Wodonga councillor Ron Mildren raises concerns over director comments

Cr Ron Mildren, who successfully moved a motion to instigate a review of the planning provisions relating to Junction Place post the vote to reject the master plan, took umbrage at comments made by director Leon Schultz about how proposed changes and community consultation would roll out.

In response to a query about the length of time a planning scheme amendment would take, Mr Schultz said the first step of carrying out community consultation would need a budget allocation.

"Planning scheme amendments can take 18 to 24 months," he said.

"I would anticipate that would be a reasonable first bid, somewhere between 18 to 24 months, post a budget allocation."

But Mr Mildren said he was worried about any potential delaying tactics in acting on the successful motion he put up.

"I'm very concerned if a resolution passed by the council was an option pending the provision of budgetary outcomes," he said.

"It would concern me greatly. I will leave it at that."

In rejecting the the Junction Place master plan 6-1 , councillors ignored a recommendation from council staff and consultants brought in to give an independent assessment based on the contentious issue.

Speaking in support of his ultimately successful motion, Cr Mildren said: "I've been through this whole exercise, I've been through the planning scheme at great length, I've looked at the strategic documentation that has been done in the various guises over the various times.

"I'm not so silly to not understand how VCAT works.

"But this is the strongest position we can take in seeking to represent out community's views."

He also raised concerns about the viability of a cinema near High Street after previously being approved for the corner of Elgin Boulevard and Smythe Street.

"That particular piece of land (High Street) would be the highest and best piece of land in all the Junction Place area. "It will also command the highest economic rent," he said.

"A cinema in that location would be doomed to failure because it wouldn't match the rent that would be demanded over time."

Cr Mildren was also critical of a walkthrough through the Goods Shed to a motel.

"It is very big. It is on the north side and going to overshadow uses on the platform. It is going to diminish the ambience and amenity of hospitality on the old railway station," he said.

"It is going to be a very large bulk and scale building as well as having the dissection into the Goods Shed."

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