The suburban towers being green-lit without community approval
A 17-storey community housing tower is set to transform Greensborough's skyline after the state government controversially pushed through the development and overrode council objections about the building's height and absence of family-friendly apartments.
The Allan government has frequently wielded its strengthened powers to bypass local councils and fast-track developments, directly approving 11 major residential projects this year alone as it seeks to speed up new approvals and meet ambitious housing targets.
This and other planning reforms centralising power have drawn the ire of councils, who argue community needs are not being adequately addressed.
The Greensborough apartment project was green-lit through the government's Development Facilitation Program (DFP), which allows Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny to bypass councils if a project makes a significant contribution to the economy or includes affordable housing, under changes made in September 2023.
The minister can also waive mandatory planning requirements related to building height, setbacks and garden areas. Decisions made by the minister under the provisions cannot be appealed to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).
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Kilkenny last month approved the tower, in Melbourne's north-east, which permits construction of more than 200 one- and two-bedroom apartments.
The homes, to be built above a Savers shop on Para Road, will be operated and managed by a community housing provider offering rental homes to people on low to moderate incomes.
'This project will ensure hundreds of Victorians will be able to live close to the things that matter to them – living in walking distance to the train station, buses, parks, schools, shops and services,' Kilkenny said.
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Sydney Morning Herald
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- Sydney Morning Herald
Government to consider changes to gas appliance ban
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The Age
20 hours ago
- The Age
Government to consider changes to gas appliance ban
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The Advertiser
a day ago
- The Advertiser
Liberal leader's unity call after $1.5m party bailout
A state Liberal leader is defending a million-dollar bailout to save his predecessor's political career and reunite his fractured party. The Victorian Liberals' administrative committee on Thursday night agreed to lend former leader John Pesutto $1.55 million to settle legal costs owed to first-term MP Moira Deeming. Opposition Leader Brad Battin voted to support the deal, with the money to be paid directly to Mrs Deeming and Mr Pesutto set to repay it at market-rate interest. Mr Battin denied he had effectively chosen to side with Mr Pesutto in his defamation dispute with Mrs Deeming, which has engulfed the party since March 2023. "I would say anyone that states that is factually wrong," he told reporters on Friday. "My side is on the Victorian Liberal Party to ensure we can put a line in the sand and move forward." Mr Pesutto was ordered to pay $2.3 million in legal costs to Mrs Deeming after the Federal Court found he defamed her by implying she was associated with neo-Nazis. It left him facing bankruptcy, which would have triggered his exit from parliament and a subsequent by-election in his marginal seat of Hawthorn, unless the debt was paid by the end of July. Mr Pesutto, who has already coughed up $315,000 in damages, had only raised about $750,000 through wealthy backers and a GoFundMe campaign. The loan for the remainder of the money is not drawn from party campaign or taxpayer funds. Political scientist Zareh Ghazarian said the party had "dodged a bullet" by avoiding a politically dangerous by-election. He said the public episode demonstrated deep divisions within the Liberals' parliamentary ranks and could have consequences at the ballot box. "All political parties have divisions ... but it's really important that the party appears united," the Monash University political lecturer told AAP. "I'm reminded of the line that Bob Hawke used in the lead up to the 1990 election that 'if you can't govern yourselves, you can't govern the country'." Dr Ghazarian said Mr Battin and the party had "plenty of time" to mend fences before the November 2026 election, but could not afford more internal spotfires. The next potential hiccup could come during candidate preselections, expected to start in September. Mr Battin plans to speak with his colleagues to stress the need to present a credible alternative to the Victorian Labor government, in power for all but four years since 1999. "I am confident we'll be going to the next election with a united team," he said. "Victorians are sick of the Liberal Party talking about the Liberal Party." Mrs Deeming, who was expelled from the Liberal party room over the furore before returning in December, did not appear to subscribe to Mr Battin's unity message. She compared her treatment to victims of institutional abuse. "They failed to protect her when she was attacked," Mrs Deeming posted. "They punished her for defending herself ... this is what institutional abuse looks like." Mr Battin said he would speak to Mrs Deeming, but refused to comment on the substance of her post. An offer to defer some of Mr Pesutto's legal bill in exchange for Mrs Deeming's guaranteed preselection and him swearing off trying to return as leader for three years was rejected. The proposed deal led to a complaint to the state's corruption watchdog, but Mrs Deeming denied claims of blackmail. Mr Pesutto said he was grateful and humbled by the committee's decision. "I am totally committed to continuing my work as the member for Hawthorn and also serving as a member of Brad's team," he said in a statement. Deputy Premier Ben Carroll was similarly relieved for Mr Pesutto and his family, but argued the "never-ending schoolyard spat" showed the Liberals were unfit to govern. A state Liberal leader is defending a million-dollar bailout to save his predecessor's political career and reunite his fractured party. The Victorian Liberals' administrative committee on Thursday night agreed to lend former leader John Pesutto $1.55 million to settle legal costs owed to first-term MP Moira Deeming. Opposition Leader Brad Battin voted to support the deal, with the money to be paid directly to Mrs Deeming and Mr Pesutto set to repay it at market-rate interest. Mr Battin denied he had effectively chosen to side with Mr Pesutto in his defamation dispute with Mrs Deeming, which has engulfed the party since March 2023. "I would say anyone that states that is factually wrong," he told reporters on Friday. "My side is on the Victorian Liberal Party to ensure we can put a line in the sand and move forward." Mr Pesutto was ordered to pay $2.3 million in legal costs to Mrs Deeming after the Federal Court found he defamed her by implying she was associated with neo-Nazis. It left him facing bankruptcy, which would have triggered his exit from parliament and a subsequent by-election in his marginal seat of Hawthorn, unless the debt was paid by the end of July. Mr Pesutto, who has already coughed up $315,000 in damages, had only raised about $750,000 through wealthy backers and a GoFundMe campaign. The loan for the remainder of the money is not drawn from party campaign or taxpayer funds. Political scientist Zareh Ghazarian said the party had "dodged a bullet" by avoiding a politically dangerous by-election. He said the public episode demonstrated deep divisions within the Liberals' parliamentary ranks and could have consequences at the ballot box. "All political parties have divisions ... but it's really important that the party appears united," the Monash University political lecturer told AAP. "I'm reminded of the line that Bob Hawke used in the lead up to the 1990 election that 'if you can't govern yourselves, you can't govern the country'." Dr Ghazarian said Mr Battin and the party had "plenty of time" to mend fences before the November 2026 election, but could not afford more internal spotfires. The next potential hiccup could come during candidate preselections, expected to start in September. Mr Battin plans to speak with his colleagues to stress the need to present a credible alternative to the Victorian Labor government, in power for all but four years since 1999. "I am confident we'll be going to the next election with a united team," he said. "Victorians are sick of the Liberal Party talking about the Liberal Party." Mrs Deeming, who was expelled from the Liberal party room over the furore before returning in December, did not appear to subscribe to Mr Battin's unity message. She compared her treatment to victims of institutional abuse. "They failed to protect her when she was attacked," Mrs Deeming posted. "They punished her for defending herself ... this is what institutional abuse looks like." Mr Battin said he would speak to Mrs Deeming, but refused to comment on the substance of her post. An offer to defer some of Mr Pesutto's legal bill in exchange for Mrs Deeming's guaranteed preselection and him swearing off trying to return as leader for three years was rejected. The proposed deal led to a complaint to the state's corruption watchdog, but Mrs Deeming denied claims of blackmail. Mr Pesutto said he was grateful and humbled by the committee's decision. "I am totally committed to continuing my work as the member for Hawthorn and also serving as a member of Brad's team," he said in a statement. Deputy Premier Ben Carroll was similarly relieved for Mr Pesutto and his family, but argued the "never-ending schoolyard spat" showed the Liberals were unfit to govern. A state Liberal leader is defending a million-dollar bailout to save his predecessor's political career and reunite his fractured party. The Victorian Liberals' administrative committee on Thursday night agreed to lend former leader John Pesutto $1.55 million to settle legal costs owed to first-term MP Moira Deeming. Opposition Leader Brad Battin voted to support the deal, with the money to be paid directly to Mrs Deeming and Mr Pesutto set to repay it at market-rate interest. Mr Battin denied he had effectively chosen to side with Mr Pesutto in his defamation dispute with Mrs Deeming, which has engulfed the party since March 2023. "I would say anyone that states that is factually wrong," he told reporters on Friday. "My side is on the Victorian Liberal Party to ensure we can put a line in the sand and move forward." Mr Pesutto was ordered to pay $2.3 million in legal costs to Mrs Deeming after the Federal Court found he defamed her by implying she was associated with neo-Nazis. It left him facing bankruptcy, which would have triggered his exit from parliament and a subsequent by-election in his marginal seat of Hawthorn, unless the debt was paid by the end of July. Mr Pesutto, who has already coughed up $315,000 in damages, had only raised about $750,000 through wealthy backers and a GoFundMe campaign. The loan for the remainder of the money is not drawn from party campaign or taxpayer funds. Political scientist Zareh Ghazarian said the party had "dodged a bullet" by avoiding a politically dangerous by-election. He said the public episode demonstrated deep divisions within the Liberals' parliamentary ranks and could have consequences at the ballot box. "All political parties have divisions ... but it's really important that the party appears united," the Monash University political lecturer told AAP. "I'm reminded of the line that Bob Hawke used in the lead up to the 1990 election that 'if you can't govern yourselves, you can't govern the country'." Dr Ghazarian said Mr Battin and the party had "plenty of time" to mend fences before the November 2026 election, but could not afford more internal spotfires. The next potential hiccup could come during candidate preselections, expected to start in September. Mr Battin plans to speak with his colleagues to stress the need to present a credible alternative to the Victorian Labor government, in power for all but four years since 1999. "I am confident we'll be going to the next election with a united team," he said. "Victorians are sick of the Liberal Party talking about the Liberal Party." Mrs Deeming, who was expelled from the Liberal party room over the furore before returning in December, did not appear to subscribe to Mr Battin's unity message. She compared her treatment to victims of institutional abuse. "They failed to protect her when she was attacked," Mrs Deeming posted. "They punished her for defending herself ... this is what institutional abuse looks like." Mr Battin said he would speak to Mrs Deeming, but refused to comment on the substance of her post. An offer to defer some of Mr Pesutto's legal bill in exchange for Mrs Deeming's guaranteed preselection and him swearing off trying to return as leader for three years was rejected. The proposed deal led to a complaint to the state's corruption watchdog, but Mrs Deeming denied claims of blackmail. Mr Pesutto said he was grateful and humbled by the committee's decision. "I am totally committed to continuing my work as the member for Hawthorn and also serving as a member of Brad's team," he said in a statement. Deputy Premier Ben Carroll was similarly relieved for Mr Pesutto and his family, but argued the "never-ending schoolyard spat" showed the Liberals were unfit to govern. A state Liberal leader is defending a million-dollar bailout to save his predecessor's political career and reunite his fractured party. The Victorian Liberals' administrative committee on Thursday night agreed to lend former leader John Pesutto $1.55 million to settle legal costs owed to first-term MP Moira Deeming. Opposition Leader Brad Battin voted to support the deal, with the money to be paid directly to Mrs Deeming and Mr Pesutto set to repay it at market-rate interest. Mr Battin denied he had effectively chosen to side with Mr Pesutto in his defamation dispute with Mrs Deeming, which has engulfed the party since March 2023. "I would say anyone that states that is factually wrong," he told reporters on Friday. "My side is on the Victorian Liberal Party to ensure we can put a line in the sand and move forward." Mr Pesutto was ordered to pay $2.3 million in legal costs to Mrs Deeming after the Federal Court found he defamed her by implying she was associated with neo-Nazis. It left him facing bankruptcy, which would have triggered his exit from parliament and a subsequent by-election in his marginal seat of Hawthorn, unless the debt was paid by the end of July. Mr Pesutto, who has already coughed up $315,000 in damages, had only raised about $750,000 through wealthy backers and a GoFundMe campaign. The loan for the remainder of the money is not drawn from party campaign or taxpayer funds. Political scientist Zareh Ghazarian said the party had "dodged a bullet" by avoiding a politically dangerous by-election. He said the public episode demonstrated deep divisions within the Liberals' parliamentary ranks and could have consequences at the ballot box. "All political parties have divisions ... but it's really important that the party appears united," the Monash University political lecturer told AAP. "I'm reminded of the line that Bob Hawke used in the lead up to the 1990 election that 'if you can't govern yourselves, you can't govern the country'." Dr Ghazarian said Mr Battin and the party had "plenty of time" to mend fences before the November 2026 election, but could not afford more internal spotfires. The next potential hiccup could come during candidate preselections, expected to start in September. Mr Battin plans to speak with his colleagues to stress the need to present a credible alternative to the Victorian Labor government, in power for all but four years since 1999. "I am confident we'll be going to the next election with a united team," he said. "Victorians are sick of the Liberal Party talking about the Liberal Party." Mrs Deeming, who was expelled from the Liberal party room over the furore before returning in December, did not appear to subscribe to Mr Battin's unity message. She compared her treatment to victims of institutional abuse. "They failed to protect her when she was attacked," Mrs Deeming posted. "They punished her for defending herself ... this is what institutional abuse looks like." Mr Battin said he would speak to Mrs Deeming, but refused to comment on the substance of her post. An offer to defer some of Mr Pesutto's legal bill in exchange for Mrs Deeming's guaranteed preselection and him swearing off trying to return as leader for three years was rejected. The proposed deal led to a complaint to the state's corruption watchdog, but Mrs Deeming denied claims of blackmail. Mr Pesutto said he was grateful and humbled by the committee's decision. "I am totally committed to continuing my work as the member for Hawthorn and also serving as a member of Brad's team," he said in a statement. Deputy Premier Ben Carroll was similarly relieved for Mr Pesutto and his family, but argued the "never-ending schoolyard spat" showed the Liberals were unfit to govern.
