Windsor shenanigans

The Victorian planning minister wasn’t letting much on at yesterday’s hearing about the stymied sham consultation process for the Windsor Hotel redevelopment. The Age reported that he “dodged” questions about whether he knew of the sham process before the now leaked email was circulated around the department.

The Age also believes that the Government Architect’s Office may have cooked up the scheme, not Justin Madden’s media advisers (who again didn’t show up at the hearing, despite being summoned). Premier Brumby wants any journos who know something to step forward and say it under oath. Liberal planning spokesperson Mattew Guy would like the GA to appear before an inquiry. The Age doesn’t divulge where it happened upon this information – another leak perhaps?

The gist of the memo at the centre of it all, to release a positive report on the redevelopment, and then use community disapproval as justification for refusing it hardly sounds odd. Isn’t it similar to to the lead up to local councils rejecting acceptable proposals that are too hot to touch, leaving the dirty work to the VCAT appeal? Passing responsibility to a tribunal that has no electorate to second guess the popular opinion of?

Meanwhile, the National Trust is appealing the planning department’s hasty post-email decision to approve the redevelopment… at VCAT.

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Posted by Peter on 30.04.10 in planners