Council awaits Minister's approval to simplify Planning Scheme

The Yarra Ranges Planning Scheme has undergone its most comprehensive review in 20 years, with three years of community consultation resulting in two major amendments.

Amendment C148 includes changes to the Municipal Strategic Statement (MSS) to provide a clearer strategic direction and guide decisions on a range of land use and development issues. It includes new strategies and addresses emerging planning issues not adequately covered by the current scheme.

Yarra Ranges Mayor Tony Stevenson said C148 was designed to address current policy gaps, embed council strategies, protect environmental values and make the planning scheme easier for people to use and understand.

“While over the years Council has adopted a number of planning related strategies and plans, many of them  have not been formally recognised in the Planning Scheme,” Cr Stevenson said.

“Amendment C148 has enabled us to implement those strategies and plans through the Planning Scheme, providing stronger strategic direction to help guide our decision making on a range of land use and development issues.

“Those strategies include the Yarra Ranges Green Wedge Management Plan, Vision 2020 by Design, the Yarra Ranges Economic Development Strategy and the Recreation and Open Space Strategy, to name a few.”

Amendment C148 includes an updated Environmental Significance Overlay which recognises significant remnant vegetation, habitat corridors and waterways. The amendment also protects rural landscapes by introducing new Significant Landscape Overlays to manage built form and control vegetation removal.

“These overlays are designed to protect the valued landscapes that the Yarra Ranges is renowned for and the reason why people love to live here,” Cr Stevenson said.

Cr Stevenson said many redundant policies and controls were removed as part of the review.

“A number of controls are currently buried deeply in the planning scheme. These have been replaced by clearly mapped overlays which are now more visible.” he said.

Tenement provisions, which were retained as part of the amendment, will be more transparent in the new planning scheme, and will now appear on planning certificates and electronic planning reports as part of a Special Controls Overlay.

Associated changes to the Upper Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges Regional Strategy Plan (Amendment 122) were exhibited as part of the C148 amendment process.

Cr Stevenson said Council undertook an extensive review process for C148 which began back in 2016.

“Community consultation for the amendment began late in 2016, and included community information sessions across Yarra Ranges, targeted consultation and direct notification to rural landholders” he said.

“Council considered public submissions in May 2018 and a Panel Hearing was held in August last year giving community members the opportunity to speak to their submissions. The Panel then prepared a report with recommendations for Council to consider.

“The Panel was generally supportive of the Amendment and recommended Council adopt the amendment subject to a number of changes. 

“Council has carefully considered the recommendations of the Panel and issues raised in submissions and has made a decision to adopt Amendment C148 generally as exhibited, but with some changes mainly involving improving the Environmental Significance Overlay mapping and tenement controls.”

Cr Stevenson said Council was now preparing to submit the adopted Amendment C148, and the associated Amendment 122 to the Regional Strategy Plan, to the Minister for Planning for approval.

“It’s very satisfying to finally adopt this Amendment, and we look forward to the Minister’s approval for both Amendments so the proposed changes can be incorporated into the Yarra Ranges Planning Scheme.”