Big win for the Carter family

They'll keep their land in Marong


Article heading image for Big win for the Carter family

MINISTER REJECTS COMPULSORY ACQUISITION AT MARONG

The Carter family in Marong will keep their land after 16 years of conversation around the compulsory acquisition for a Marong Business Park. That planning scheme amendment in Bendigo has now been rejected by the Minister for Planning Richard Wynne.


The City of Greater Bendigo had sought a Public Acquisition Overlay 6 (PAO6) to the 311 hectare site identified for the Business Park to facilitate the compulsory acquisition of the land.


The land is owned by the Carter family, who clearly indicated to the Council that they did not wish to sell.


The Minister determined that the acquisition overlay did not strike the appropriate balance between the wishes of the landowners and the future commercial potential of the site. Community views were also considered in the decision.


The Victorian Planning Authority will now work with the City of Greater Bendigo to look at other ways to secure suitable land for businesses in the Bendigo area.

Greater Bendigo’s population is expected to increase from 110,000 to 145,000 people by 2030. The population of Marong township is also expected to increase from 1,300 people to 8,000 over 20 years.


Minister for Planning Richard Wynne
“The proposed land acquisition by the Council was well intentioned but ignored the strongly held views of the land owners and was not justified in the circumstances”.
“The Victorian Planning Authority will now work with the Council at looking at alternative sites or a major business park elsewhere and the jobs this will create for Bendigo.”

Member for Bendigo West Maree Edwards
“I’ll continue to work with the Council on boosting jobs and ensuring Bendigo remains a great place to live – all the while bringing the community along with us.”

 

Hear what TAMRIE CARTER had to say about the decision here:

11 July 2018




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