Planning and Environment Act 1987 MAROONDAH PLANNING SCHEME

AMENDMENT C58

EXPLANATORY REPORT

Who is the planning authority?

This amendment has been prepared by the Maroondah City Council, who is the planning authority for this amendment.

The amendment has been made at the request of Maroondah City Council.

Land affected by the amendment

The amendment applies to all the land shown in Figure 1. It includes all the land known as the Ringwood Transit City (extending from the Eastlink tollway to the west, the Ringwood Bypass Road/Mullum Mullum Creek to the north, Ringwood Lake to the east and the Belgrave/Lilydale Railway lines and Station Street to the south).

Figure 1: Land affected by this Amendment

Ringwood Bypass

Eastland Ringwood Lake

Ringwood Market Ringwood Centro Ringwood Station Shopping Centre Eastlink

Maroondah Hwy

Ringwood Transit City Area

What the amendment does

The amendment proposes to:

• Amend Clauses 21.02, 21.03, 21.04, 21.07 and 21.09 of the Municipal Strategic Statement (MSS) within the Local Planning Policy Framework to support the strategic basis of the Amendment. • Deletion of the following outdated reference documents in the Local Planning Policy Framework from the clauses as specified: - Maroondah Retail Strategy 1997 (Clauses 21.03, 21.09, 22.06 & 22.07) - Maroondah Retail Mix Strategy 1996 (Clauses 21.03, 21.09, 22.06 & 22.07) - Ringwood District Centre Structure Plan 1987 (Clauses 21.03, 21.09, 22.06 & 22.07) - Ringwood District Centre Structure Plan Review 1997 (Clauses 21.03, 21.09, 22.06 & 22.07) - Ringwood District Centre Urban Design Guidelines, Hassell Planning 1991 (Clauses 21.09, 22.06 & 22.07) - Ringwood District Centre Landscape Guidelines Land Systems EBC, 1992 (Clauses 21.09, 22.06 & 22.07) - Ringwood Town Centre Masterplan, Context Conybeare Morrison, 2001 (Clauses 21.04, 21.07 & 21.09) - Retail 2000 Study – The Retail Market in 2000, Richard Ellis et al, 1996 (Clause 21.09)

- • Inclusion of the following reference documents into the Local Planning Policy Framework in the clauses as specified: - Ringwood Transit City Urban Design Masterplan, Hansen Partnership, 2004 (Clauses 21.03, 21.04, 21.07, 21.09, 22.06 & 22.07) - Ringwood Transit City Public Domain and Landscape Guidelines, Hansen Partnership, 2006 (Clauses 21.07, 21.09, 22.06 & 22.07) • Replace The Ringwood District Centre Development Policy at Clause 22.07 with a new Ringwood Activity Centre Policy, which reflects the objectives and policies of the Ringwood Transit City Urban Design Masterplan, 2004. Clause 22.07 will combine all local policies previously relating to the Ringwood Activity Centre (Clauses 22.07. 22.08, 22.12 & 22.15) into one policy, which supports the strategic basis of the Amendment. • Transfer of the content of Clauses 22.08-2 and 22.08-3 to Clause 22.07 - Ringwood Activity Centre Policy, and Clause 22.08 to be deleted. • Transfer of the content of Clauses 22.12-2 to 22.12-6 (inclusive) to Clause 22.07, and Clause 22.12 to be deleted. • Transfer of relevant content of Clause 22.15 to Clause 22.07, and Clause 22.15 to be deleted. • Rezone various parcels of land within the Ringwood Activity Centre to implement the recommendations of the Ringwood Transit City Urban Design Masterplan 2004, including: - Rezone land east of Market Street, between and Seymour Street (No.s 93-101 Maroondah Highway) to a Business 1 zone; - Rezone land west of New Street (No.s 42-48 New Street, and Pt. No. 43-57 Maroondah Highway) to a Business 2 zone;

- Rezone land north of Maroondah Highway, between Sherbrook Avenue and Burwood Avenue (No’s 33-39 Maroondah Highway & No. 1 Sherbrook Avenue) to a Business 2 zone; and, - Rezone land bounded by Maroondah Highway to the north, New Street to the east, the Belgrave/Lilydale railway reservation to the south and the Eastlink land to the west (No.s 28-48 Maroondah Highway) to a Business 2 zone.

• Amend the Schedule to the Business 1 zone to include land to be rezoned to Business 1 Zone and amend the schedule provisions to support the strategic basis of the amendment. This includes removing the office and retail maximum floor limits specified in the schedule so as to be unrestricted, and reducing the floor limit for trade supplies to zero, for all land in a Business 1 Zone located within the Ringwood Transit City. • Amend the Schedule to the Business 2 zone to include land proposed to be rezoned to Business 2 zone. • Delete the existing Design & Development Overlay (Schedule 3) that applies to land within the Ringwood Transit City. • Apply a new Design & Development Overlay (Schedule 3) to all non-residential land within the Ringwood Transit City and to the residential land on the north-west corner of Bedford Road and Station Street, which reflects the design objectives and recommended height provisions contained in the Ringwood Transit City Urban Design Masterplan 2004. The schedule will specify preferred minimum and maximum heights for different precincts within the Transit City, in accordance with the Masterplan recommendations. • Amend the Development Plan Overlay (Schedule 2) at Clause 43.04 to reflect the key strategic initiatives outlined in the Ringwood Transit City Urban Design Masterplan 2004. The DPO2 schedule will: - Allow for a planning permit to be issued prior to the approval of a development plan, where the use and development are for public transit purposes, which do not compromise the achievement of the Masterplan objectives or prejudice the future preparation of a Development Plan; and, - Amend the specific provisions relating to the individual precinct plan requirements, to facilitate the future redevelopment of the railway station site in accordance with the Masterplan recommendations.

Strategic Assessment of the Amendment Why is the amendment required? The Amendment provides for the efficient and effective implementation of the Ringwood Transit City Urban Design Masterplan 2004 (‘the Masterplan’), which was adopted by Council in August 2004. The Masterplan seeks to establish a planning and design vision for Ringwood that will establish Ringwood as the primary mixed use hub in Melbourne’s outer east. It encourages sustainable retail, commercial, residential, leisure, entertainment and community activities, which are accessible via an integrated transport network, in accordance with the objectives of Melbourne 2030 and the Transit Cities Program.

The Masterplan has been developed through consultation and review with the Ringwood Transit City Partnership Committee, Maroondah City Council Councillors & Officers, transport, community & trader working groups and the general public.

The Masterplan was placed on public exhibition in April/May 2004. Following consideration of the submissions received and subsequent amendments to the Masterplan to address the submissions, Council adopted the Masterplan on 12 August 2004.

The Masterplan provides a vision for Ringwood Transit City that will guide its planning and development over the next 30 years. It provides the overall vision and objectives for the Transit City as a whole, based around 4 key elements:

• Land use & activity • Built form & scale • Access & movement • Landscape and environment

The above elements are further reflected by 21 key features, which provide specific recommendations for individual precincts within the Transit City area. These key features represent the initiatives and actions required to achieve the defined Transit City objectives.

Forming part of the Masterplan is an Implementation Plan, which identifies the tasks required to successfully implement the objectives of the Masterplan, and prioritises such actions. The preparation and exhibition of a Planning Scheme Amendment to implement the recommendations of the Masterplan are identified as having high priority.

This Amendment therefore represents the implementation of statutory controls into the Maroondah Planning Scheme that will give effect to the objectives and recommendations set out in the Masterplan.

How does the amendment implement the objectives of planning in ?

The amendment implements the objectives of planning in Victoria by facilitating the efficient and effective development of a Principal Activity Centre and Transit City, as identified under the Melbourne 2030 strategy, including:

• Providing for the fair, orderly, economic and sustainable use and development of land; • Securing a pleasant, efficient and safe working, living and recreational environment; • Enabling the orderly provision and co-ordination of public utilities and other facilities for the benefit of the community; and, • Facilitating development in accordance with the above objectives.

Environmental effects

The amendment will have a positive effect on the environment through the achievement of the following key outcomes:

• Creation of high amenity pedestrian areas and public realm. • Development of public transport as a viable and desirable mode of transport to access the Ringwood Activity Centre. • Using the natural environmental features of Ringwood to advantage. • Improved opportunities for landscaping as a key component of the built form. • The creation of a walkable Town Centre with good pedestrian links to adjacent residential areas. • Creation of a highly liveable environment that is conducive to attracting residential development within the Activity Centre, thus reducing the need for motorised trips for those residents. • Promoting environmentally sustainable development principles in all new developments.

Social and economic effects

The Amendment is expected to have positive social and economic benefits for the community by:

• Improving the safety, comfort and aesthetics of the Ringwood Activity Centre • Making a wider range of services and facilities more accessible to the residents of the outer eastern region Melbourne. • Providing improved physical and visual connectivity between all precincts within the Activity Centre. • Improving transport options for all users, and improved accessibility within the Activity Centre for all forms of transport. • Improved connectivity between all precincts within the Activity Centre. • Creating a sense of place, with increased opportunities for social interaction and community focus. • Creation of significant employment opportunities for the municipality through the strengthening of the commercial heart of Ringwood, and the development of mixed-use precincts.

Minister’s Directions

The amendment is consistent with the Ministerial Direction on the Form and Content of Planning Schemes under Section 7(5) of the Act. Ministerial Direction No. 9 requires that planning scheme amendments have regard to the Metropolitan Strategy – Melbourne 2030. The Metropolitan Strategy Melbourne 2030 contains a set of Principles and nine key Directions to guide the growth and development of the Melbourne metropolitan area for the next 30 years. The amendment is consistent with the policy statements contained in the following Directions:

Direction 1: A more compact city • Providing the mechanism to enhance the role of the Ringwood Activity Centre as a Principal Activity Centre that is a focus for high-quality development, activity and living for the whole community (Policy 1.1). • Facilitating the broadening of the activity mix within the Ringwood Activity Centre to provide for a wider range of services and facilities to cater for the needs of the whole community (Policy 1.2). • Providing for the integration of high density housing within the Activity Centre in a liveable environment that has good access to services and public transport (Policy 1.3). Direction 5: A great place to be • Integrating land use planning, urban design and transport planning to make the Ringwood Activity Centre a more liveable and attractive mixed use environment, (Policy 5.1). • Encouraging development that responds to its context in terms of built form, landscape character and neighbourhood character, to promote a sense of place and community identity (Policy 5.2). • Improving community safety through appropriate urban design and the use of ‘safer design’ guidelines in the planning process (Policy 5.3).

• Providing for high quality and appropriately located public open space areas within the Ringwood Activity Centre to enhance existing natural and environmental assets, improve liveability and provide a means of physical and visual connectivity between precincts (Policy 5.6). Direction 7: A greener city • Requiring environmentally sustainable development principles and techniques to be incorporated into the planning, construction and operational stages of all new development within the Ringwood Activity Centre (Policy 7.8). Direction 8: Better transport links • Facilitating improvements to the Principal Public Transport Network via improved modal interchanges and improved connectivity between transport modes (Policy 8.1). • Planning for urban development to make jobs and community services within the Ringwood Activity Centre more accessible (Policy 8.3). • Ensuring an integrated planning process which recognises the needs of all transport modes (Policy 8.4). • Improving pedestrian and cyclist links within the Ringwood Activity Centre (Policy 8.7).

State Planning Policy Framework

The Amendment is consistent with the State Planning Policy Framework as follows:

Clause 12 Metropolitan Development This Clause reinforces the objectives and policies contained within Melbourne 2030. As discussed above under Ministerial Directions, the Amendment is consistent with Melbourne 2030, and in accordance with Clause 12 provisions. The Amendment will facilitate land use and transport planning and investment within the Ringwood Activity Centre that contributes to economic, social and environmental goals. All land affected by the Amendment is located within the urban growth boundary limits identified under this Clause.

Clause 14.01 Planning for urban settlements The Amendment is consistent with this clause in that it will: • Facilitate the orderly development of land within the Ringwood Activity Centre, by implementing the recommendations of the relevant structure plan. • Encourage consolidation of existing urban areas whilst maintaining neighbourhood character. • Encourage higher density housing and mixed use development near public transport routes.

Clause 15.12 Energy efficiency The amendment promotes consolidation of urban development, integration of land use and transport planning and promotion of energy efficient building design, in accordance with this Clause.

Clause 17.01 Activity centres The Amendment will facilitate the concentration of major suburban retail, commercial, administrative, entertainment and cultural developments in a Principal Activity Centre that is highly accessible to the community with good access to integrated transport nodes. This will include encouraging co-location of land uses and facilitating multi-purpose trips.

Clause 17.02 Business The amendment will facilitate development that meets the diverse range of retail, entertainment, office and other commercial needs of the community, and provide net community benefit in relation to accessibility, efficient infrastructure use and the aggregation and sustainability of commercial facilities.

Clause 18 Infrastructure The Amendment is consistent with this clause in that it will: • Facilitate integrated land use and transport planning around a declared highway, railway and principal bus routes within the Ringwood Activity Centre. • Encourage higher density residential development near public transport routes, and enhance pedestrian access to public transport interchanges. • Ensure consideration is given to all modes of transport in providing for access to new development, including the efficient provision of car parking facilities, and the integration of public transport services and bicycle networks.

Clause 19.03 Design and built form The amendment will encourage high quality urban design that reflects local community characteristics, and enhances liveability, diversity, amenity and safety of the public realm.

Local Planning Policy Framework The amendment is consistent with the key objectives and strategies of the Local Planning Policy Framework (LPPF). In particular, the following Clauses are relevant:

Retail & Commercial Clause 21.02 Municipal Profile recognises the strong retail sector that dominates the economy of Maroondah, and provides local economic stability. The key business centre in the municipality is the Ringwood Activity Centre. Clause 21.09 Retail and commercial activity recognises the value to the economy of a strong commercial sector which generates income, provides employment opportunities and delivers essential goods and services to the community. It is Council policy to ensure the successful operation of the retail and commercial centres within the municipality through sustainable planning and economic development. Clause 22.06 Retail and commercial development policy seeks to ensure that retail and commercial development builds upon existing commercial centres and public infrastructure and contributes to the development of a functional and sustainable urban form. The Amendment is consistent with the above policies, in that it will allow for the consolidation and strengthening of the Ringwood Activity Centre as the primary mixed use hub in Maroondah and in Melbourne’s outer east. It will facilitate a broadening of the activity mix within the Ringwood Activity Centre to provide for a wider range of services and facilities and widen employment opportunities within the municipality. The implementation of the objectives of the Masterplan will ensure that development results in a functional and sustainable urban form.

Transport Clause 21.04 Transport and accessibility seeks to develop effective road and public transport strategies which include encouraging pedestrian activity, improving access to public transport services, and promoting the Ringwood modal interchange. It is also Council policy to promote increased residential densities within the Ringwood Activity Centre, and promote greater integration of compatible land uses to reduce travel time and maximise infrastructure use. The Amendment is consistent with these policies as it will facilitate improved pedestrian links, increase the level of access to public transport services and facilitate improvements to modal interchanges within the Ringwood Activity Centre. It will also facilitate increased densities within the Activity Centre, to maximise use of public transport and existing infrastructure.

Residential Clause 21.08 Residential land use seeks to ensure diverse and sustainable housing opportunities within the municipality that protects existing urban and environmental quality, whilst also providing an effective framework for encouraging increased densities around major transport and commercial facilities. This amendment supports these policies, by providing for higher density housing within the city’s principal activity centre to optimise the use of services and facilities, and which maintains urban and environmental standards.

Ringwood Activity Centre Existing policies within the LPPF that specifically relate to the Ringwood Activity Centre are: 22.07 Ringwood District Centre Development Policy 22.08 Ringwood District Centre Commercial Boulevard Policy 22.12 Ringwood Activity Centre Residential Development Policy 22.15 Ringwood Town Centre Development Policy All these policies relate to land use and development within the Ringwood Activity Centre, and all seek to strengthen and enhance the role of the Ringwood Activity Centre as the major commercial and retail focus of Maroondah, with a strongly defined town centre and opportunities for higher density housing. These policies seek to ensure that development occurs in a coordinated manner achieving high quality urban design and landscaping standards. Amendment C58 will combine all these policies into a new Clause 22.07 – Ringwood Activity Centre Policy. The new Clause 22.07 will retain the same key focus, however will update the content of these policies in the context of the objectives of the Masterplan. This process will create a single policy within the Planning Scheme specifically relating to land within the Ringwood Activity Centre and therefore provide a comprehensive strategic framework for all decision making within the Activity Centre.

Victoria Planning Provisions

The amendment makes proper use of the Victorian Planning Provisions by ensuring an appropriate planning framework is in place to implement the objectives of the Ringwood Transit City Urban Design Masterplan 2004, which has been prepared following extensive community consultation, and which is consistent with the General Practice Note – Structure Planning for Activity Centres (Dec 2003)

The key provisions of the Amendment are the various rezonings, the policy changes to the LPPF to reflect the Masterplan, the height controls proposed to be introduced as part of the Design & Development Overlay (DD03), and the updating of the Development Plan Overlay (Schedule 2) provisions to reflect the key Masterplan initiatives.

Relevant agencies

The amendment reflects the objectives of the Ringwood Transit City Urban Design Masterplan 2004, which was adopted by Council in 2004. The preparation of the Masterplan involved extensive consultation with residents, stakeholders and users of the Ringwood

Activity Centre, including all relevant agencies. Where appropriate the views of these agencies were addressed in the development of the Masterplan.

Where required, the views of statutory referral authorities specified in the Planning Scheme will still be sought for individual land use and development applications.

The amendment does not propose the creation of any new referral authority.

Resource and administrative costs The amendment will ensure the Local Planning Policy Framework and other relevant overlay controls in the Local section of the Maroondah Planning Scheme appropriately reflect the desired strategic policy direction within the Ringwood Activity Centre. It will result in more certainty for all stakeholders (including developers, businesses and residents), and encourage appropriate development processes, lessening the resource burden on Council. All future planning applications will be required to pay the appropriate statutory fee prior to consideration by Council.

Where you may inspect this Amendment The amendment is available for public inspection, free of charge, during office hours at the following places.

• Department of Planning & Community Development web site at: www.dpcd.vic.gov.au/planning/publicinspection.

• Maroondah City Council: - City Offices Service Centre, Braeside Avenue, Ringwood - Eastland Service Centre, Level 2, Eastland Shopping Centre, Ringwood - Civic Square Service Centre, Civic Square, Croydon

• Croydon Library, Civic Square, Croydon • Ringwood Library, Ringwood Plaza, Ringwood