Hearing notce received from VCAT setting the hearing date: 11 July 2012 @ 55 King street, Melbourne. (Hearing length is up to 3 days).
Internet site for vcat is www.vcat.vic.gov.au

WE ARE GOING TO VCAT

Yesterday, you should have received a letter (if you submitted an official protest to council) from "Planning & Property Partners" acting on behalf of the Pascoe Vale Trust (The Exclusive Brethren) indicating that they have lodged an application for review at VCAT for the proposed worship hall at Sunrise drive.
Each objector has 14 days from receipt of the letter to submit the supplied form to VCAT if you wish to contest the application.
I am upset that we only have 14 days to respond as this comes right on the Xmas period and may be already away.
If you are going away for XMAS before the committee has a chance to meet, then I suggest that you submit the form directly to VCAT rather than waiting on us.

Results from the council meeting held 8-11-2011: The Worship Hall proposal was rejected 4 votes to 3.
I would like to thank all members of our community who came to the meeting to show all that this issue is extremely important to us and worth fighting for as well as all the people who spoke on the issue. I would also like to thank the Nillumbik Councillors who supported us on the night. We cannot become complacent on this issue and must keep fighting the battle at each stage.
On behalf of the Sunrise Nillumbik Community Committee.

IMPORTANT MEETING: Notice from Nillumbik council inviting all who put in a protest form to attend the planning meeting Tuesday 8th November where a decision will be made regarding the submitted proposal. Make sure you submit your response to indicate you will be attending. If you cannot attend, you can nominate someone to attend in your place.

WE NEED AS MANY PEOPLE TO COME TO THE COUNCIL MEETING.

Update from Belinda Clarkson on the applicability of rates. Below are extracts from various emails as well as the reference to the Section 154 of the Local Government Act mentioned.

Hi Belinda The current rate status of the properties are: · The school at Ironbark and Pioneer Roads is non-rateable. · The residence at Ironbark and Pioneer Roads is currently rated. We have been advised that they now use this as part of the school. The status will be changed to non-rateable as part of the supplementary valuation in December. · The properties on Diamond Creek Road are rateable. When construction has been completed and Council has been advised that these sites have had a change of use to charitable purposes, the properties on Diamond Creek Road will assessed as non-rateable

Dear Belinda Further to your email, advice from officers follows: Further to your enquiry at the recent Blue Lake Ward meeting for Cr Clarkson, I am writing to confirm that under Section 154 (2)(c) of the Local Government Act 1989 (the Act), land used as a place of worship is not rateable as it is deemed to be held for charitable purposes under the Act. Land at 60-62 Sunrise Drive, Greensborough is currently rateable as it is deemed to be used for "mixed use". To be deemed non rateable under the Act, the owner/occupier is required to apply for a change in use which demonstrates that the land is now used for charitable purposes. Council records currently indicate that there are five premises used as a place of worship by the Brethren which are deemed non rateable. The Diamond Creek Road and Sunrise Drive premises are currently deemed rateable.

Sent group email to all members regarding the upcoming community meeting. It is important that YOU attend to keep well informed of what is happening with the proposal and objections. Some items on the agenda:

- Update on where we are regarding the proposal. Belinda Clarkson (Blue Lake Ward Councillor) will be at the meeting
- Special guest speaker
- Documentation available for viewing
- Fencing issues

Media will be present on the day.

Letters prepared and being sent to our members of parliament detailing the issues we have with the proposal.
- Jenny Macklin MP Member for Jagajaga http://jennymacklin.net.au/
- Harry Jenkins MP Federal Member for Scullin http://www.harryjenkins.com/
- Danielle Green MP State Member for Yan Yean http://daniellegreen.org.au/

Submitted by email a query to the council about the legality of the fence erected on the proposed site.

1st Sunrise Drive community meeting held. Minutes available

9/9/2011

Contacted by Anna Whitelaw: Journalist with the Weekly (Fairfax media) who is interested in writing an article. Extract of her email is shown below.

Hi, I'm a journalist with the Weekly, and I'm writing a story about the proposal. I was hoping you could email me your contact details or call me this evening or tomorrow morning, with a few comments about the group of residents opposing this and why. email: awhitelaw@fairfax.com.au

Louise Williams responded to my email request regarding submitting the Objection Form.

An objection can either be emailed or posted to Council. If an objection is to be emailed, it must be emailed to nillumbik@nillumbik.vic.gov.au.
If an objection is to be posted, it must be posted to the following address:-

Planning Services
Nillumbik Shire Council
PO Box 476
Greensborough VIC 3088

Contacted the Diamond Valley Leader (Dave Crossthwaite) by phone and email to introduce ourselves. (Email: diamondvalley@leadernewspapers.com.au)

Below is the response to my email to Belinda Clarkson regarding the meeting to be held Tuesday 6th September. I've forwarded this email to all members of the email group and have requested people to respond if they would like to attend. This way we can put forward a unified face.

Dear Ms Clarkson

I have been informed by a fellow resident of the Sunrise Estate that there is a meeting next Tuesday 6th September at the Aston Manor (Refer Below). I am interested in attending the meeting to voice our concern regarding the proposed redevelopment of the milk bar site. I have a few questions:

1. What time is the meeting? 6.45pm
2. Who can attend? Open to the public.
3. What is being discussed regarding the proposed redevelopment? You register with the Council and you can speak for 3 minutes about what concerns you, about this proposed development.
4. How much time do we (as a group) have to put forward our objections? You are allowed 3 mins per person. If you are part of a large group, work a strategy where each of you represent a particular issue of concern. If you just want to have your say (even if it is similar to someone else), I believe you should be able to speak, after all you pay the highest rates in the state of Victoria, you should be able to have your 3 mins worth.
5. Who is attending the meeting? All Councillors should be present and senior council officers. I believe it is worth ringing the other Councillors prior to the meeting, so they fully understand your objection. Let as many people know about the meeting as you can, so you have good representation and can cover all issues. I believe I have covered all your questions. My contact number is 0439 755 411.

Photo's of our 1st community meeting.
Email received by a resident from councillor Belinda Clarkson informing that there will be a Council Policy and Services Meeting on Tuesday September 6th at the Aston Manor, Diamond Creek. Time to be advised. It was suggested that we make a presentation of of our objectives.

Our petition was submitted to council to Andrea deBoer (e: andrea.deboer@nillumbik.vic.gov.au).
Andrea informed us that we can drop off Objection Forms to the council up to the council meeting where the decision will be made. This meeting is expected to take place either in October or November 2011.
She also informed me that the person responsible at the Nillumbik council for handling this proposal is their town planner - Louise Williams (e: louise.williams@nillumbik.vic.gov.au)