Panel hearings over for Sunbury’s precinct stucture plans

MORE than 40 parties spoke to a 43-day Planning Panels Victoria panel hearing on Sunbury’s growth over the next 30 years. What now?

MORE than 40 parties have spoken to the 43-day Planning Panels Victoria panel hearing on the Lancefield Rd and Sunbury South Precinct Structure Plans.

The hearings finished last Wednesday.

The Victorian Planning Authority (VPA) prepared the two initial PSPs with $800 million on development levies to fund local infrastructure.

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The Lancefield Rd land applies to 1095ha, while another 1798ha is set aside for Sunbury South.

The subject land plans include 20,000 more homes, seven new primary schools and three secondary colleges.

Since the release of the PSPs late in 2016, the main public contention has been land owned by the Salesian Order, known as Jacksons Creek Valley.

Several organisations have weighed into the appropriateness of that site for development in a campaign led by Sunbury Residents’ Association vice-president Trevor Dance, with conservational and historical significance among concerns.

With the ministerial direction hearing complete, the panel has 40 working days from October 18 to prepare a report.

The VPA will then look at the recommendations and may make adjustments to the PSPs from this advice.

Ministerial sign-off is expected next year.

Meanwhile the draft Jacksons Hill Master Plan is also under preparation from the VPA with a community consultation process to follow.