Save the Western Port Green Wedge

PLEASE HELP OUR COMMUNITY SAVE THE WESTERN PORT GREEN WEDGE.

Who are we and why do we need your help?

Green Wedge Zones are the non-urban land that lies beyond Melbourne’s Urban Growth Boundary. They are amongst Victoria's greatest assets yet they are being rapidly and tragically diminished by over-development and inappropriate land use.

It is vital to preserve these green spaces for their agricultural role, environmental significance, biodiversity, wildlife habitat, and their historical, recreational, community health and landscape value.

Once lost to inappropriate developments, our Green Wedges can never be replaced. We need to act now and we need to work together as a community …..

….. so, a passionate and dedicated group of locals have come together to create The Western Port Green Wedge Protection Group (WPGWPG). We are committed to protecting our Green Wedge by challenging legislation, opposing unsuitable developments and assisting like-minded community groups do the same. Only collectively can we successfully protect these precious natural assets.

Why are we asking for your support?

The WPGWPG is working towards the preservation of a rural block of land in Cranbourne South. Located at 104 Browns Road (on the corner of Kelly Rd), we are currently opposing a planning application lodged with the City of Casey which seeks to allow this block to operate as a Place of Worship.

Until 2013, Places of Worship were not permitted in Green Wedge Zones. They were contained within urban settings where they did not encroach on land designated for purposes that only rural land can provide. Furthermore, Places of Worship are more suited to urban environments where infrastructure is already in place and they are more accessible to the communities they serve.

However, since 2013, protective legislation has become diluted, Green Wedge land is being re-zoned, boundaries are shifting and exemptions are granted. Urbanisation of our rural landscape is occurring at an alarming rate.

Our community needs your help!

Whilst the use of an existing rural property does not sound problematic, other cases show that numbers, traffic and disruption to amenity quickly escalate. Furthermore, once recognised as a Place of Worship it is then easier to transition into a larger establishment with purpose-built structures, which of course have a much greater impact.

This is only one of many examples of this trend across the Western Port Green Wedge. Additionally, many properties are being purchased with the intent of establishing very large places of Worship. In particular, adjoining properties are being acquired specifically to be amalgamated for this purpose. Places of Worship often occupy many acres of land and feature large buildings and other structures.

We are not against religion and understand that new Places of Worship need to be developed to meet the needs of people joining our communities from other areas and from overseas. However, we believe that it is neither appropriate nor necessary to allow Green Wedge land to be used for this purpose.

Despite receiving 149 objections, in September 2024 the Casey Council issued a Notice of Decision (NOD) indicating that it intends to issue a permit. The WPGWPG together with The Voice of Cranbourne South Residents Group (VoCSRG) have raised an appeal to VCAT opposing the Casey Council decision.

The VCAT process began in February 2025 with a "compulsory conference" – a mediation style session between the parties (residents, permit applicant, and council), however no agreement could be reached and so a full VCAT hearing is scheduled for May 2025

A law firm with experience in planning matters has been engaged to represent our community groups, however, we are facing costs of potentially $40,000 + for legal representation, plus additional expenses for an expert witness.

Expenses so far have been personally funded by the small group of local residents, however, we now need to raise funds to meet these forthcoming, substantial expenses as we move through the VCAT process. We would greatly appreciate any support the wider community can provide.

Please donate to help save this Green Wedge land from becoming an urban-style development amongst farmland. Each inappropriate application that is approved paves the way for further destruction and fragmentation of our precious Green Wedge which must be retained for environmental, rural and agricultural purposes. Once given over to non-rural developments, it can never be reinstated as open land and ultimately wildlife, agriculture and ALL communities suffer from the loss.

Thank you!

Please join the "Western Port Green Wedge Protection Group" Facebook group where we will share updates and create community discussion as we continue this journey: https://www.facebook.com/groups/680700307958173