Proposed Zone Reforms - Victoria Planning Provisions

RESPONSIBLE OFFICER Director Planning Building & Health


RECOMMENDATION
That Council:
1. Endorse this report and the attached  submission and submit them to the State
Government as Council‟s response to the proposed zone reforms.
2. Note Council‟s submission will also inform the submission from the Eastern Group of
Councils and the Interface Councils group.


LINK



SUMMARY
 The State Government has released  a series of proposed  zone reforms for
public consultation, including new  residential and commercial zones and
modified mixed use, low density residential, industrial and rural zones. No
information has been provided on how the changes will be implemented.  It is
unclear whether they will be introduced as a Ministerial amendment or whether
Council will be allowed to influence how the new zones will be applied.
 The proposed residential zones allow  Council flexibility to prescribe controls
for many neighbourhood character issues including: maximum  height, site
cover, permeability and landscaping provisions. The new zones have multiple
schedules,  giving Council the ability to tailor controls to specific areas.
Council’s recently adopted housing Amendment C97 can be translated into the
new provisions and puts Council in a good position to implement the new
zones when they become available.    In the low density areas the proposed
changes reduce the minimum subdivision size, provided reticulated sewerage
is available.
 The new rural zones have not delivered the changes to support agriculture
Council has advocated for, such as permit exemptions for hail netting or
allowing value added sales. The increased non  - rural uses will intensify
pressure for urban type development in these areas, competing with the need
to preserve areas for agriculture and conservation.
 The proposed reforms allow a greater variety of uses in all zones making them
function more as mixed use or general zones.  There are a number of identified
issues with this approach with associated changes affecting both development
and the overall function of the Planning Scheme.
 The objectives (or purpose) of the zones are diluted by the increased
discretionary uses, resulting in less certainty and a more complex planning
permit regime.  It is anticipated more permits will need to be resolved at VCAT.
 The introduction of increased discretionary uses  creates a policy vacuum
requiring additional local planning policy to be prepared.  This is particularly
critical should the new zones be introduced by a Ministerial amendment.AGENDA ITEM NO. 8.5
YARRA RANGES SHIRE COUNCIL AGENDA –  11/09/12 159
 A detailed draft submission to the State Government is attached which
together with this report is proposed to be Yarra Ranges’ submission to the
zone reforms. Yarra Ranges will also be making a joint submission with the
Eastern Metropolitan Group of Councils and Interface Councils.