The Supreme Court has upheld the right of objectors and community groups to appeal to VCAT against the development of 2 Pigeon Bank Road, North Warrandyte. Although our right to object to the development had been accepted by VCAT for hearing in January the developer challenged that right in the Supreme Court on the purely technical grounds that the objection by neighbour and WCA member Kim Cope was not valid because it did not contain the words ‘objection’ – even though Kim’s letter was clearly objecting to the development. On Thursday 2nd of November the Court released the decision of Justice Bell resoundingly endorsing the validity of the objection. The judgement is worth reading as a positive story about our legal system and its duty to be accessible. You can read it here. And you can read the media release by the WCA and Environmental Justice Australia here. This means that our challenge will go ahead at a VCAT hearing scheduled for January 22nd.
Even with rates discounted by our supportive legal team and other necessary experts this will be a costly exercise. This challenge is vital to stop developmental erosion of the Nillumbik Green Wedge. If you have not already donated now is the time. And if you already have, more is needed.