"We are looking at an imminent wildlife disaster of unprecedented proportions in Victoria. The situation is growing so serious for species, especially kangaroos, that I cannot keep up with the calls I receive for help and our volunteers are stretched to the limits on the frontiers of encroaching suburbia, dealing with a sort of 'animal apocalypse'. Wildlife corridors are the only answer, but Mr Madden, the Minister for Planning's plans, should he succeed in getting them through parliament, would cut off this final escape from extinction." (Maryland Wilson, Australian Wildlife Protection Council, July 14, 2009.)
Organisations unite to oppose GAIC legislation: Angry landowners and Taxed Out supporters will rally against the Brumby Government’s Growth Areas Infrastructure Contribution (GAIC) bill, currently before Parliament, tomorrow on the steps of Parliament House (Melbourne) at 1.00pm. The rally has been called by Taxed Out and will be supported by Protectors of Public Lands Victoria, Planning Backlash and the Green Wedges Coalition, who have candobetter.org's support. Note however that the Australian Property Institute, the 
"My concern is that a DAC is being treated almost like a court, judging from the answers the minister has given -- that is, somehow one can show contempt towards the DAC and this is referred to as 'detriment'. Clearly the DAC is not a court. I would like the minister to elaborate on this point: what constitutes detriment, who makes this decision and will there be guidelines?" (Mrs PEULICH (South Eastern Metropolitan) [Hansard] )
The Development Assessment Committees (DACs) Bill will be represented in Parliament on 10 November. It is therefore a good time to publish a belated response to an article by Jennifer Cunich of the Australian Property Council, canning the community for standing up for their rights against these attempts to pass the undemocratic DACs laws against their property and freedom. 
This article is based on notes taken by a person who attended the Environment Defenders Office workshop on Victoria's new Major Transport Projects Facilitation Legislation - Tuesday 29 September 2009. It is helpful that the EDO has paid attention to this problem, since the problem is created by lawyers in parliament. The keynote speaker at this occasion was Ms Nicola Rivers Law Reform and Policy Director at Environment Defenders Office
EDO Seminar Series 2009
Shadow Minister for Planning Matthew Guy will today ask the Parliament’s all-powerful Finance and Public Administration Committee to call the Planning Minister and the Growth Areas Authority (GAA) to appear before it to urgently explain the proposed Growth Areas Infrastructure Contribution (GAIC) that will have damaging effects on Victorian families. See 
David Davis MP will introduce his resolution for the Outer Suburban/Interface Services and Development Committee of Parliament to hold an enquiry into the Extension of the Urban Growth Boundary at 10:30 am on Wednesday 29 July 2009 in the Upper House. Concerned citizens are urged to attend parliament to watch as our representatives argue the toss of our remaining quality of life and environment in Melbourne. A link is also provided to listen on-line. See also: 
What do children, bandicoots, Melbourne's Green Wedges and the Garden of Eden have in common? This poignant submission to a developer-dominated government about a children and bandicoots' garden goes right back to the garden of Eden, retold again and again, this time in Uno's garden and a garden with 'protected' bandicoots near Clyde, Victoria, on the edge of the Green Wedge.
You tube video inside of Michael Hocking's speech about the GAIC tax which Planning Minister Madden wants to inflict on the people who live in the Green Wedges which he wants to rezone for urban development. 
Shortly after his lunch with the "Progressive Business Association" must have ended, Mr Madden, who apparently departed shyly out the back door, looked surprised to be intercepted and presented with the resolutions of the Bastille Day Rally against Urban Expansion and Rotten taxes by Julianne Bell, Rosemary West and Jill Quirk, acting on behalf of the environment and democracy.
Full steam ahead. Vast increase in population and infrastructure. Vast decrease in democracy. There is no plan B. Minister Pallas assured the audience they would secure the necessary environmental approvals/considerations. The EES is not a yes or no process. International migration levels never seen before...address future labour force. Long term drivers - migration. Health infrastructure needed - maternity wards. Taxpayers to bail-out developers to continue even more malignant growth. Hastings doomed according to plan. 
"Frankston Beach Association [has] grave concerns as to the financial, environmental and social probity of this proposed [marina]. This proposed development is flawed, and if it fails, the Frankston community will pay the price. We are currently witnessing the financial failure of 'iconic' developments world wide. The community of Frankston can ill afford a financial, environmental and social disaster on their doorstep at this time. We respectfully request that our concerns carefully detailed in our 'Comments and Review of the proposed Frankston C50 Planning Scheme Amendment' dated 17 December 2008, be individually and properly considered and be factually responded to."
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