Council calls on Minister to act on Waverley Park powerline dispute

Published on 01 October 2015

Waverley Park powerlines

Monash Council will write to the Minister for Planning expressing its dissatisfaction with the lack of progress in resolving the Waverley Park powerlines dispute.

Monash Mayor Paul Klisaris said residents and property owners should not have to wait any longer for a decision on whether developer Mirvac will be required to put the estate’s high-voltage powerlines underground.

Cr Klisaris said residents and Council had been waiting since earlier this year to find out the Minister’s position on the issue. The recommendations of an Independent Advisory Committee were provided to the Minister months ago, yet residents and Council are still waiting to find out what the recommendations are and to hear the Minister’s response.

“The residents and homeowners of Waverley Park shouldn’t be left in limbo any longer,” Cr Klisaris said.

“They deserve what they were promised years ago in the Contracts of Sale they signed to purchase their properties,” he said.

“People weigh up lots of factors when they choose to purchase properties and many of these people may have decided not to live in Waverley Park if they thought their homes would be near ugly high-voltage powerlines.

“They were promised the powerlines would be put underground but now Mirvac is seeking to renege on that promise.

“We stand firmly with the residents in their fight to get this developer to fulfil the legal and moral commitments it made.”

In its letter to the Minister Richard Wynne, Council will ask for a date on which the Minister will indicate his position on the powerlines matter.

In 2002, Mirvac was issued a planning permit to develop the Waverley Park estate. Condition 50 of the permit required that the high voltage powerlines be placed underground. Mirvac is seeking permission from the Government to remove that condition from its permit.

Timeline of dispute

  • In August 2002, Mirvac Ltd was issued a Planning Permit to develop the Waverley Park estate. Condition 50 of the permit requires that high-voltage powerlines be placed underground
  • Between 2002 and December 2008, 600 homes were sold on the basis the powerlines would be underground (included in Section 32 sale document)
  • From 15 December 2008, Mirvac began marketing new homes on the basis that powerlines “might” be put underground
  • In September 2009, Mirvac lodged an application with the Minister for Planning to amend the 2002 Planning Permit, to remove Condition 50 and have the powerlines remain above ground
  • Application withdrawn by Mirvac in 2010
  • Community rallies to form strong campaign, residents group begins May 2011
  • Residents’ petition with more than 800 signatures tabled in Victorian Parliament and at Monash Council in May 2012
  • August 2013: Mirvac submitted a second application to amend the 2002 Planning Permit
  • April 2014: the then Planning Minister Matthew Guy refused the application
  • May 2014: Mirvac lodges an appeal with VCAT against the Minister’s decision
  • August 2014: the then Minister for Planning exercised his statutory powers and called in the matter to be heard in front of an Independent Advisory Committee in place of the VCAT hearing
  • December 2014: the Independent Advisory Committee held public hearings
  • Mid-February 2015: the Committee delivered its recommendations to the current Minister for Planning Richard Wynne

Media Contact: Jo Robertson 0418 391 979 or email joanne.robertson@monash.vic.gov.au

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