Boroondara Residents Action Group (BRAG)

Infrastructure Australia has announced a plan to intensify Melbourne by forcing high rise development into our suburbs from Sunshine to Box Hill to cope with the predicted future population growth.

Because the Andrew;s governmnet has already changed our planning guidelines to remove our notification, objection anf appeal rights, your first indication will be when a developer starts building an 8 storey block of flats next door and you and your council will not be able to do a thing about it.

I came across this item from some years ago. It is from Kelvin Thomson's Blog when he was an MP in the labor party. It is just as relevant today as it was when written. The full article is attached above.........

"Do our governments really govern us? Or do they respond more to big business which in reality controls wealth creation, job creation and growth?" The attached blog from Kelvin Thomson MP makes the point that in a deregulated economy politicians haven't controlled interest rates, the exchange rates, wages or prices for decades.

For some time we have been banging on about our population growth while our politicians keep telling us that population growth is essential for our economic growth. But do we really understand what is actually growing?

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reports our economic growth using the increase in GDP (Growth Domestic Product) but what is not usually understood is that there is a disconnect between GST and our living standards.

Are you concerned with the governments' determination to force more residential development into your local neighbourhood?

The latest revision of Plan Melbourne dictates that 70% of all new housing will be crammed into our established suburbs. It also has changed what in many areas is arestriction of no more than two dwellings per block.

To discuss Australia's population boom is to invite criticism from many accusing us of racism. But the subject is about numbers not necessarily racial issues.

 Did you know that Australia has the highest rate of population growth of all the OECD countries and 75% of this growth is in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth with over 24% of that growth in Melbourne.

Our "Restore Residents' Rights Rally on 8th June, held on the parliament steps, was well attended with groups from right across Melbourne and beyond supporting the speakers criticising the negative effects of PLAN MELBOURNE 2017-2050 recently announced by the government.

Plan Melbourne 2017-2050 has changed the protection provided by the zones put in place by the previous government allowing for  more multi-storey residential development in our residential streets.

FOR YEARS WE HAVE BEEN SAYING THAT OUR RECORD IMIGRATION INTAKE HAS NOT RESULTED IN OUR EXISTING CITIZENS BEING BETTER OFF AS ALL THE BENIFITS FROM THE RESULTANT ECONOMIC GROWTH GOES MAINLY TO THE NEW ARRIVALS.

DATA FROM THE AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS CONFIRMS THAT OUR PER CAPITA INCOME HAS BEEN GOING BACKWARDS.

RESTORE RESIDENTS' RIGHTS RALLY.

The latest changes to 'Plan Melbourne' will further remove resident rights.

The protection provided by the neighbourhood residential zones has been dramatically reduced and 70% of all new development will be forced into our established suburbs. Also multi-storey blocks of apartments will be encouraged in these suburbs so get ready to have multi-storey blocks of flats overlooking and overpowering your home, without the right to object.

The state Labor Governmnent's recent introduction of the new Plan for Melbourne includes changes to the residential zones which will result in more density in our residential suburbs. 

It is the result of recommendations from a comittee made up of academics and representatives of the development industry without any resident representation.

There has been a lot of concern expressed about political donations being made to gain an advantage , especially by developers. So how does our political donation system work?

According to an article in The "Conversation" membership of political parties has declined, so they have to bolster their coffers by appealing to the public and corporations for donations.