FROM:  ST JOHNS HEIGHTS ACTION GROUP

(Casey Council)

September 2006

TO WHOM IT CONCERNS

In March 2006 a planning application was lodged in our neighbourhood to construct 25 terrace style dwellings on 7000m2 of vacant land.

This application was met with a lot of disbelief and anger towards the original land developer-Stocklands- who had sold this parcel of land off to Metricon without any restrictions.  The entire estate surrounding this land had been sold with very strict covenants and design guidelines which we were told would also apply to this land!  So this new development would not be in keeping with the existing neighbourhood and raised a lot of planning, safety and environmental issues.

The neighbourhood quickly came together and formed an action group- we informed as many people as possible including local media and our councillors.  We lodged our objections but what else could we do?………this is when we contacted Jack Davis of

 Ratepayers Victoria.

Jack was a wealth of information, support and guided us in unfamiliar territory.  He attended meetings with us and arranged for an independent town planner to speak at a meeting with our local Councillors to give them a community perspective on why this development should not be approved.

At our planning council meeting this proposed application was refused a building permit – a unanimous decision.  Our action group and neighbourhood are delighted and feel that this outcome is largely due to Rate Payers Victoria.

 A very big thank you to Jack Davis & Bill McDonald.

RATEPAYERS VICTORIA, Inc. A0040924M - PO BOX 1057 Huntingdale, Victoria 3166