By KATE VALLENCE
HOMES, schools and community facilities will be within a high-pressure gas pipeline’s “heat flux zone” in a new development at Lara.
An independent planning panel report recommended that schools and community facilities should be “entirely outside” the heat flux zone and that buyers of blocks within it should be notified.
But councillors last week agreed to seek approval for a planning scheme amendment showing the zone would include some homes and parts of two schools and a community centre.
The zone is part of a proposed 390-hectare Lara West development for 11,000 residents.
The amendment will go to Planning Minister Matthew Guy for approval.
City Hall planning general manager Peter Bettess said Energy Safe Victoria, the state’s independent regulator for gas pipeline safety, had signed off on the development.
Energy Safe Victoria said it was satisfied with the risk assessments of council, the developer and the pipeline operator.
“Australian gas pipelines have a very safe history but compliance with these processes cannot guarantee the safety of all parties in all eventualities, such as pipeline ruptures,” Energy Safe Victoria said.
The report to council said a Section 173 Agreement on land titles would notify prospective buyers of land within the heat flux zone.
Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) executive officer Tony De Domenico said he was aware of the pipeline issue.
He expressed concern about the level of regulations facing developers.
“Houses all over Melbourne and wider Victoria have been built near major underground infrastructure,” Mr De Domenico said.
“The notification on the land titles could affect land sales in the new development. However, prospective buyers shouldn’t worry about buying a block in Lara West.
“Its nannying gone mad.”
Council planning portfolio holder Rod Macdonald said City Hall would write to Department of Transport, Planning and Local Infrastructure seeking an investigation of overlay controls on high-pressure gas pipelines in planning schemes.
“This would protect the pipelines from inappropriate development and ensure appropriate conditions were placed on land within pipeline measurement lengths,” Cr Macdonald said.
