Defining Governance
“Governance is the process whereby societies or organizations make important decisions, determine whom they involve and how they render account.“
(Canadian Institute on Governance, 2009).
“The objectives of government governance is to create safeguards for achieving policy objectives“
(Netherlands Government, 2000)
“Governance is the set of responsibilities and practices, policies and procedures, exercised by an agency’s executive, to provide strategic direction, ensure objectives are achieved, manage risks and use resources responsibly and with accountability.’
(Australian Government, 2009)
However, in real practice, such explicit governance frameworks in Monash Council & State Government urban planning and change management systems are lacking, of which the consequences constitute the major causes of:
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Public concerns and outcries regarding matters of mix, high and compact density development in Monash, and especially in Brandon Park.
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Frequent VCAT decisions overriding Council planning conditions, many of which were specified to support planning schemes, such as neighbour character integration, open space contribution for future amenity services, etc (eg the Notting Hill case)
Residents can exercise the rule of law to review the decisions of governments which affect their rights or interests.
What Monash is planning for Brandon Park
See the Brandon Park Major Activity Centre Structural Plan (Draft) – March 2009
Planning Review & Concerns
Residents have communicated to Council of their planning gaps, if unaddressed would result in unsustainable developments that would pernamently damage Brandon Park’s liveability. Some the issues identified are as follows:
To date (Oct 2009), the residents are gravely concerned of the high chance that:
- Their identified environment and liveability issues arising from the development will not be satisfactory addressed in the Brandon Park activitycentre planning, including its impact assessment reporting.
- The local benefits of social housing would not address the local needs of disadvantaged residents and other Monash rate-payers
- Planning data quality may be compromised as to date public communiqués fail to convey forecasts and credible predictions of not just population growth rate, but also population lifecycle and demographic changes in Brandon Park’s urban change management and future service management planning
- Coming proposed changes to the Victorian Planning Act’s objectives will not be effectively supported and integrated into the activity centre planning and decision making. We have not even consider Melbourne 2030 principles & guidelines yet.
Brandon Park Liveability Priorities
The key liveability goals that residents want to see as high quality and sustainable target outcomes in the Activity Centre Planning are:
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Resolution of current local traffic congestion and noise intrusion
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Resolution of lacking open space amenities for family and elderly exercise and active recreation
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Resolution of continously flooding in some areas of Brandon Park because of stormwater system deficiency
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Better services for supporting the over 55 aged group.
In the first Brandon Park structural plan, some of these issues were partially elaborated, however no resolutions were indicated. Residents are willing to work with Council Planners to address these priority issues and agree effective solutions that also also uplift their liveability instead of degrading it. The challenge is that this community leadership and drive will also shift a legacy working culture to one that embraces collaborative, open to discussions and agreement of solution sustainability and liveability impact, and exercises explicit governance.
