Joint Statement - Future Pesutto Government will rip up Labor's Wonthaggi overlay

Joint Statement – Future Pesutto Government will rip up Labor’s Wonthaggi overlay

James Newbury, Shadow Minister for Planning

John Pesutto, Leader of the Opposition

Sunday 26 May 2024

An elected Pesutto Government will rip up the planning amendment that Labor has imposed over hundreds of Wonthaggi homes.

In January, the Allan Labor Government approved Amendment C152basc to the Bass Coast Planning Scheme, which applied an Environmental Audit Overlay over hundreds of Wonthaggi homes.

The retrospective overlay imposes significant costs on homeowners, who will now be forced to rectify their land through a risk assessment statement and potentially a full environmental audit.

To date, residents who have paid tens of thousands of dollars to have their land assessed have failed to identify any contamination.

Despite significant concerns, the State Government, through the Environment Protection Authority has reportedly re-confirmed this week that there is not enough justification to amend or alter the Environmental Audit Overlay as it currently stands and assessments must be completed.

Leader of the Opposition, John Pesutto, said: “A future Liberals and Nationals Government I lead will not let Labor’s planning overlay stand.

“We will rip it up. Labor’s has callously attacked the homes of Wonthaggi residents and we will fix it.”

Shadow Minister for Planning, James Newbury, said: “A future Pesutto Government will rip up Labor’s Wonthaggi planning amendment, which has imposed a world of pain on hundreds of good, hardworking people.

“If you vote to change the Government, you will elect a Liberals and Nationals Government who will fix this.”

James Newbury, Shadow Minister for Planning

John Pesutto, Leader of the Opposition