Green Wedges Coalition - A vision for Melbourne

THE imminent bulldozing of the heritage-listed bushland and wetland dam on the Westerfield property in the Mornington Peninsula green wedge adds another name to a disturbing list of heritage icons damaged or threatened by residential, commercial or freeway development (''Freeway builders admit damage to wetlands area'', The Age, 8/7). This list includes Lonsdale House, Equity Chambers and the Windsor Hotel.

The responsible agency, Heritage Victoria, is little more than a rubber stamp for developers and government. Small bands of concerned citizens are left to stand up for values that we all share and have in our planning scheme, but are honoured more in the breach.

Two other green-wedge heritage-listed icons, Norman Lodge at Mount Eliza and Emu Bottom at Sunbury, have had residential subdivisions approved by Heritage Victoria.

Community groups fighting these destructive applications had no right to appeal against Heritage Victoria decisions or to appeal on heritage matters to VCAT. Only landowners have such rights. The Welshes of Westerfield have appealed to the Heritage Council, but the road-builders say they do not need to wait for a decision before sending in the bulldozers. The government should be ashamed and the opposition should pick up the baton.

Rosemary West, Green Wedges Coalition

The Age letters 13 July, 2010

http://www.theage.com.au/national/letters/miners-make-an-example-of-kevi...