Oakleigh South deserves better!

We are not asking for money, and do not need donations at this time. Change.org makes it look like donations go to us, but they do not. 

What we need is your support!

The proposed residential development on the Talbot Quarry site has raised significant concerns to residents. Our beautiful neighbourhood, known for its pleasant streets and family-friendly environment, deserves to be protected from potential harm. The site in question is not just any piece of land; it is highly contaminated, containing putrescible waste and dangerous quicksand, landfill gas (LFG) and levels of carcinogenic chemicals such as arsenic and benzene above human health guidelines.

We have demonstrated at Planning Panels Victoria that there is no precedent for developing a site such as this with both putrescible waste and quicksand for residential housing in Australia. This fact alone should be alarming enough to halt any further considerations of housing development on this land to protect the community’s safety and well-being.

We have until 4 JUNE to lodge our objection to Draft Amendment C178mona, which would rezone the quarry site, opening the door for residential development for as many as 2500 residents. This would cause severe noise, dust, vibration and traffic headaches for a decade or more, not to mention the risks associated with Landfill Gas (LFG) migration and toxic airborne chemicals as they dry the contaminated quicksand on the site surface. Draft Amendment C178mona takes the approval process out of the hands of Monash Council (which is also objecting to C178mona) and it prevents residents from having a voice at VCAT to object to the harm to amenity and public safety that this development would cause. The exhibited plans are so small and lacking in detail, that they do not provide specific details about what the developer wants to do. 

One thing the engineering reports DO tell us, is that the most contaminated parts of the site will require massive 6-storey structures supported by 30metre piles in order to manage the instability of the underlying quicksand pits, and gas venting systems to manage the LFG issues which will occur if they develop the site. The venting systems have to be monitored for a projected four decades, long after the developer has cut and run.

Moreover, the current plan allows the developer to only be accountable for the site’s condition for a mere five years. After this period, the financial burden of addressing any failures in the site's condition would fall on a hapless homeowner’s association and the City of Monash, leaving local residents like us to bear the costs of any future issues. Such a scenario seems unjust and places our community at undue risk, both financially and environmentally.

This is a call to action for Oakleigh South residents, the City of Monash, and all concerned citizens to oppose this precarious development venture. We need to protect our homes, our families, and our future generations from a potentially disastrous situation. Let's join forces to ensure that our community’s voice is heard and that long-term safety and sustainability are prioritized over short-term profits.

Please support us by doing the following:

1)    Please lodge your individual submission objecting to C178mona by filling out the survey at Engage Victoria no later than 5pm on 4 June, 2025. Please go to the engage.vic.gov.au website and search “Talbot Quarry” and it will come up. The Engage Victoria submission is the only ‘legit’ way to object to C178. You can list all your concerns (environmental and geotechnical risks (such as LFG migration, geotechnical settlement due to quicksand, etc), noise, vibration, damage to property, traffic, body corporate being inadequate to handle failures of structures in the future, etc.)

2)    Sign this petition to stop this ill-conceived development on the Talbot Quarry site and safeguard our cherished community for years to come. By signing, you authorise Curt Thompson to submit this petition to the Minister for Planning through its engage.vic.gov.au website. We do not need donations at this time, just your signature. More than anything, we need you to submit an objection at engage.vic.gov.au (see #1 above) and to recruit additional objectors among your friends, neighbours and family.

3)    Write and call Ministers Steve Dimopoulous and Sonya Kilkenny to voice your concerns directly with their office. The more noise we make, the more they’ll hear us!

Hon Steve Dimopoulos MP:

03 9568 2456 

steve.dimopoulos@parliament.vic.gov.au

 

Hon Sonya Kilkenny, Minister for Planning: 

03 9773 2727 

sonya.kilkenny@parliament.vic.gov.au

 

Please note that your information may be shared with the Minister for Planning, City of Monash and the proponent, but submissions will be managed in accordance with the Department’s Information Privacy Policy. The Department’s Information Privacy Policy is online at www.dtp.vic.gov.au 

Thank you!