Secret Sky Rail Intervention

 Shadow Minister for Planning, David Davis

In a move of ultimate hypocrisy, Richard Wynne has used his powers as Planning Minister to shut out further community consultation and quietly give planning approval to Sky Rail.

On 18 September 2013 Richard Wynne advocated strongly against using these powers as it “excludes the community” and “prevents the community from having a say”.

It is a very significant power that the Minister for Planning has to use section 20(4) of the Planning and Environment Act. Why? Because it excludes the community. It prevents the community from having a say in the planning of an area.”
(Hansard, 18 September 2013)

It is clear Daniel Andrews would like to minimise attention to this matter by approving it late on a Friday afternoon with not even a media release to mark its passage.

The Government is proceeding with a shambolic process and cutting corners with no environmental effects statement, no business case, no proper sound and noise studies and no genuine community consultation.

The Sky Rail will impact massively on communities along the line and for kilometres on each side, with an ugly visual impact, sound booming out for kilometres around and diesel fumes released from massive freight trains high in the air.

Quotes attributable to Shadow Minister for Planning David Davis:

This is the height of hypocrisy from Daniel Andrews, secretly shutting out thousands of residents who are about to have their homes and lives significantly impacted.

It is clear Daniel Andrews is determined to rush through this project without further thought for residents.

People didn’t vote for Sky Rail, these communities do not want it but Daniel Andrews seems more than keen to force his cheap and nasty plan upon them.

Everyone wants level crossings removed, but no one voted for Daniel Andrews’ cheap and nasty Sky Rail.

Media contact:      Michael Lewis        0433 495 454         michael.lewis@opposition.vic.gov.au