City of Berwick councillor Geoff Ablett met with Planning Minister Matthew Guy this month to discuss ways to save prime agricultural land in Clyde.By Bridget Cook
THE City of Casey council is set to take further steps in a bid to save prime agriculture land in Clyde, while welcoming the opening of more land in Cranbourne South for development.
Last week Minister for Planning Matthew Guy unveiled the Growth Corridor Plans and Logical Inclusions Advisory Committee report, confirming that land known as Brompton Lodge in Cranbourne South has been included in the Urban Growth Boundary (UGB).
While the council has supported the inclusion of this land in the UGB for future development, it was disappointed that the report did not address the council’s request for the UGB to be retracted to protect important agriculture land in Clyde.
The council has consistently advocated that important agricultural land in Clyde should be excluded from the UBG, and submitted this view to State Government and to the Logical Inclusion and Exclusions Advisory Committee.
However the report now says that the land indentified as the Casey Exclusion Area should remain in the UGB until a decision on any further review is undertaken – something the State Government has not agreed upon.
At Tuesday night’s council meeting, councillors resolved to write to Mr Guy requesting that a process be established to allow full consideration of Casey’s exclusion area.
The council also resolved to request a meeting with Mr Guy to discuss mechanisms that will allow agricultural businesses to remain viable within the City of Casey.
Cr Geoff Ablett said the council intends raising with Mr Guy the idea of allowing landowners within the UGB to apply for a non-development overlay on their land.
“This so they can continue to use the land for agriculture purposes, without being forced off the land due to the higher rates,” he said.
Cr Ablett said he believed this idea would work as it would give landowners choice.
“Casey could provide people with a choice,” he said.
“Basically at the moment we have so many resident in the farming, horse and cattle raising business who don’t wish for their land to be developed in the future,” he said.
“These people are being forced off their land due to the high rates.
“This would protect farmers in Clyde who wish to stay farming.”
The State Government did not respond to the News enquiry in relation to protecting Clyde agriculture land.
The completed Growth Corridor Plans, which were unveiled in conjunction with the Logical Inclusions Advisory Committee report, paves the way for the Casey growth area to move into a new era.
Mr Guy said the South East Growth Corridor Plan made provision for a population of 230,000 and at least 86,000 jobs.
“This will ensure the area is positioned as the central hub of an emerging sub-regional economic triangle comprising Dandenong, the Casey-Cardinia employment area and the Port of Hastings,” he said.
The Growth Corridor Plans also identify a proposed high level transport network to link Casey residents to jobs and attract investment to the region.
Mr Guy said the plans would pave the way for delivery of attractive places for people to live and work.
“The future of Melbourne’s south east is one where people living in our new suburbs have access to local jobs, town centres and the services they need to live a great lifestyle,” he said.
