consistent with supplying an increased supply with the growing population of the peninsula. Having family in the Somerville area for 130 years, the new scheme would amend his family’s six acre lot from subdividable into one acre lots to now not subdividable at all, even though the property is within the Shire’s own Somerville Township Structure Plan. “The new amendment has changed the LDRZ (Low Density Residential Zone) for our property,” said Ridout.
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“The effect of that is that while we always intended to subdivide to accommodate members of our family on our existing and long-held family block, the new plan makes that impossible”. “We are not greed property developers. Just a long-standing family who want to carry on our family tradition. A plan that is now disrupted”. Ridout pointed out to councillor’s the planning panel’s recommendation 18 that suggested council should “review the Low Density Residential Zone areas as a matter of priority, to assess and identify areas that could accommodate an increase in develop-
ment density without materially impacting amenity or the environment.” The council only agreed to review LDRZ areas for the potential to accommodate more housing density as part of a future review, and not as part of the current planning scheme. “According to the shire’s town planning department, this could take up to another five years,” said Ridout. “The peninsula can’t wait an additional five years to open up land like ours to much-needed housing.” “A six-acre property is not farmland. It is a lifestyle property,” said Ridout. Continued Page 3
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