The Victorian State Government has stepped in to overrule a council on environmental planning, it has emerged.
Frankston Council was asked to put its community first in a disagreement over the right to fell trees ahead of the bushfire season.
Victorian Local Government Minister Richard Wynne opted to revoke the council’s tree protection local law last night.
Frankston Council had been embroiled in a standoff with State Environment Minister Gavin Jennings, over amendments to the land clearing law – the 10/30 Right – which it refused to adopt.
Mr Wynne’s office told a local newspaper that it was the first time the minister had used the Local Government Act to revoke a local law.
“This government has never used this provision before,” spokesman Dan Ward told the FrankstonStandard Leader.
“Frankston Council wasn’t willing to accommodate the 10/30 Right so we’ve had to take this action.”
The 10/30 Right planning amendment, which was introduced in August, allow landowners to clear any vegetation on their own property, including trees, within 10 metres of a house and any ground fuel within 30 metres of a house without a council permit.
“The Government had asked the Frankston Council on a number of occasions to put the safety of the community ahead of trees and revoke their local tree protection law,” Mr Jennings said.
“Regrettably, however, the council refused to do so.
“The council’s local tree protection law was confusing for the residents of Frankston, many of whom are extremely concerned about the upcoming fire season.”
