Getting the best

THERE are a number of issues that are consistently raised about developers in our growth corridor area and the inference that they somehow get an easy deal from council or perhaps are not held to fulfil their responsibilities.
The current councillors and administration have an excellent record of negotiating the best possible outcomes for existing and future residents when approached by developers with subdivision plans.
Some achievements in that arena are the Cardinia Cultural Centre, the new emergency services precinct, new neighbourhood centres in future developments, a new private school, new sporting grounds and extensions to existing sporting facilities, child care centres, playgrounds, water features and much more.
The growth corridor is not something that was thought up by council, requested or lobbied for.
The growth corridor grew out of need and now we have the responsibility of building relationships with all involved in the process of developing the area so that we may achieve the best possible outcomes.
Some things are legislated or controlled in part or completely by other areas of government such as developer levies, traffic lights, primary schools etc.
What this council then does is discuss with developers what input they can have into our communities.
These things actually make the area more attractive to prospective buyers so obviously it benefits everyone.
New estates are no longer about just fitting as many houses into as small a space as possible.
New estates provide a range of facilities and services for their residents and both council and the developers work hard towards achieving this – remember the ‘win-win’ theory.
I have been part of achieving this success and given the opportunity will continue to strive for more and better outcomes with our developers.
Leonora Cox,
Candidate Central Ward,
Pakenham Upper.