RESIDENTS have started a watchdog-style Facebook page focussed on “inappropriate” developments in the Mornington Peninsula’s green wedge zone.
The Peninsula Green Wedge Protection Group. (PGWPG) was formed to oppose an application to build a $4.5 million Hindu temple on green wedge land in Pearcedale. That case is going to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal in September.
The group, headed by Pearcedale resident Craig Gobbi, has now started a new social media campaign to highlight all inappropriate planning applications within the peninsula’s green wedge zoned areas. “We are now being contacted by more and more people and groups that are involved in similar battles to our own. While I am very happy to help where I can, our little group hasn’t the time or man power to run another campaign. What we can do is bring all of these groups together,” he said. “People can quickly and easily see what is happening in their area and where they can become more actively involved to help out an existing group or indeed form a new group.”
Green wedge zones are non-urban properties outside of the urban growth boundary. “It is vital to preserve these areas for their agricultural, environmental, historical, recreational, community health and landscape value,” Gobbi said. “Once lost to shopping centres, service stations, housing estates and other large-scale, inappropriate developments, they can never be replaced.”.
“Green wedge planning provisions are in place to recognise and protect these unique non-urban parcels of land. These provisions are not always enough to stop the approval of large-scale developments as planning protections are diluted, areas are rezoned, boundaries shift, and big businesses use their power and financial advantage to override objections.”
Gobbi said the group aimed to create community awareness of threats to the green wedge and, through the council objection process and VCAT, prevent fragmentation of the peninsula’s green areas.
Details: planningapplicationwatch.org
First published in the Mornington News – 28th May 2024
