Panel hearing begins

By Kath Gannaway
THE Panel Hearing for submissions to Yarra Ranges Council’s proposed C97 Planning Amendment commenced at Montrose last week.
Yarra Ranges Council requested the Minister for Planning to appoint a panel following the public exhibition of the amendment and written submissions from the public.
In view of the many and differing views in the submissions, Yarra Ranges Council called for an independent assessment.
The C97 Amendment – Housing Strategy Planning Scheme Amendment – will affect most townships in Yarra Ranges, and the planning panel’s role is to collate and assess all the information and make recommendations to council.
The panel of John Keaney, Maxine Cooper and Chris Harty is appointed by the State Government, and have the task of reading every submission and hearing from those submitters, who wish to personally represent their view. They are expected over the five-day hearing to hear from as many as 30 submitters.
The final three days of hearings will take place at Montrose Town Centre on Wednesday and Thursday of this week, and on Friday at Yarra Ranges Council offices at Lilydale. Hearings start at 10am. The panel will prepare a report for consideration by Yarra Ranges Council which is expected to happen over the next few months.