A green wedge once prized for its open landscapes and environmental value is now the focus of mounting concern, with Hume councillors warning that Mickleham’s Inter Urban Break is being overrun by inapt businesses and misuse.
During Hume’s June 10 council meeting, councillors unanimously backed a motion calling for greater education and compliance efforts to protect the inter urban break, a planning buffer established in the 1990s to separate Mickleham and Craigieburn.
The proposed education strategy includes organic social media posts across platforms like Facebook to show what non-compliance looks like, and bite-sized newsletter content directing residents to learn more online.
There will also be material on how enforcement works, closing the loop on what happens when the land is mis-used.
Council also agreed to work more closely with relevant state agencies to identify high-risk areas and respond faster to serious non-compliance.
Councillors also flagged the potential for increased fines and regulatory enforcement if education alone proves ineffective.
“This used to be a beautiful area that I would have loved to live in myself,” Cr Dan English said.
“But recently it is turning into a bit of a dumping ground and actually looks a bit like an industrial estate. Unfortunately, some people are operating businesses in the inter urban break that are not suited to the area and not compliant with any planning schemes.”
Cr English said the inter urban break was created to preserve the local character and protect environmental features like the Mount Ridley Hilltop, and that those values were “just as important today as they were then”.
According to council officers, about 40 per cent of all compliance investigations now relate to activity within the inter urban break and similar fringe areas.
“Not everyone who is doing the wrong thing knows they are doing that,” Cr English said.
“The report proposes a number of information approaches to teach people what they can and can’t do– it’s a proactive approach to try and stop the illegal behaviour before it occurs.”
Cr Ally Watson noted that areas like Kalkallo are also showing similar signs of misuse.
