Hello all, just a friendly reminder to join our Facebook group for more detailed discussions, which includes information sharing, thoughts and ideas from our members, other steps our residents are taking and responses from council.

Thought we'd share another great post by one our members:

Council is just not that into hearing from you on this one.

When it comes to the proposed Heritage overlay for West Footscray and Surrounds it looks like the community’s voice isn’t what council really wants to hear.

A group of West Footscray and Footscray residents have recently met with Council to understand where things are at with the proposed permanent Heritage Overlay controls for approximately 900 houses across West Footscray, Footscray and Maidstone (For background in case you missed it, read the link at the bottom of this post). Council have told us that ‘expert’ opinions hold more weight than the voice of the community and that even if all responders to community consultation object to the proposed heritage overlays then the amendment could still go ahead.

The next step in the proposed amendment process is for the issue to be assessed by an independent planning panel and all people who have submitted a response to the community consultation process will have the opportunity to present their point of view to the panel. Anyone who has raised objections to the proposed Heritage overlay needs to seek expert/professional help as the Panel and council want to hear the opinions of experts (and here we thought they were elected representatives of the community).

As a reminder, here are some of the impacts to those who own a house in the nominated Heritage Overlay precincts (even those houses that are listed as non-contributory):·

• The following will require a planning permit and may not be allowed (a VicSmart planning permit for works over $10,000 costs $443.40)
• Installing a solar system, if visible from the street
• Carrying out maintenance on your front fence
• External painting that is visible from the street
• Externally altering a building that is non-contributory – yep you still need a permit and may not be able to do the work
• Construct a carport, garage, or even a verandah or deck out front
• Remove, destroy or lop a tree in your front yard·
  Any repairs or maintenance must be done using like-for-like materials and if those materials are no longer made (e.g. a specific type of roof tile, or weatherboard) then you need to get second hand materials or simply may not be able to perform the maintenance/repairs.
• If you happen to own a house in one of the heritage overlay precincts and you have already managed to have it repaired and/or renovated to be liveable, energy efficient and up to modern standards then you are in luck, but for many of your neighbours who are now faced with huge costs to renovate their Heritage home to make it liveable and fit-for-purpose, they will be the ones who need to find the money to do so because council nor anyone else will support them with these extra significant costs that were simply not there 10 months ago.

For reference:

Works that will require planning permit and may not be allowed: Link

Details about the Heritage overlay being imposed: Link