cfsmtb in low earth orbit

Thursday, September 09, 2004

Transporting Melbourne and other bits - Part III

Tougher planning power for councils
The State Government has vowed to give local councils emergency powers to help ward off big developments proposed in the name of the Government's planning strategy, Melbourne 2030.
Planning Minister Mary Delahunty said yesterday that she would give some councils interim controls to guide the size of housing and other buildings in activity centres - the shopping and transport hubs earmarked for high-density development under 2030.

Latham to sell family policy
Opposition Leader Mark Latham will start the hard job of selling his family and tax policy in Queensland's Surfers Paradise today. After finally releasing the detail of the policy, Mr Latham now has the rest of the election campaign to woo voters over his plans for an average $8 a week tax cut for the low paid and up to $130 a week for struggling families.

Tollway dollars go north
Tens of thousands of dollars have gone north as the State Government sells the Mitcham-Frankston freeway. Despite a policy to direct work to local companies, at least $100,000 of promotional business has gone interstate. Work on newsletters, a website and a corporate video to promote the tollway has been handed to Sydney interests ahead of local businesses.