A CLOUD of uncertainty has been lifted from a further 291 properties in Wonthaggi’s troubled north-east residential growth area.
On Friday afternoon, June 28, Bass Coast Shire Council advised that the first tranche of properties assessed by its environmental contractor PRENSA had been given the all clear with more to follow.
Homeowners in Cavil Drive in the Summerfields Estate, George and Anastasia Parlamentas, were unaware their property had passed its environmental assessment but were nonetheless delighted.
"Really, we knew nothing about it. Are they going to send us out a notice to advise us," said George Parlamentas.
"But yes, it's a relief. It just proves it never should have happened in the first place," said Anastasia.
"I knew there was no contamination. My garden is thriving," she said.
"My concern now is what impact this will have on Wonthaggi and people who might have looked at coming here," said Mr Parlamentas.
The Preliminary Risk Screen Assessments (PRSA) were required after the Victorian Planning Authority retrospectively applied highly restrictive planning overlays to the titles of 627 properties in Wonthaggi's North-East development precinct on January 18, 2024, many of them well-established home sites that had already passed through all of the planning and building approvals necessary as many as five years ago or more.
Having acknowledged the mistake, the Minister for Planning Sonya Kilkenny has untertaken to introduce separate amendments to the Bass Coast Shire Planning Scheme everytime a new tranche of cleared properties come forward.
The shire says it might take as much as two weeks to have the offending Environmental Audit Overlays (EAOs) removed from titles but it could come as early as this coming week.
Bass MP Jordan Crugnale has assured those impacted by the unfair imposition of EAOs by the government that the blight on titles will be removed as soon as possible.
"Next week, PRENSA will provide the report for the remaining properties in the balance of Parklands and Powlett Ridge. I will continue to work to expedite the planning scheme amendment for this tranche and any cleared thereafter," Ms Crugnale said on social media on Friday.
Here is the statement from Bass Coast CEO Greg Box:
“I am writing today to provide you with further good news on the issue of the Wonthaggi North-East Environmental Audit Overlay.
“Today we received the report from our Environmental Auditor PRENSA for Northern Views and Summerfields Estates. These 291 properties have been cleared with no further investigations required. A report has also been prepared for Parklands Stage 7, this report was commissioned by the developer and also states that no further investigations are required, this report covered 21 properties. These areas are indicated on the map (attached).
“I have written to the Planning Minister today to request they facilitate a planning scheme amendment to remove the Environmental Audit Overlay (EAO) from these properties.
“Next week, PRENSA will provide the report for the remaining properties in the balance of Parklands and Powlett Ridge. I will also advise as soon as we are notified of the Planning Minister’s decision with regard to the removal of the overlay for those properties cleared. This may take up to two weeks.
“Thank you once again for your patience. Please feel welcome to contact our planning team at planningapplications@basscoast.vic.gov.au or 5671 2211 during business matters if you have any questions or matters you wish to discuss. Kind regards, Greg Box, Chief Executive Officer, Bass Coast Shire Council.”
