By JESSE GRAHAM
PLANS to expand Coldstream in the coming decade have hit a roadblock, with both major parties pledging to lock down Green Wedge areas if they win the election.
On 28 October, Labor’s Shadow Planning Minister, Brian Tee, announced that all Green Wedge boundaries would be preserved “for the life of a Labor Government”, if elected on 29 November.
The announcement sounded alarm bells for long-time Coldstream resident and business owner Mario Galteri who, with others, has been campaigning for an expansion of the town by re-drawing Green Wedge and Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) areas.
“It would pose an enormous problem if it was a blanket decision – it would mean that Coldstream would never, ever develop,” he said.
“Everything was looking good until today’s announcement.”
Coldstream’s main housing estate and town centre is ringed by the UGB, with Green Wedge areas surrounding, and little room is left for further housing or business development.
“Coldstream is locked in – it’s got no vacant land, apart from an area around the IGA,” Mr Galteri said.
Labor’s Evelyn candidate, Peter Harris, confirmed that all Green Wedge areas would be completely locked down under an elected Labor Government.
“Some might want to change the boundaries and shrink the land, like the Napthine Government has done.
“Others will argue it should be larger, but by locking down these boundaries, we feel we have the balance right,” he said.
Mr Galteri said he believed the matter could be a vote-changer for residents wanting an expansion, provided the Coalition would support potentially re-drawing the boundaries.
However, Evelyn MP and Liberal candidate, Christine Fyffe, said her party was also against changing the Green Wedge areas.
She said the town had other options for its future development, which would not require changing the areas.
“As far as Coldstream goes, there are opportunities for more houses and I think it will benefit the whole town,” she said.
“However, that has to be carefully managed so we don’t remove arable land.”
Mr Harris said that, if expansion was to occur in the town, it would be a “very long-term process”, and that he also believed the town had other options.
“I believe there are many other ways to revitalise the area and these can be implemented in the shorter term,” he said.
“I think the first step in revitalising the area will be engaging the community and trying to make sure that the residents that are already there are using the services that exist.”
The Yarra Ranges Council facilitated meetings throughout 2013 and this year discussing proposals for Coldstream’s future – including the possibility of expansion.
In March, Managing Director of Hansen Partnership, David Barnes, discussed the matter in a meeting at the council chambers, and said the proposal would be an uphill battle.
He said that, for the proposal to be considered, the council would have to support the expansion, as would the Planning Minister, and then an amendment to the Regional Strategy Plan would have to become an act of parliament and pass both houses.
The council is currently working on a structure plan for the town.
