Media Statements
Statement - Liberals and Nationals secure partial backflip on Labor's harmful Wonthaggi planning overlay but other left in limbo
Statement – Liberals and Nationals secure partial backflip on Labor’s harmful Wonthaggi planning overlay but other left in limbo
James Newbury, Shadow Minister for Planning
21 June 2024.
After hurting hundreds of hardworking families in Wonthaggi for months, the Allan Labor Government has partially backflipped on their own earlier decision and removed a mistaken Environmental Audit Overlay.
Earlier this year, the Minister for Planning approved an Amendment to the Bass Coast Planning Scheme, which applied a retrospective Environmental Audit Overlay on land they claimed was potentially contaminated.
The overlay impacted hundreds of properties, many of which are existing built homes. Homeowners were forced to commence rectification works through risk assessments, which can cost tens of thousands of dollars to complete.
As homeowners began the rectification process, not a single one was found to be contaminated.
In May, the Victorian Liberals and Nationals visited affected homeowners and committed that a future Pesutto Government would not let Labor’s planning overlay stand and would rip it up.
Today, the Minister has announced the removal of some properties from the overlay, but left others in limbo.
Shadow Minister for Planning, James Newbury, said: “Labor’s Minister for Planning and the Member for Bass have hurt hundreds of hardworking people for months and then only partly backflipped.
“After causing months of pain and uncertainty for local residents with a false claim that this land was contaminated, Labor has today admitted they got it wrong.
“But instead of properly fixing their own mistake, the Allan Labor Government is ripping the band-aid off slowly, only removing the overlay from some properties.
“The Allan Labor Government must stop hurting Wonthaggi residents and fully remove the overlay now, as the Liberals and Nationals have already committed to do.”
James Newbury, Shadow Minister for Planning