Urban unsettlement

By Bridget Brady
The residents are furious that their small town lies in the investigation area to extend the Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) in the south-east and accommodate 134,000 new dwellings as part of the planning document Melbourne @ 5 million.
Their anger is twofold after hearing that they would face a bill of $95,000 per hectare if they wanted to sell.
The government’s infrastructure contribution scheme was “outrageous”, residents said.
Browns Road resident Margie Elliott said the tax was unjust and she was frightened about how subdivision would impact on her three-acre “patch of paradise”.
“It would be devastating to see our local community rezoned for suburban development,” Mrs Elliott said.
“It’s peaceful and private and lovely here. I don’t want to lose it.”
Resident Margaret Hili said she purchased her property 10 years ago with the purpose of retiring in peace.
“So the thought of having to sell to some developer to support Melbourne @ 5 million is not something we want to do,” Mrs Hili said.
The Growth Areas Authority (GAA) chief executive Peter Seamer has recently been quoted as saying the levy helps paying for infrastructure for new developments.
“Someone is making a lot of money out of this – it seems appropriate that they pay some portion of their windfall profit,” Mr Seamer said.
“We think this is just as fair and well balanced as we can possibly do it.”
Some Devon Meadows residents said they had only recently heard their properties were in the investigation area, and wanted as many people to know about it as possible.
“If people are aware they can put their voice forward. I can’t sit back and not have a voice,” Mrs Elliott said.
Ron Constantine said the residents would need to put up a fight if the proposal went ahead.
“All we want to do is preserve the existing subdivision. I have not got a gain to be made by subdivision, but at this stage it is only a proposal.”
The residents organised a letter drop to inform other landowners of the proposed UGB extension.
Roz Davy said the more people who knew about it, the better.
“Not many of us knew about this until a little while ago, and a lot still don’t know,” Ms Davy said.
The first stage of submissions closed on 20 February and a second public submissions process will be held up to May to consider the draft UGB.