By Tyler Wright
The length of the community consultation phase for Yarra Ranges Council’s proposed Urban Design Framework for Monbulk has been lengthened after concerns were raised at a council meeting on Tuesday 13 December.
A representative for the “growing number of people concerned” about the framework and suggested an extension to the public exhibition process.
“As several weeks of this proposed exhibition are in the holiday period, we feel it needs to be extended another four weeks at least being its the holiday period, as it will have a major impact on Monbulk residents’ lives with work [and] freedoms,” the speaker said.
The framework includes three main precincts; Main Road, Monbulk Civic and Moores Road.
It also includes the redevelopment of the St Georges Anglican Church forecourt, the activation of a Village Green and new sporting facilities.
The speaker asked for the council, in the draft, to clarify the definition of the terms ‘precincts’ and ‘preferred development character’ in the framework and who defines what these terms.
“Point 11 mentions electric vehicle stations – how does the electric vehicle station conflict with the intersection treatments?,” the speaker said.
“What is an intersection treatment and how is it risky to electric vehicle stations?
“What are the safeguards for electric charging stations within close proximity to the main street in light of recent explosions across the world [from] electric vehicles that can’t be extinguished?”
Chandler Ward Councillor David Eastham approved the amended motion for the draft Monbulk Urban Design Framework to be placed on public exhibition between 16 December 2022 12 March 2023, two weeks after its original completion date of 26 February 2023.
“[I’m] hearing from the gallery a bit of frustration about the time…as someone who has spent a lot of time working in community engagement and a lot of time also working in the Monbulk community I hear the submitters reasons around extending it, and we’ve extended it into March,” Cr Eastham said.
‘But also I have confidence that those that would want to have a say would be made aware of it through the engagement plan, that there will be opportunity for people of all demographics and abilities to have their say; whether that be through the drop in sessions, whether it be through online submission, whether it be flicking through an email around your thoughts.”
Cr Eastham also said the council can be absorbed in the language used in reports, including terms like ‘book ending’ which was used in the draft framework.
“I think tonight was a good reminder that we’ve got to use plain language and language…we’ve got to use language that everyone understands,“ he said.
“We want young people, we want people of all ages to be providing feedback on this, because to the submitter’s point, this is a substantial piece of work that is going to help shape the future of Monbulk.”
“This has been something that has had involvement from community, whether it be from 10 years ago when the community embarked on their community planning process which involved hundreds and hundreds of local community members that came together to talk about what they saw as the future of Monbulk, from there it led to the structure plan which had a lot more community engagement, through to now, the urban design framework.”
“This is not something that’s come about from one consultant…this has been driven by the community.”
The next important step of the process, Cr Eastham said, is getting the draft which includes public transport concerns and aged care, out into the community for consultation.
“We’ve heard a lot over the last decade, we’ve spent a lot of time putting those concepts onto paper and now we want to hear back from the community; ‘what do you love?, what don’t you love?’ this is that opportunity, and I’ll look forward to hearing from the community about what they see is an ‘absolute winner, love the idea’ or ‘hey, not really a fan of that, can you a) explain it or b) consider an alternate option.”
Cr Eastham also said once the plans are finalised, the council will not be able to commence works straight away.
“There might be a few small wins that we can incorporate from exisitng budgets, but this is going to provide us with that platform to advocate to state and federal government for funding,” he said.
Ryrie Ward Councillor Fiona McAllister seconded the motion.
“These are very important documents and they’re not just pieces of paper, they’re frameworks that do impact – hopefully positively – on the lives of community,” Cr McAllister said.
“They do requite at the end, in terms of planning scheme amendments, quite a lot of language that is difficult to understand, so I do appreciate our submitter tonight putting a case for something that helps community to actually have a voice and a view based on understanding.
“Planning decisions that we make are, as I always say, probably the most difficult and the most important, and design frameworks are no different, so I do look forward to hearing community feedback on this and pleased that it’s going out for consultation.”
The alternative motion was carried unanimously.
