Chance to correct PSP inconsistencies

Residents are being urged to have their say on the future planning of Warragul and Drouin during a review of the Precinct Structure Plans for both towns.

The protection of trees, neighbourhood character, residential density, the interface between rural and urban areas, roads, parks and trails are all issues that have come under attack during planning applications for major developments since the PSPs were adopted in 2014.

Cr Tricia Jones, who was on council when they were adopted, admitted the PSP process in 2014 was flawed.

“PSPs in other areas took years yet ours were done in a couple of months. I was a part of it and at the time it seemed a normal process.

“Unfortunately, its implementation has been fraught with inconsistency, frustration and disappointment,” she said.

Mayor Danny Goss said the review was an opportunity to improve and align the PSPs with current needs and aspirations for residential developments in Drouin and Warragul.

“We’re also aiming to better address other important issues such as vegetation protection, preservation of rural character and interface issues with farming zones,” he said.

Cr Goss said there were a lot of positives about the PSP such as the road networks and neighbourhood parks that provided a lot of certainty to developers and the community.

Cr Goss said he was one of the 1200 property owners who received a letter about the PSPs in 2014 and the letter didn’t say much.

He said people needed to be told “we are going to change your town forever and we are inviting them to have their say.”

“People must have their say, this is a serious situation.

“This is your chance to have your say on reversing some of the things in the PSP.

“I hear people say where are the parks and trails. Here is an opportunity to add the Brooker Park extension to the PSP,” he said.

Cr Joe Gauci said the PSPs were put in place because of the high growth rates occurring in Warragul and Drouin at the time.

“Whether you love them or not, they are there. There needed to be a surety on how we progressed with housing lots.

“If there were no PSPs, we would probably only have half the development that we have.

“There are many, many different ideas and views out there but they are useless unless they come forward. I don’t want to hear those words we didn’t get to have a say.

Cr Gauci said some aspects of the PSPs won’t be able to be challenged or changed. But, he said, there were aspects that could be adapted to suit Baw Baw.

“We have to be pro-active to achieve the best results for our community,” he said.

Cr Jessica O’Donnell said it was extremely important for the community to be part of this journey and provide feedback to council.

She said council wanted to hear about the vegetation protection overlay and neighbourhood character.

“What to our towns look like and what do we want our towns to look like in the future.

“We hear about the Pakenhamisation of our towns and the cookie cutter development. We need to be specific in our planning schemes we get the towns people want,” she said.

Cr Peter Kostos said there was extensive consultation at the time of the PSPs being introduced but not a lot of people understood what it meant.

“This is an opportunity to have your say. The PSP might be set in concrete but there maybe things that can be changed,” he said.