At the first council meeting I ever attended as lead organiser of YIMBY Melbourne, 39 new homes were blocked.

I hadn’t chosen the meeting because I’d expected this to happen; I’d chosen the meeting to speak in favour of converting a derelict heritage house into two townhouses, which was ultimately approved. But what I saw there that evening stunned me: the squeaky wheel of local opposition had moved the council to make a real reduction in housing approvals.