Planning and development

First, the telecommunications tower that's proposed to be sited on Stud Road near Police Road in Rowville. Over the past month, I've received a large volume of calls, emails, and had plenty of conversations about this planning application from residents in Rowville, but also from many residents across the municipal boundary over in the City of Greater Dandenong. And it's been great to hear from those residents who also look out at the same site there on Stud Road. I acknowledge Melissa, who I think is in the gallery with us tonight, who I know has done a great deal of work keeping neighbours informed and helping people navigate through that objection process.

So what I'd just say briefly is that application is likely to come to Council for a decision, so I won't comment on the proposal itself. But objections remain open, and we are headed to a planning consultative meeting where objectors and the applicant will sit down with Council and officers for a conversation about the proposal. And if officers ultimately do recommend approval of it, the matter will be decided by Council in this chamber, so not under delegation. So I will certainly do my best to support the efforts in keeping the residents informed at each of the steps along the way. And I know we've got some questions coming up as part of public question time.

Just a couple of other things. The Dizzy Rooster, I mentioned as part of the petition I tabled earlier tonight, I've heard from the business, customers and residents. I do acknowledge, I know what it means for a local business to have that outdoor space taken away coming into the spring and summer months. I acknowledge it's a significant portion of their trade on those sunny weekends. But I do, as I said earlier, want to acknowledge the owners for working with officers and removing the structure. And they've now got that application in and it's progressing through. Our outdoor dining parklet policy comes to this chamber and Council at the end of next month, so will give businesses some clear guidance and framework about what can and what can't be done in that space.

And just to quickly note, sorry, Mayor, before I wrap: just to note the correspondence from residents in Grayson Drive and surrounding streets in Scoresby. The correspondence has been received, some this week and in previous weeks and months as well. And I just wanted to thank the residents for the time they've taken to write very respectfully and with thorough insight to their lived experience. The views that you've shared have helped inform the position I'm taking on that application tonight. So I just wanted to acknowledge that too.

24th of March, I attended the planning consultative committee meeting for the development application at 79 Grayson Drive in Scoresby. The Mayor chaired the meeting. The Deputy Mayor was also in attendance, and it was good to get, it's about 20 residents I recall, most of whom were objecting to that proposal. We had representatives of the applicant there as well. It was a really good opportunity to hear the views and opinions on both sides of that proposal and take those into consideration. So that matter is not on our agenda tonight, but it is coming to a future Council meeting. I'm continuing to receive correspondence regarding 79 Grayson Drive. So that will be back at Council in the not too distant future, but I did want to record my attendance at that meeting.

And I would just note the correspondence I've received in recent weeks, and again in the last couple of days, regarding the Murray Crescent, Rowville planning application on the agenda tonight. So I appreciate that feedback and insight from residents too.