Victorians say 'lazy planning' leading to poor social housing outcomes
Residents living near a proposed social housing project by central Victorian traditional owner group Djaara, in the regional Victorian city of Bendigo, say the state government's fast-tracked planning process is allowing "lazy planning" to go ahead without sufficient scrutiny.
Djaara, the trading name for the Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation, is proposing 34 one and two-storey houses for about 75 people at the site of the old North Bendigo Primary School on Nolan Road.
But neighbouring residents said Victorians should be able to question planning applications and oppose conditions when there are other alternatives.
"We recognise that social housing is needed in Victoria. We know we're under-housed," resident Ben Pengilley said.
"But there's a number of issues that we don't agree with.
"The opportunities to object to poor planning should be there, and the reality is we've got a planning document that is going to greatly affect hundreds of residents here in North Bendigo."
Concept drawings show 34 houses would be built on the site of the old North Bendigo Primary School. (Supplied: Djaara)
In December last year the Victorian government awarded Djaara $21.6 million for the project.
Among the residents' concerns was that the land owned by the Department of Education and Training had been repurposed for social housing without consultation, going against a Victorian government-backed 2019 public space plan that slated the site as parkland.
"I feel for some of the people in the area who I know have bought their house according to that Victorian government document," Mr Pengilley said.
"That's not transparent. That's changing the rules.
"And in the words of a lot of these politicians nowadays, they all say they want to be transparent."
Mr Pengilley's neighbour Michael Jurca said Barney Street was already full of Bendigo Health workers needing all-day parking and did not have the space for more vehicles without negatively affecting residents.
"If you have visitors or services we already have to move the car three or four streets away," Mr Jurca said.
Neighbouring residents say current traffic plans don't properly address the increased traffic conditions. (ABC News: Tyrone Dalton)
Fast-track planning an election sore point
The proposal is expected to go before Planning Minister Sonja Kilkenny as part of the Victorian government's Development Facilitation Program, which fast-tracks priority projects such as housing and renewable energy developments.
The program has taken planning powers away from local councils and strips residents of the right to object at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
Djaara's Transport Impact Assessment (TIA) submitted to the Victorian government shows its consultants, Impact Traffic Engineering, used a New South Wales report to illustrate its assumptions of vehicle movements by each house, each day.
Mr Pengilley said the TIA was another example of lazy planning.
"That is just ticking a box, making sure they meet some sort of requirement. But let's be realistic, why isn't it a Victorian planning traffic management plan?" Mr Pengilley said.
Residents say they bought next to the old primary school site when it was designated for parkland, not social housing. (ABC News: Tyrone Dalton)
The City of Greater Bendigo said it supported the application in principle, but environmental constraints and remediation of the site needed "further consideration".
In a letter to residents, the city's senior transport engineer Muaid Ahmed said a review by the city's engineering unit "identified that while the TIA estimates the additional traffic generated by the development, it does not provide a detailed assessment of existing traffic conditions or future traffic conditions following development".
Sonya Kilkenny will decide whether the social housing project gets the green light. (AAP: Joel Carrett)
In a statement, Djaara's acting chief executive officer Harley Douglas said its housing provider subsidiary, Mayam Mayam, would review any submissions received and consider how best to respond, in consultation with the Department of Transport and Planning.
"We are unable to comment on how Mayam Mayam might respond to any concerns without having seen them," he said.
Municipal Association of Victoria president Jennifer Anderson has been contacted for comment.
Program getting affordable homes where needed
A Victorian government spokesperson said it was getting more affordable and social homes fast-tracked through the Development Facilitation Program, and that was providing a home for those who need it most.
"Any proposal will be considered on its merits. As this project is currently under assessment, it would be inappropriate to comment further," the spokesperson said.
Member for Northern Victoria, Gaelle Broad, said a Victorian Liberal-National coalition would return planning powers to local councils if elected in November.
She said Victorians should be able to have a say on planning matters.
"We think it's important to have a say in what's going on in your backyard and having less control from Melbourne," she said.
The Coalition did not respond to a request for comment on whether it would abolish the Development Facilitation Program or return the right of appeal to residents and councils.
If approved, construction on the Nolan Road project is scheduled to begin in the middle of next year and be completed by the end of 2028.
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