‘Residents’ Voice’ is the printed SOS newsletter posted to members, various councillors and state politicians in Victoria, as well as some media outlets and community organizations.
“SOS eUpdates” are mini-newsletters emailed to SOS members and community groups. They began Nov.2012 and finally replaced newsletters by Oct.2014.
SOS eUpdate-February 2020
Winding up of Save Our Suburbs Inc (Vic)
SOS eUpdate – October 2018
Vic.Election events – Swinburne Infrastructure Forum; State Election Forum; Malvern East Group AGM
SOS eUpdate – November 2017
AGM 2017 notice – followed by the film “Citizen Jane – Battle for the City”
SOS eUpdate – June 2016
Editorial on coming Federal Election 2016
SOS eUpdate – February 2016
RMIT car parking research survey
SOS eUpdate – November 2015
Reminder of AGM 2015 with tree expert Dr Greg Moore
SOS eUpdate – October 2015
Ratepayers seminar; Climate forum; SOS AGM guest spealer Dr Greg Moore; Plan Melb.Refresh; New res.Zones – review of content & implementation begins; update on Recognizing Objectors Bill
SOS eUpdate – July 2015
Planning Bill – Recognising Objectors; VCAT fees; Better Apartments
SOS eUpdate – May 2015
Put People back in Control; New Residential Zones Review; Reminders
SOS eUpdate – 6 November 2014
Candidates’ Survey, Election 2014; SOS 2014 AGM; Election Debate; Petition for Commission into political donations; Foreign Investment rules; Planning Alerts; Unscrupulous developers failing to erect advertising signs
SOS eUpdate – 4 October 2014
Notice of Candidates’ Survey, Election 2014; RACV Board Election; Great Population Debate; Charter on Public Transport & Rally; EW Link update; Hi-rise apartment standards “coming”
SOS Newsletter 31, September 2014
KPIs cut from Plan Melbourne – VCAT fee hike – SOS supports challenge to EW Link – Beware s89 – Implementation of New Zones – Help for Objectors arguing Rescode at VCAT – Dual Occupancy by Stealth
SOS eUpdate – August 2014
Power to the People – control of electricity; Great Population Debate (Kelvin Thomson & Robert Doyle); Implementation of New Residential Zones; KPIs cut from Plan Melbourne; SOS supports council legal challenge to East-West Link planning approval
SOS eUpdate – 31 July 2014
Vic State Election lead up: Vic First meeting, Frankston; IMPA Forum Deakin Edge; Great Population Debate (Thomson & Doyle)
SOS New Year eUpdate – 31 January 2014
VCAT Lamaro reference case for objectors, VCAT recording ok again, East-West Link & Plan.Melb undermined by MAC resignation, Plan Melbourne update, Infrastructure emergency (Kohler Report)
SOS eUpdate – December 2013
Plan Melbourne critique, VicSmart deregulation, Implementation of New Residential Zones
SOS Newsletter 30, November 2013
VCAT fee increases; PlanMelbourne – another failed consultation; New Residential Zones – update
SOS eUpdate, November 2013
Reminder – SOS 2013 AGM, guest speaker Dr Carolyn Whitzman
SOS eUpdate – 8 February 2013
Baillieu’s huge VCAT fee rises; Planning Act changes; have your say, and on the Metro Strategy
SOS eUpdate – Nov 2012
Community groups rally to STOP THE PLANNING DISASTER – Thurs Nov.29
SOS eUpdate-18.11.12
NOTES ON METRO PLANNING STRATEGY DISCUSSION PAPER LAUNCH, OCT.26
SOS Newsletter 29, November 2011 SOS meets Minister & Advisory Committee; No change in Hi-Rise on major transport routes; Ad hoc planning interventions; HELP – s97N protection for new home buyers; NearMap useful alternative to Google Maps
SOS Newsletter 28, November 2010 Special Victorian Election Issue: summary of party responses and planning platforms, and SOS Position Statement on Planning Policy
SOS Newsletter 27, October 2010 Planning Act changes and VC71/Clause 16; VCAT improvements; Your help needed; City hurts your brain; Permit renewal advice
SOS Newsletter 26, April 2010 Thumbs down to Draft Planning Bill and VCAT Review Report; Romsey pokies case; NSW Public PT Inquiry; SOS updates
SOS Newsletter 25, October 2009 Hi-rise along transport corridors; Liquor win for community; SOS and Yarra election upset; Beware deals with developers!
SOS NewsLetter #24_Nov.2006 Impact of higher Density on infrastructure; VCAT – not independent, favours developers (Malvern East Group analysis), Conflict of Interest, Pressure for Reform; SOS Meets DSE Secretary Neilson; Caulfield tower bid withdrawn; Reclaim Residents Rights party; Vic Gardens Update; Greens Planning Policy; Melb. 2030 implementation and performance – a critical review; Abbotsford Convent saved by Community Action
SOS NewsLetter #23_May.2006 SOS response to new Liberal party planning policy; Editorial – SOS president Ian Quick; Densification – no M2030 public transport upgrades; Minister Hulls – streamlining or weakening Planning?; Priority Development Zones and Panels; VCAT undermining state ESD Policy but Justice Morris fails to reply; Save Historic Hoffman Brickworks site, Brunswick; Victoria Gardens ‘priority development’ debacle; M2030 Implementation Reference Group Activity Centre Working Group “Best Practice” cases; M2030 and Unsustainable UGB Development; Banco overdevelopment in Collingwood neighbourhood centre
SOS NewsLetter #22_Oct.2005 New SOS president; SOS Public Forum (RMIT) – Planning for the Future; 2005 AGM; Rail Alliance – extend Epping line to S. Morang; Melb.2030 – set for failure (K. Davidson, the Age); SOS calls for Moratorium on M2030; Mitcham Towers shows need for reform of VCAT and the Planning Act; Improving public access to council planning files
SOS NewsLetter #21_May.2005 SOS calls for Minister to close ‘Dual-occupancy-by- stealth’ loopholes; VCAT Explains (Justice Stuart Morris); Kingston News; Implications of new Planning Legislation (re “Better Decisions Faster”); Power to the people – Melb.2030 & population growth; Crashstats could help your VCAT case
SOS NewsLetter #20_Jan.2005 Planning Institute supports SOS on boosting planning certainty and public transport; Objections – vehicle access; Strong Planning Leadership Essential (PIA president Trevor Budge); Saving Langwarrin; Helping Objectors in Manningham
SOS NewsLetter #19_Oct.2004 Limited planning notifications an assault on right to object; M2030 failure to deliver; SOS suspends cooperation until Govt honours its pledge to protect residential amenity; Letters; Wyndham Council win-win on sustainable development;
SOS NewsLetter #18_Jul.2004 Planning flaws and how to fix them – prescriptive controls; VCAT Explains (Justice Stuart Morris); Minister closes loophole that allows multiunits; Rift with SOS increases pressure on Govt over planning (The Age); Mitcham Towers VCAT decision demands action on interim controls; Suburban squatters; WERA fights huge multi-unit development; VCAT Explains (Justice Stuart Morris)
SOS NewsLetter #17_Apr.2004 SOS Forum success; UGB; Protectors of Public Lands; possibility of multiple units without a permit
Earlier newsletters:
SOS NL #14_Aug.03 SOS submission to Melbourne 2030; Watershed victory; Answering critics; Essential services for new communities
SOS NL #13_Oct.02 Objectors’ concerns – VCAT, Enforcement of plans & council performance; SOS members’ Feedback on planning issues; Illegal building case – flaws in VCAT & enforcement processes; Reform of VCAT; Metro Strategy released
SOS NL #12_May.02 New SOS committee; Planning Minister comment
SOS NL #10_Jul.01 Illegal dual occupancies; Rescode comment – SOS, minister Thwaites & shadow minister Clarke; SOS – “disqualify VCAT Member”; Overdevelopment on the boundary; SOS halts “tram stop led development”; Brunswick Residents’ win; Sympathetic architecture; Bendigo heritage at risk; Save Brisbane suburbs; Bricked In! Media Watch
SOS NL #9_Aug.00 Illegal multi-units; Planning Reform Report Card; Rescode wary welcome; Good Riddance to Good Design Guide; Councils slow to adopt interim planning controls; Opposition to inappropriate development in Essendon, Brighton, Ivanhoe, Edithvale, East Brunswick ; Govt to protect Covenants; Media Watch
SOS NL #6_Sep-Oct.99 ALP & Coalition Planning Policies; Battle for Ballarat; Illegal demolition crackdown; “Suburban Backlash” by Miles Lewis; Planning enforcement in Bayside & Kingston; Local policy in Boroondara; Residents Bill of Rights; Media Watch
SOS NL #4_Mar-Apr.99 Municipal Rep – Moreland; Minister Maclellan; Election comment – Mclellan & Thwaites; SOS 1st birthday; Media Watch
SOS Newsletter 2, July 1998 Special interest heritage status; SOS FoI reveals Good Design Guide ministerial advisor concerns and desire to reduce councillors’ role in planning decisions; Save Elwood; Demolition Permits; Municipal Rep – Strathmore; Good Design Guide defects; Media Watch; SOS Policy; Inappropriate Development devalues neighbouring land
SOS Newsletter 1, April 1998 SOS to protect meighbourhood character and amenity; Inaugural AGM and SOS Committee; Planning Forum April 28: Ballarat and Brighton groups formed; Municipal Rep – Richmond; Media Watch