Council refers Amendment C130 submissions to independent planning panel hearing

Council will request an independent panel be appointed to consider submissions received to Amendment C130 to the Maroondah Planning Scheme following a resolution at a Council meeting on Monday 18 May.

Council has resolved to refer Amendment C130 – Ringwood Metropolitan Activity Centre (RMAC) Masterplan to the Minister for Planning, requesting that the Minister appoint Planning Panels Victoria to independently assess and review all submissions lodged with Council.

A total of 42 submissions were received during the 27 February to 30 March 2020 public exhibition period.

The majority of submissions received (90.5%) reflect total or partial support for the Amendment, with four (9.4%) opposed.

Matters raised in the submissions related to intended built form, transport, landscaping and pedestrian access.

Council is proposing to apply new planning controls to the Ringwood Metropolitan Activity Centre under the Maroondah Planning Scheme (via Amendment C130), to help manage future development and support employment growth in the area.

Ringwood is a designated Metropolitan Activity Centre (MAC) – a priority of the Victorian Government’s blueprint for Melbourne’s future growth,

As a key Metropolitan Activity Centre in Melbourne’s outer-east, Ringwood is the focus of significant public and private investment, employment growth and renewal.

Amendment C130 implements the objectives and strategies of the Ringwood MAC Masterplan through the application of local policy, zones and overlays for adoption into the Maroondah Planning Scheme, subject to approval by the Minister for Planning.

The Masterplan is the primary guiding document for Council, stakeholders and the community to ensure coordination of development and enhancement of the activity centre to the year 2030.

Following the appointment of an independent panel to review all submissions, Council will consider any recommendations put forward by the panel and decide to either adopt, alter or abandon the Amendment.

Council will also consider any late submissions before referring them to the Minister.

To find out more about Amendment C130 – Ringwood Metropolitan Activity Centre (RMAC) Masterplan