Melton-Caroline Springs Growth Area: Towards Melbourne 2030

Final Report – Melton-Caroline Springs Committee for Smart Growth

August 2005

MELTON – CAROLINE SPRINGS GROWTH AREA

Final Report Melton – Caroline Springs Committee for Smart Growth

Executive Summary Context, Key Issues and Directions

Confidential Introduction Introduction This report contains the main findings and recommendations of the Melton - Caroline Springs Committee for Smart Growth on the future development of the designated Melton - Caroline Springs growth area, to the end of 2030.

The report focuses on the Melton - Caroline Springs growth area and does not consider the merits of growth in Melton - Caroline Springs compared with any other designated growth areas.

Melbourne 2030 Planning for Sustainable Growth (October 2002), referred to the Melton Caroline- Springs Study Area as an investigation area for growth. The detailed work is undertaken to prepare this report and all considerations by this Committee has been conducted in relation to this area’s growth potential as an urban growth front within greater Melbourne.

The Committee’s assessment has been undertaken in accordance with the Minister’s Terms of Reference for a growth area review process.

The report is based on an investigation process undertaken between May 2004 and July 2005, overseen by the Committee for Smart Growth: Melton - Caroline Springs. The investigation work necessary to identify development constraints and issues has been largely completed by a Technical Working Group that has reported to and in turn considered by the Committee. Strategic Planning work undertaken by the Shire of Melton with respect to the Melton township has also been made available to the Committee. Additional detailed analysis may be required prior to implementation of any recommendations contained in this report. Disclaimer

The views expressed in this report do not necessarily represent the position of:

Any specific Local or State government department or agency or organisation, or any of their employees.

Members or employees of the State of Victoria who participated on the Committee.

Melton Shire Council, the Council Representatives on the Smart Growth Committee or Council Staff that participated in the Technical Working Group deliberations. The Committee recognises that implementation of its recommendations will be subject to available funding and the priorities set by the State government and Melton Shire Council.

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Table of Contents

Introduction ...... 1 Glossary of Terms...... 5 Executive Summary ...... 6 List of recommendations from the Melton-Caroline Springs CSG ...... 23 Part 1. Introduction...... 31 1.1 What this report contains ...... 31 1.2 The Melton - Caroline Springs Committee for Smart Growth ...... 33 1.3 Terms of reference ...... 33 1.4 Additional investigations ...... 35 1.5 Disclaimer ...... 36 Part 2. Context ...... 39 2.1 Settlement history...... 39 2.2 Metropolitan context...... 40 Part 3. Key issues analysis...... 43 3.1 Changing population base...... 43 3.2 Aspirations for urban consolidation...... 44 3.3 Land capability constraints...... 45 3.4 Native vegetation and faunal habitat...... 48 3.5 Waterways and water quality...... 54 3.6 Existing landuse constraints...... 56 3.7 Cultural values...... 60 3.8 Air and noise ...... 61 3.9 Open space network...... 62 3.10 Employment growth and extractive industry...... 63 3.11 Transport and mobility...... 66 3.12 Urban form and greenhouse gas emissions...... 75 3.13 Service infrastructure provision and funding...... 76 Part 4. Findings & recommendations ...... 81 4.1 Direction for sustainable growth...... 81 4.2 Direction and scale of new development ...... 82 4.3 Economic development...... 89 4.4 Transport & mobility ...... 89 4.5 Extent and direction of urban expansion...... 92 4.6 Staging of land release ...... 94 4.7 Rockbank ...... 98 4.8 Development and Implementation Issues ...... 99 Part 5. Planning framework ...... 101 5.1 Urban form and structure ...... 101 5.2 Key locations...... 104 5.3 Identifying social infrastructure needs...... 106 5.4 Employment development ...... 109

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5.5 Activity centres...... 110 5.6 Transport ...... 121 5.7 Freight movement ...... 122 5.8 Walking and cycling circulation ...... 123 5.9 Cultural heritage...... 124 5.10 Biodiversity...... 125 5.11 Waterways and water quality...... 127 5.12 Land capability and amenity...... 129 5.13 Landscape and open space ...... 129 5.14 Open space...... 133 Appendix 1: Smart Growth principles ...... 137 Appendix 2: Local Context of Growth Area ...... 141 Appendix 3: Summary of Critical Success Factors Considerations..... 144

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Table of Figures

Figure 1: Study Area ...... 32

Figure 2: Regional Context ...... 41

Figure 3: Physical Constraints...... 47

Figure 4: Biodiversity Values...... 52

Figure 5: Biodiversity Concept ...... 53

Figure 6: Land Capability and Salinity ...... 59

Figure 7: Road Transport...... 69

Figure 8: Public Transport...... 71

Figure 9: Freight Network ...... 73

Figure 10: Concept Map...... 84

Figure 11: Urban Consolidation Sites ...... 88

Figure 12: Growth Directions and Staging...... 97

Figure 13: Employment and Activity Centres...... 112

Figure 14: Proposed Role and Function of Activity Centres ...... 115

Figure 15: Landscape Structure...... 132

Figure 16: Open Space ...... 135

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Glossary of Terms

AAV Aboriginal Affairs Victoria

AEO Airport Environs Overlay

ANEF Australian Noise Exposure Forecast

CAD Central Activity District

CSG Committee for Smart Growth

DOI Department of Infrastructure

DPI Department of Primary Industries

DSE Department of Sustainability and Environment

EIIA Extractive Industry Interest Area

ESO Environmental Significance Overlay

EPA Environment Protection Authority

EVC Ecological Vegetation Classes

M2030 “Melbourne 2030, Planning for Sustainable Growth October 2002”

MSC Melton Shire Council

MTN Metropolitan Trail Network

PPTN Principle Public Transport Network

TWG Technical Working Group

UC Urban Consolidation

UGB Urban Growth Boundary

VU Victoria University

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Confidential Executive Summary Executive Summary Context

The Melton – Caroline Springs growth area sits within the outer western fringe of metropolitan Melbourne.

The area comprises three distinct areas:

The township of Melton, which is a physically separate township that is linked to metropolitan Melbourne via a road network (Melton Hwy & Western Freeway/Highway) and a V/Line train service. It includes the suburbs of Melton South, Melton West, Melton Central, Brookfield and Kurunjang:

The area known as Melton East which is comprised of the outer metropolitan suburbs of Hillside, Taylors Hill, Caroline Springs, Burnside and Ravenhall.

The non urban areas that separate the two urban areas include the minor township of Rockbank and the non urban area of Plumpton. This non urban area is currently outside the Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) and sits as an inter-urban break between Melton township and Melton East. This area also includes Kororoit Creek, Mt. Kororoit, Mt Cottrell, various areas of significant grassland vegetation as well as valuable stone resources. This area also has significant surface rock, providing challenges to agricultural use and for land management generally. See Figure 2: Regional Context The separation between Melton and metropolitan Melbourne has been a deliberate policy direction, dating back to the early 1970’s when Melton was identified as a satellite township to Melbourne. Key issues analysis

Changing population base

Victoria in the Future (VIF) forecasts a population of 161,018 for Melton (Shire) in 2031; this is an increase of 91,984 people from the 2001 population. This equates to an additional 61,000 new households required for the growth area, an increase of 38,338 households on the 2004 figure of 23,261 households.

Victoria in the Future 2004 estimates the 2005 resident population for the Shire as being 72, 386 this represents an increase of 20,500 from 2001 (an average annual growth rate of 8.6%). The majority of this population growth has been in Melton East (Caroline Springs/Hillside/ Taylors Hill) where population growth rate since 2001has been estimated to be approximately 21%, compared to just under 2 % for the balance of the Shire.

It is predicted that household sizes will change within the study area with anticipated further reductions from an average household size in 2001 of 3.01 persons per household to 2.60 per household in 2031. This change in household size will result in a change in the dwelling stock and types of dwellings which may be sought by the market. The Melton and Caroline Springs markets have traditionally provided a limited range of housing choice. However, in recent years the diversity in dwelling stock provided in such estates as Caroline Springs, Watervale and Tentafield (Delfin,

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Confidential Executive Summary and the market to take on board greater diversity in dwelling styles and lot sizes. Marketing features including “warehouse” and “townhouse” designs and the soon to be developed “inner – urban” precinct near the Caroline Springs Town Centre has seen a gradual shift in acceptance to a more diversified housing stock. Melton township housing development still represents a strong emphasis on conventional style dwelling development and density. In comparison, Melton East provides greater diversity in public / private housing sectors and has a strong housing market.

Melton Shire is located in the Western Region as defined for the purposes of residential land supply analysis by the Urban Development Program (UDP) (DSE). The Western region has 31% of metropolitan Melbourne’s broad hectare residential lot construction potential or approximately 55,100 lots. The Western Region has also been identified as having 20% of metropolitan Melbourne’s currently identified dwelling construction potential from identified major redevelopment sites. Within the Shire of Melton in 2004, there were approximately 18,900 broad hectare lots of which 92 % were zoned for residential development. Recent broad hectare lot construction has averaged approximately 2,150 per annum.

Environmental constraints to future development

Initially it may be considered that there are many opportunities for outward expansion from the UGB within the Melton-Caroline Springs growth area. However, in some areas, this expansion is constrained due to a range of physical, environmental and cultural conditions.

Physical Constraints

Soil landform and hydrogeological characteristics of the landscape have created zones of poor land capability, which are patchily evident across the study area. Some areas of poor land capability can be developed for urban purposes, but at a cost (in terms of amenity, construction and on-ongoing maintenance). Shallow depth-to-bedrock and reactive clays (high shrink-swell potential) have not been considered an absolute constraint to future development. However, areas of shallow water table, salinity, very poor drainage, sink hole landforms and incised drainage lines have been determined as inappropriate for development or for inclusion within the UGB.

Specific areas of exclusion are:

Variable width floodways and riparian corridors along all defined drainage lines in the study area, with major protection buffers to be established along Kororoit Creek, Toolern Creek, Werribee River and Djerriwarrh Creek.

Drainage depressions along the edges of local waterways (particularly Toolern Creek north of the Western Freeway and in patches south of the Freeway; Kororoit Creek between Melton Freeway and Caroline Springs) and in wetland complexes south west and north of Rockbank township.

Shallow water table and associated salinity risk along Kororoit Creek north east of Rockbank; and at the confluence of Werribee River and Toolern Creek.

Sink hole alluvial plains prone to subterranean collapse, particularly north west of Melton township (along an eastern tributary of Djerriwarrh Creek in the vicinity of Harkness Road).

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Confidential Executive Summary

Low level alluvium land systems, particularly along Toolern Creek, being prone to flooding risk and poor drainage which pose severe engineering difficulties, which may be difficult to overcome with current technology (or in less constrained areas may result in higher construction and ongoing maintenance costs). The extent of the constraint is defined on the basis if a regional scale assessment and requires more detailed flood risk assessment and engineering appraisal.

Heritage constraints

Heritage sites and areas of heritage significance have been identified in the growth area, and are treated as follows:

Isolated sites have been left within the available developable land on the basis that individually, they are of small land coverage, and given appropriate assessment and conservation, allow adjacent development and could become part of the character of an urban area.

Areas of Aboriginal cultural and landscape significance, particularly along creek corridors (especially Kororoit Creek) and the alluvial plains, terraces and escarpments adjoining Toolern Creek and Djerriwarrh Creeks) have been excluded from available developable land and combined with waterway corridors, or broadly identified as part of landscape protection areas. Retained areas may still be protected within the fabric of land zoned for urban purposes.

One heritage overlay covering a large area at the convergence of Werribee River and Toolern Creek, on the southern extent of Exford Road has been included in available land on the basis that heritage buildings and sites (farmhouse, fences and garden) are reasonably discreet and allow for adjacent development.

Existing landuse constraints

Some existing land uses generate conflict with urban development. Potential areas of conflict have also been considered as follows:

Tullamarine Airport Environs Noise Overlay was considered a severe constraint and precluded residential development from the area between Hillside and Diggers Rest.

The existence of one broiler farm and the potential for three more to the west, south west and south east of Rockbank were treated as a conflicting landuse with urban development, although not omitted from the available land. The separation distances for broiler farms are determined through the relevant Code of Practice.

Areas of better quality agricultural soils and arable land, notably to the west of Hillside (east of Leakes Road) were only considered available for urban growth if it was necessary for the configuration of a viable and sustainable community.

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Confidential Executive Summary

Parallel gas and electricity easements extending north south through the growth area, west of Caroline Springs/Hillside were considered a barrier to westward growth of the metropolitan area.

Although not specifically delineated or excluded at this stage, reasonable buffer distances must also be provided during future planning of the area (for example, between residential or industrial development and major transport routes) to ameliorate noise and air pollution and protect the health of residents and workers.

Ecological constraints

In order to maintain regional biodiversity for the long term future, core areas of habitat and areas known to support populations of endangered species have been excluded from the proposed growth area as follows:

Remnant grassy ecosystems (including endangered grassland communities), particularly south and west of Caroline Springs, south of Rockbank and in the vicinity of Mt Cottrell.

Remnant woodlands near Toolern Creek; around wetland complexes south west of Rockbank; and adjacent to Kororoit Creek. These areas should remain free of development or subdivision, but may form part of the open space network if adjacent to a future growth area.

Floodways, habitat links and environmental protection areas along major waterways, including Werribee River, Toolern Creek, Kororoit Creek, and Djerriwarrh Creek. These areas (or component parts) may be incorporated into the open space network if adjacent to a future growth area, acknowledging that some areas may be defined as ‘conservation’ rather than ‘use’. All of these nominated waterway areas will require buffers to development and shall remain free of subdivision or construction. Additionally, to maintain a regional perspective on these major environmental objectives, open space and biodiversity concept plans have been developed. Inter- departmental and local government waterway planning discussions have also been initiated to agree a methodology for the determination of appropriate waterway corridors and buffers.

Employment growth and diversity

During the 1970’s both Melton & Sunbury were selected for satellite city development under the assumption that with good strategic planning and State government infrastructure investment both locations could attract private sector investment and “self contained” employment development. The premise of both satellite city developments was on the ability of the towns to attract high levels of local employment. The Melton- Sunbury Coordinating Committee set a specific policy direction to achieve “self containment”. The vision for Melton as a satellite city has not been fully realised.

Melton Shire Council believes that: “The inability to achieve the employment objectives of the 1975 Satellite City Plan for Melton township was due to the:

Lack of public transport investment and continued inability to market the township as a place for businesses to establish and invest and have access to local as well as Melbourne labour markets.”

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Confidential Executive Summary

Inability to attract high-level public – private infrastructure investment in the local economy.

Lack of a successful marketing program to encourage local economic growth despite the efforts of successive Melton Councils.

Inability to attract diverse “balanced communities” to the township, (mainly due to the opening of the Melton East corridor, the re-direction of this “diverse” housing market, distance from Central Activities District (CAD) and lack of effective strategic planning). A lack of diversification of the housing market resulted in the dominance of an unskilled local labour market. Earlier failures to successfully address the development of local jobs and the general attraction of the Melton township as a first home buyer “mono-culture”, has resulted in a concentration of low-skilled employees within the town who are heavily biased to blue-collar occupations. The lack of employment diversity leaves the local economy vulnerable to economic downturns. Should the economy fail in the key employment fields occupied by the community, this can heavily impact all sectors of the local community through reduced consumer spending and raised unemployment.

There is an aspirational target of Council to achieve a higher ratio of local jobs per household as part of any future growth area planning option. To achieve this for future households, significant additional land will be required for employment purposes, as well as significant change in the business and employment culture of Melton to attract a diverse range of employment activities. It is not envisaged by the Shire that total self- containment of local jobs to local resident workforce is achievable. However, the Shire is committed to increasing the amount of local jobs, diversifying local jobs and lobbying for better public transport access to labour markets in the Melbourne metropolitan area. Ideally the Shire would like to achieve 0.7 jobs per household. In addition the Shire would like the Melton township to be marketed as a place in which people desire to work. The Shire believes that an efficient public transport system is essential to achieve this objective.

Valuable agricultural land to the north-east of Melton township, between Leakes Rd and the Plumpton area provides some tourism and agricultural employment and generates economic activity. This area includes activities such as viticulture, olive growing and tourism. The land is located north and south of the Melton Freeway and is traversed by the Kororoit Creek. The land is serviced with recycled water from Sunbury. There is an EIIA running north-south in the green wedge between Mt Cottrell Rd to the west and Plumpton Rd to the east. The EIIA also extends generally south of the railway through to Boundary Road. This EIIA is well located in regard to metropolitan markets and transport infrastructure. The land covered by the EIIA should not be used for urban development unless it can be demonstrated that preventing future access to the resource is necessary for the sustainable development of local communities.

In particular, the location of the EIIA potentially constrains urban development in the Rockbank area and in the central band of land between Melton township and Caroline Springs – primarily either side of Leakes Road.

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Confidential Executive Summary Transport and mobility

Car ownership within the area is very high with 97% of households within the growth area owning a car compared to 90% across Melbourne. There are 66% of households with multiple cars, which is 13 % more than across Melbourne.

Car is the dominant mode for all trips with a mode share of 83%. It is particularly dominant for trips of 1 to 3kms (87% mode share) and 3 to 40kms (96%). Car driver and passenger are the mode choices for 89% of journeys to work made by residents in the Melton township and 91% mode by the residents of Caroline Springs and Hillside.

There is a need to redress this dependence upon car travel for social economic and environmental reasons. Melton Shire Council recently surveyed 400 residents within the township. Residents were asked to rate services. Most rated township services as very good with the exception being public transport. Of those residents that rated rail public transport as poor, the main concerns were the low number of trains running, lateness and unreliability, especially outside peak periods.

Residents that rated bus public transport stated their main concerns were the infrequency of buses and the length of time it took to reach destinations.

Urban form and greenhouse gas emissions

Reducing the ‘urban footprint’ of metropolitan growth provides an important means of reducing vehicle emissions including greenhouse gasses. A more compact urban form reduces the need for motorised transport and minimises energy use in the form, type and layout of built structures.

Infrastructure provision and funding

There are no constraints to major reticulated services to the area. Existing infrastructure with relevant upgrades has capacity to supply forecast growth.

There is a need to provide clarity as to how infrastructure will be funded. There will be a need for government to consider innovative approaches to the provision of some major items of infrastructure. Consideration needs to be given to the extent to which the development industry and therefore the final landowners will contribute to infrastructure through Development Contribution Plans (DCP). There needs to be an approach that ensures that an appropriate share of the costs can be effectively factored into land purchases. This may involve consideration of both how DCPs are applied and the extent of the infrastructure included in them.

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Confidential Executive Summary Findings & recommendations

Direction for sustainable growth

The ability for the Melton - Caroline Springs growth area to provide for long term sustainable development will be dependent upon any future growth being directed in a way that can achieve the best economic, social and environmental outcomes at both a local, regional and metropolitan level.

The Committee considers that new development should be contiguous with the existing urban edge of Melton township and be designed in ways that maximise the ability of new areas to integrate with existing communities.

Options for growth discussed by Committee for Smart Growth and the Technical Working Group were assessed as discussed in Section 3 and 4 of the main report. (See also Figure 10: Concept Map and Figure 12: Growth Directions and Staging). The recommended option for growth is:

Reinforce Melton township as a consolidated community that concentrates more intensive development in the established urban areas and on green field sites and strengthens both existing and proposed activity centres, better utilises existing social and physical infrastructure and transport and, retains an urban break between Melton and Melton East.

Create new and varied residential and business opportunities south of Melton township through the establishment of a new rail based community, focussed on a new railway station in the Toolern area and the area between Exford Road and the Melton Reservoir.

Accommodate limited residential land supply outside the current UGB directly west of Hillside to provide further catchment for local service provision. Key factors in this determination included:

Growth at Toolern provides the opportunity to promote new residential development at Melton that utilises the existing capital assets of the Melbourne rail line, based around a walkable neighbourhood structure and a new activity centre around a new rail station.

Growth at Toolern will provide new employment opportunities ranging from traditional manufacturing employment with access to the Western Freeway and the rail line, to service based employment, servicing new population in the immediate area and the Eynesbury Estate to the south.

Whilst major new development west of Hillside would support development at the Sydenham Transit City, its distance from Sydenham Station is such that it is likely to promote a more highly car based community. In addition it would be isolated from the existing Hillside and Caroline Springs area due to being located on the western side of major infrastructure lines that would create a barrier between the two areas. There are also poor east-west road connections.

Development at Rockbank is severely constrained. In particular, local north / south connections are poor due to the east / west rail and road corridors each creating barriers in close proximity. This can only be resolved at considerable cost and if

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Confidential Executive Summary constructed would still limit pedestrian usability of this neighbourhood, due to the complexity of overpasses and underpasses that would be required.

The establishment of successful second and third home buyer markets and associated employment opportunities in both Toolern and Exford Road areas will require a new image for Melton, particularly as the available land in Melton East becomes fully developed. This shift in the market will need to be carefully developed and the Committee has identified a number of preconditions for it to occur. However the second and third home buyer market which is currently being catered for in Melton East will only shift their preferences to Toolern if one or more major developers are satisfied that the development conditions in the area are appropriate and are prepared to develop large scale master planned communities and they are sure that potential purchasers will purchase in this location.

Further detailed work on preferred growth direction

In identifying Toolern as the most appropriate direction for the future growth of Melton, the Committee identified some issues of detail that need further detailed work before the location of the UGB in this area is finalised. It is recommended therefore that more detailed investigation take place between now and July 2006. This work will contribute towards master planned development for the Toolern and Exford Road areas and the southern section of the Kororoit precinct. Investigations should cover and draw conclusions on:

The location(s) within these areas for short-term master planned development to accommodate a second and third home buyer market.

Other preconditions to facilitate the market switch to ensure that appropriate development occurs.

The location of land for future employment related development so that both residential and other uses are best located to facilitate appropriate high quality residential and non residential development.

Urban design treatments associated with accessing future residential development to the south of the existing industrial development with frontages to Ferris Road north of the railway line.

Further land capability and biodiversity studies as recommend for the Toolern precinct.

The provision of adequate land to provide for larger scale master planned communities which support the establishment of a second and third homeowner market in Melton township.

Other work particularly on demographics, cultural heritage, economic, social, environmental, urban design, landscape and transport as recommended by the TWG and consultants as set out in Part 3 of this report, below. This further work should involve DSE, the Council, other relevant agencies and with a development industry input. It is important that developers with a particular interest in participating in the first stage of development play a key role in this further work. However, it is also important that a mechanism be agreed such that this industry input is does not give one major developer exclusive rights to development. National competition principles should apply. The committee is not prescriptive on how this might occur but did see that VicUrban may play a key advisory, if not developer, role.

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Confidential Executive Summary Urban consolidation

In line with Melbourne 2030 the report recommends more integrated development within the growth area: both in the established urban area (on key redevelopment sites) and on greenfield sites. This would strengthen both existing and proposed activity centres, making better use of infrastructure and improving access to and supportive service provision for communities whilst minimising impacts on the environment. While services currently lag in some areas, consolidation can potentially improve current, and avoid future, deficiencies of neighbourhood level services and facilities in urban areas. A number of consolidation opportunities have been identified in established areas and these need to be explored in more detail.

It is noted that there is a difference between Council’s and DSE’s assumptions about both the acceptance by the market of urban consolidation and therefore the willingness of the developers to build the assumed housing types. Although there is a focus on encouraging a wider range of housing types based on higher densities, it is acknowledged that there is a clear need to protect the urban character and amenity of established residential neighbourhoods. Consequently detailed urban design work will be required to ensure that higher density development is suitably located within the areas identified for urban. Sensitive urban design can assist surrounding communities in accepting higher density development and greater housing choice in limited areas.

A range of dwelling yields has been used to assist in identifying the potential anticipated by these two organisations. Currently there is little medium density housing available in Melton township and this market is substantially untested. Some Committee members express the view that there is unlikely to be a significant demand for this form of housing in the short-term. It is acknowledged that it may take many years to realise the full potential of the nominated urban consolidated sites and their rate of development will be influenced by a range of issues which have yet been fully analysed. The Committee notes over the 25 year planning horizon a significant change in the market is achievable with changing demographics appropriate policy frameworks, and management tools. See Figure 11: Urban Consolidation Sites.

The key urban consolidation opportunities recommended include:

Greenfield location within the UGB: Toolern (UC7).

Redevelopment sites: Primarily Melton Town Centre, Woodgrove Activity Centre, Melton Station Precinct and the area to the south of the golf course precinct (UC 24).

Economic development

The local economy of the Melton township faces several challenges as it seeks to provide local jobs for its current and future population. The township has a narrow skills base and many local residents commute to the Melbourne metropolitan area for work. The creation of more local and regional jobs which can be accessed within 30 minutes travel time (by various modes) are considered essential to the success of further growth within this study area. A more diverse workforce and a more broadly skilled workforce will create a more robust local economy allowing for a better quality of life and more opportunities for residents.

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Confidential Executive Summary Diversification the economic base of the growth corridor is recommended through a whole of governments approach by:

Building on the Toolern employment precinct by providing additional 205ha of land for employment purposes, 15ha for new economy uses and 28ha for new retail.

Protecting and ensuring that the high value agricultural land continues to provide employment and generate significant income for the region.

Supporting the equine rural industry through support for Council’s proposed equine centre and for intensive agricultural development suitable for using recycled water on suitable land in the green wedge.

Building on and strengthening the High St, Woodgrove, Caroline Springs Major Activity Centres and maximising the employment potential of the proposed activity centre at Toolern. (See Figure 13: Employment and Activity Centres)

Transport & mobility

The Melton–Caroline Springs primary study area is serviced by two major rail lines: the suburban Sydenham (Watergardens) line and the V-Line service to Melton (via Sunshine and Deer Park). These lines provide good access to the CBD and several Principal Activity Centres in the Western Region. Two new rail stations are investigated as part of this report: Toolern, at Melton township and Ravenhall to service the Caroline Springs area (location to be determined).

The area also has road access via the Melton Highway (to the north) and the Western Freeway (to the south). A significant road issue for the area is the construction of the Deer Park By-pass. Bus services have been investigated and it is noted that improved services within the township and better services in urban areas are required.

An improved PPTN and local bus network are required to provide residents with greater access to jobs in and outside the region and to local jobs, shops, education facilities and services within the urban areas of Melton–Caroline Springs.

A reduction in car dependency and increased pedestrian opportunities will also need to be supported by urban form and clustering of facilities in line with the Melbourne 2030 objective of development in and around mixed use activity centres and transport nodes to promote walking and easy access to public transport.

Implementation of the following public transport improvements is recommended when required:

Consider the future electrification of the rail service to Melton township conditional on the provision of adequate suburban system capacity between Sunshine and the inner city.

New stations on the Melton line at Ravenhall in the short-term (with the exact location to be determined) and Toolern as part of growth sequencing.

Within operational constraints, provide additional peak and off peak rail services from Melton (VLine) and Watergardens (suburban).

PPTN bus service along Melton Highway between Melton (station and High Street) and Watergardens station.

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Confidential Executive Summary

PPTN bus service along Gourlay Road/Caroline Springs Boulevard/Robinsons Road/Palmers Road linking Watergardens, Ravenhall and Laverton stations/activity centres.

Possible extension of the Gold Orbital PPTN from Tullamarine Airport and Watergardens to include links with the rail system and the other PPTNs.

Other sub-regional bus services including linkages between Melton township, Eynesbury Estate and Werribee and to Bacchus Marsh.

Develop local bus services to provide public transport access to within 400m of most households. Recommended major road improvements, when warranted are as follows: (See Figure 7: Road Transport and Figure 9: Freight Network).

Upgrade the Western Highway/Freeway to full freeway standard (the project is committed however; timing is dependent on phasing, rate of development, population, urban form and funding availability. Therefore, further detailed investigations are required).

Building the Deer Park By-pass to link the Western Freeway directly to the Western Ring Road.

Building the proposed interchange at Leakes Road (Rockbank).

Providing for a future interchange at a mid-point between Ferris and Leakes Roads.

Implement other major inter-regional arterial road linkages required to provide the growth area with access to the metropolitan network and to the west including:

Melton Highway upgrade to 4 lanes between Melton township and Melton East and six lanes between the urban edge (at Melton East) and the Calder Freeway.

Provide for the extension of Hopkins Road to the north (Diggers Rest) including grade separation of the rail line via Plumpton Road.

For several of these roads, the initial carriageway (2 lanes undivided) would be the responsibility of the abutting developer and would be built as subdivision occurs. Council would be responsible for ensuring the connection of these early stages into the road network. As development in the wider corridor takes place, Council together with VicRoads (as appropriate) would program works to upgrade major intersections and duplicate these roads to cope with increased travel demands. The incremental development of the road network (the road network works program) depends on the rate of development and the related priority for each project. Recommended development and extension (where appropriate) of other main roads in the network include: (See Figure 7: Road Transport).

Calder Park Drive/Westwood Drive/Robinsons Road /Palmers Road to six lanes when required (the timing is dependent on phasing, rate of development, population, urban form and funding availability. Therefore, further detailed investigations are required for all road upgrades listed.).

Rockbank Middle Road, Taylors Road, Hume Drive and Caroline Springs Boulevard/Gourlay Road all to four lanes when required.

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Confidential Executive Summary

Ferris Road, Mt Cottrell Road (dependent on finalising access to Toolern), Station Road, Coburns Road, Bulmans Road, Bridge Road and Brooklyn Road all to four lanes when required.

Grade separation is required at all new rail crossings. Recommended walking and cycling strategies include:

Increased housing densities within easy walking distance of activity centres and transport interchanges within the existing Melton township and at Melton East (especially Melton and the proposed Toolern rail stations.

The timely development of the Council and the metropolitan bicycle strategies for journey to work and school and recreational use.

The provision of adequate local networks of safe and accessible footpaths. It is recommended that the State government agencies in close cooperation with the Shire of Melton:

Determine priorities for road and public transport infrastructure improvements to support the development of the growth area based ‘in principle’ on the above transport outcomes for the Melton - Caroline Springs growth area.

Consider that public transport services to and within the growth area be improved by prescribing clear service delivery requirements for the provision of improved rail, PPTN and local bus services as set out above.

Extent of urban expansion

The amount of new residential land that will be required outside the UGB within the planning period varies according to different assumptions about rates of growth, density of development and the degree of urban consolidation in metropolitan Melbourne. In the table below the range of land required for residential development outside the UGB is set out. DSE and Council have significantly different assumptions about the potential for urban consolidation and this has lead to a range in the likely extra land required outside the UGB.

Low amount of land High amount of land required (DSE required (Council Assumptions) Assumptions)

Dwelling Gain from Urban 3,995 Dwellings 1,576 Dwellings Consolidation inside UGB

Dwelling Gain from Greenfield 16,000 Dwellings 14,860 Dwellings sites inside UGB

Total land required outside UGB 1,626 ha 3,824ha (Gross)* for residential development

* Different methods have been used to calculate land required outside the UGB by DSE and Melton Shire Council (i.e. gross land requirement assumes that a certain percentage of land is used for other uses eg. commercial, community etc. DSE assumption based on 32% non-residential whilst the Council assumptions vary for each area) Therefore, these figures are not directly comparable.

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Confidential Executive Summary Potential for consolidation within some existing sites has been identified where possible new development may be able to assist in the regeneration of the township overall. There are also several greenfield sites within the UGB awaiting development which may be able to be reviewed to achieve improved urban form through higher density residential development. A proactive approach by the preparation of local structure plans by Council and developers is encouraged. A review which could provide better integration of services and population and address Melbourne 2030 principles would benefit future and current populations.

As indicated in the table above between 1,626 ha and 3,824 ha (Gross) of land outside the current UGB will be required to accommodate new residential development between now and 2030. The table also indicates that between 1,566 and 3,995 new dwellings will be built inside the existing UGB as a result of development on identified urban consolidation sites. It is recognised that the current housing market in Melton is unlikely to accommodate significant higher density development and greater housing choice on identified urban consolidation sites in the short term. Over the 25 year planning horizon on which Melbourne 2030 is focussed it is agreed that the housing market in Melton is likely to change very significantly. Council and DSE have differing assumptions about the extent to which urban consolidation will be accommodated by the market over this period. Higher density development on designated urban consolidation sites is a long term objective that is consistent with government policy and increasing housing needs and with the appropriate policy framework and management, is achievable.

The medium to longer term planning horizons for urban consolidation also mean that in managing the staging of land release the availability of land for more conventional residential development as opposed to that which will occur on urban consolidation sites should be taken into account. There is a need to ensure that the UGB is located so that there is a sufficient supply of land in the short to medium term for conventional residential development (albeit at higher densities than exist in parts of the Melton township), and as detailed elsewhere, to facilitate switch in the market for second and third home buyers from Melton East to Toolern.

The government’s commitment to a 15 year supply of land for future urban development will need to be understood in terms of a sub-market for higher density development and for more conventional residential development in Melton. This will involve ensuring that there is a suitable supply of land for conventional residential development and other urban uses to ensure competition and affordability in this sub- market.

For the orderly development of the Toolern precinct to occur it is recommended that after the further work discussed in the Section called “Further detailed work on preferred growth direction” has been completed the UGB be located so that there is land available in that precinct to accommodate a substantial market switch as part of the long term master planned development of Toolern.

In addition to the extra residential land discussed above provision will need to be made for a further 248 ha of land for employment and industrial purposes as follows:

Employment and industry 205 ha

New economy uses 15 ha

Retail 28 ha

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Confidential Executive Summary Staging of land release

The management of the supply of land is a tool to assist in the proper and orderly development of the growth area and support the growth area plans, aims and objectives. It is noted by the Committee that the Toolern area and the area immediately to the east of the area between Melton Freeway and the Western Freeway need to be investigated in greater detail and an appropriate framework design prepared. There are several constraints through this area which will require careful consideration and particular attention to the assignment of land us to any of the component areas. Further work is required and the area is identified as an investigation area. This investigation should be undertaken by DSE and Melton Shire Council in order to further address the know constraints and the appropriate design solutions.

Following the detailed investigation and its outcomes the following approach to managing staging is recommended. In the staging described below, Stage 1 is in two components, one for immediate implementation and the second for implementation in 2006 after the further work discussed above has been undertaken. Stage 2 should commence when the 15 year land supply threshold for greenfield development in the Toolern precinct is approached. In making this recommendation it is recognised that the development within the identified ‘urban consolidation’ areas which is identified in Stage 1, is likely to extend over the full 25 years of the planning period and as such will continue through the period that Stage 2 is being implemented.

Stage 1(a):

Give priority to developing land within the existing UGB sites including urban consolidation sites.

Supplement the existing land within the Urban Growth Boundary with the release of additional land: At Melton East generally adjacent to Taylors Hill. To the north of the town in an area generally south of Minns Road. Stage 1(b):

As a result of the further investigation and framework planning discussed above, and to be completed by July 2006, recommend to government that the UGB in the Toolern area be located so that sufficient land is available to accommodate the first stages of a master planned development this area, to facilitate the switch in the second and third homebuyer market from Melton East to Toolern. Stage 2

Further development in the Toolern, Exford Road and Kororoit areas to further extend the development of the Melton township to support the rail based growth node at Toolern as identified in Figure 12: Growth Directions and Staging.

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Confidential Executive Summary

Toolern sequencing

The development of Toolern will require a well coordinated and properly managed transition to ensure its success as a fully functioning quality growth front. Apart from the cost efficient delivery of social and physical infrastructure such as transport services, schools, health and recreational facilities, the basic assembly of land parcels to achieve appropriately sequenced development is paramount.

As the Shire of Melton is currently a large land holder in the area it will require a strong commitment on their behalf to achieve the desire outcomes for the Toolern area. In the short term this may require Council refraining form the sale of any further land or committing large parcels of land for specific development uses until detailed plans and processes are established identifying preferred stages of development.

Staging processes will also need to address the issue of existing landholder expectations of developing land which is currently zoned for rural or industrial purposes that will be required to be zoned for either residential or business uses. An implementation program that includes an outline for discussions/negotiations with these land owners will need to be considered.

The proper sequencing of development at Toolern to be resolved in the further investigation work proposed to be undertaken will allow for an appropriately master – planned community which can be effectively marketed to developers, avoiding excessively high infrastructure costs. For new communities to function appropriately it is important that they do not have to wait for the necessary social and physical infrastructure such as a rail station.

The amount of land identified for future urban development as part of stages 1b and 2 should not focus solely on the need to provide for a 15-year land supply in the growth area as a whole. The detailed work should address a number of issues critical to the long term success and attractiveness of Melton township as a growth area, including:

The requirement to plan for entire communities, with a comprehensive range of social and physical infrastructure, and full catchments to support that infrastructure.

The need to create a dynamic development market in Melton township, with a range of large scale, high quality residential developments, to support a shift in the second and third home owner market.

Rockbank

The Rockbank precinct, centred on the Rockbank railway station, sits half way between the two urban areas of Caroline Springs and Melton. The area has historically provided limited urban services to a former Army base located near the site and the local rural community. Being located on the rail line, with proximity to the Western Freeway the settlement has opportunity for long term growth to provide a more sustainable catchment for local services. However, this would require significant investment in both physical servicing of the site, including grade separated crossings over the freeway and rail crossing, potentially reducing the ability to create a cohesive community. Successful community building would also require the introduction of a major new population base, in an isolated location separate from the existing urban nodes of Melton East and Melton township. Council notes that “although the Rockbank

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Confidential Executive Summary township does not appear to provide any substantial opportunity for development in the short term, it may well be considered a site for development in the longer term”. Council representatives have indicated that they would like Rockbank to develop to 3,000 households.

The area contains significant biodiversity sites and land constrained by salinity, shallow water tables and poor drainage, much of which is located north of the Freeway.

Long term consideration needs to be given to addressing this area subsequent to the development of Toolern, thereby providing alternative access to the southern section of Rockbank, south of the Western Freeway and railway line. Development of this area in the planning horizon is not supported.

Development and implementation issues

The development of this growth area plan has involved a high level of cooperation between representatives of Council, State agencies, infrastructure providers, the community and representatives of the development industry. If the outcomes envisaged in this plan are to be achieved, planning in this and other growth areas will need to move to a new level. High quality outcomes will only be achieved by each of these groups committing to a process that ensures a high level of continuing cooperation and a strategic outlook.

Better coordination would also be assisted by better information about development trends and issues affecting the growth area, and timely monitoring and reporting of those issues.

More formal reviews of trends and issues are needed on a regular basis to ensure that the new growth area plan remains relevant and useful in guiding future development. A five yearly review is considered optimal.

Further research be undertaken to better establish the types of industry and business that can be attracted to the growth area including an improved database of existing business/industry trends that affect the growth area.

As a matter of urgency further investigations be undertaken to determine the mechanisms required to deliver growth in employment to the growth area as part of an overall detailed investigation into development at Toolern.

As part of a long term growth plan for Toolern consider and preserve options for growth at Rockbank beyond the 2030 timeframe.

Ongoing institutional arrangements, involving State and local government and agencies, are established to assist in the preparation and co-ordination, monitoring and review of the implementation of a Melton - Caroline Springs Growth Area Plan.

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Confidential Executive Summary

The rate of urban development within the Melton - Caroline Springs growth area should be monitored on an annual basis including information provided through the Urban Development Program.

Any growth area plan prepared be reviewed on a five yearly basis and the need for additional land beyond that already recommended be assessed in the light of other metropolitan planning needs.

Structure plans accompanied by DCPs should be prepared before the approval or renewal of redevelopment plans and new greenfield development and an indication of the nature of infrastructure to be provided should desirably be given before or when the UGB is moved.

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Confidential List of recommendations from the Melton-Caroline Springs CSG List of recommendations from the Melton- Caroline Springs CSG

Recommendations for direction of growth

The recommended option for growth is:

Accommodate limited residential land supply outside the current UGB: a) directly west of Hillside and b) immediately north of the township generally south of Minns Road to provide further catchment for local service provision.

Recommendations for further detailed work on preferred growth direction

The location(s) within these areas for short-term master planned development to accommodate a second and third home buyer market.

Other preconditions to facilitate the market switch to ensure that appropriate development occurs.

Urban design treatments associated with accessing future residential development to the south of the existing industrial development with frontages to Ferris Road north of the railway line.

Further land capability and biodiversity studies as recommend for the Toolern precinct.

The provision of adequate land to provide for larger scale master planned communities which support the establishment of a second and third homeowner market in Melton township.

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Confidential List of recommendations from the Melton-Caroline Springs CSG

Recommendations for urban consolidation

Designate the identified redevelopment sites in the growth area plan as locations for new forms of higher density urban use;

Pursue greater housing choice and higher densities in green-field areas where the opportunities exist to provide for more consolidated forms of development aligned with the current and future PPTN, local bus services and neighbourhood activity centres;

Pursue timely investment in transport and other infrastructure and services to support consolidation objectives. In particular, networks of integrated activity centres and high quality public transport infrastructure should be implemented in line with residential development;

Avoid short-term development of key locations, serviced by existing infrastructure, which produces lower yields than required to support sustainable services delivery. Development of consolidation sites should make optimum use of site advantages, such as proximity to transport and/or activity centres;

Set minimum yield requirements for redevelopment sites, based on sustainable services delivery, which makes the best use of the locational advantages of these sites;

Implement processes for staging of development, to allow higher density development to occur later in the planning period if it is not seen as viable in the short term. And avoid allowing short-term development to proceed with a narrow range of housing types and limiting future redevelopment or intensification;

Planning for urban consolidation should identify a vision and preferred built form outcomes for these sites, rather than debating residential yields or density levels. Integration of different uses, including commercial/retail, community, educational and residential uses, should be pursued;

Monitor the potential impacts of covenants such as single dwelling covenants on achieving urban consolidation and higher density developments;

Where consolidation sites include existing buildings and facilities, planning for redevelopment or expansion should seek to improve street interfaces and the public environment, with a focus on people and social interaction, rather than car access and parking. The key urban consolidation opportunities recommended include:

Greenfield location within the UGB: Toolern (UC7).

Redevelopment sites: Primarily Melton Town Centre, Woodgrove Activity Centre, Melton Station Precinct and the area south of golf course precinct (UC 24).

Recommendations for Rockbank

As part of a long term growth plan for Toolern consider and preserve options for growth at Rockbank beyond the 2030 timeframe.

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Confidential List of recommendations from the Melton-Caroline Springs CSG Recommendations development and implementation

As a matter of urgency further investigations be undertaken to determine the mechanisms required to achieve greater access to employment both within the township and the broader region as part of an overall detailed investigation into development at Toolern.

Ongoing institutional arrangements, involving State and local government and agencies, be established to assist in the preparation and co-ordination, monitoring and review of the implementation of a Melton - Caroline Springs Growth Area Plan.

The rate of urban development within the Melton - Caroline Springs growth area should be monitored on an annual basis including information provided through the Urban Development Program.

Any Growth Area Plan prepared be reviewed on a five yearly basis and the need for additional land beyond that already recommended be assessed in the light of other metropolitan planning needs.

Consider the potential impacts of covenants such as single dwelling covenants on achieving urban consolidation and higher density developments now and into the future.

Structure plans accompanied by DCPs should be prepared before the approval or renewal of redevelopment plans and new greenfield development and an indication of the nature of infrastructure to be provided should be desirably given before or when the UGB is moved.

Recommendations for staging

Following the detailed investigation and its outcomes the following approach to managing staging is recommended:

In the staging described below, Stage 1 is in two components, one for immediate implementation and the second for implementation in 2006 after the further work discussed above has been undertaken. Stage 2 should commence when the 15 year land supply threshold for greenfield development in the Toolern precinct is approached. In making this recommendation it is recognised that the development within the identified ‘urban consolidation’ areas which is identified in Stage 1, is likely to extend over the full 25 years of the planning period and as such will continue through the period that Stage 2 is being implemented.

Stage 1(a):

Give priority to developing land within the existing UGB sites including urban consolidation sites.

Supplement the existing land within the Urban Growth Boundary with the release of additional land: at Melton East generally adjacent to Taylors Hill. to the north of the town in an area generally south of Minns Road.

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Confidential List of recommendations from the Melton-Caroline Springs CSG Stage 1(b):

Recommendations economic development

Diversification the economic base of the growth corridor is recommended through a whole of governments approach by:

Building on the Toolern employment precinct by providing additional 205 ha of land for employment purposes, 15 ha for new economy uses and 28ha for new retail.

Protecting and ensuring that the high value agricultural land continues to provide employment and generate significant income for the region.

Building on and strengthening the High St, Woodgrove, Caroline Springs Major Activity Centres and maximising the employment potential of the proposed activity centre at Toolern.

Recommendations for transport & mobility

Implementation of the following public transport improvements is recommended when required:

Consider the future electrification of the rail service to Melton Township conditional on the provision of adequate suburban system capacity between Sunshine and the inner city.

New stations on the Melton line at Ravenhall in the short-term (with the exact location to be determined) and Toolern as part of growth sequencing.

Within operational constraints, provide additional peak and off peak rail services from Melton (VLine) and Watergardens (suburban).

PPTN bus service along Melton Hwy between Melton (station and High Street) and Watergardens station.

PPTN bus service along Gourlay Road/Caroline Springs Boulevard/Robinsons Road/Palmers Road linking Watergardens, Ravenhall and Laverton stations/activity centres.

Possible extension of the Gold Orbital PPTN from Tullamarine Airport and Watergardens to include links with the rail system and the other PPTN’s.

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Confidential List of recommendations from the Melton-Caroline Springs CSG

Other sub-regional bus services including linkages between Melton township, Eynesbury Estate and Werribee and to Bacchus Marsh; and

Develop local bus services to provide public transport access to within 400m of most households. Recommended major road improvements, when warranted are as follows:

Building the Deer Park Bypass to link the Western Freeway directly to the Western Ring Road.

Building the proposed interchange at Leakes Road (Rockbank).

Providing for a future interchange at a mid-point between Ferris and Leakes Roads.

Implement other major inter-regional arterial road linkages required to provide the growth area with access to the metropolitan network and to the west including: Melton Hwy upgrade to 4 lanes between Melton township and Melton East and six lanes between the urban edge (at Melton East) and the Calder Freeway; Provide for the extension of Hopkins Road to the north (Diggers Rest) including grade separation of the rail line via Plumpton Road. For several of these roads, the initial carriageway (2 lanes undivided) would be the responsibility of the abutting developer and would be built as subdivision occurs. Council would be responsible for ensuring the connection of these early stages into the road network. As development in the wider corridor takes place, Council together with VicRoads (as appropriate) would program works to upgrade major intersections and duplicate these roads to cope with increased travel demands. The incremental development of the road network (the road network works program) depends on the rate of development and the related priority for each project.

Recommended development and extension (where appropriate) of other main roads in the network include: Calder Park Drive/Westwood Drive/Robinsons Road /Palmers Road to six lanes when required (the timing is dependent on phasing, rate of development, population, urban form and funding availability. Therefore, further detailed investigations are required for all road upgrades listed). Rockbank Middle Road, Taylors Road, Hume Drive and Caroline Springs Boulevard/Gourlay Road all to four lanes when required. Ferris Road, Mt Cottrell Road (dependent on finalising access to Toolern), Station Road, Coburns Road, Bulmans Road, Bridge Road and Brooklyn Road all to four lanes when required.

Grade separation is required at all new rail crossings.

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Confidential List of recommendations from the Melton-Caroline Springs CSG Recommended walking and cycling strategies include:

The timely development of the Council and the metropolitan bicycle strategies for journey to work and school and recreational use.

The provision of adequate local networks of safe and accessible footpaths. It is recommended that the State government agencies in close cooperation with the Shire of Melton:

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Part 1. Introduction

Confidential Introduction Part 1. Introduction 1.1 What this report contains

This report contains the main findings and recommendations of the Melton - Caroline Springs Committee for Smart Growth on the future development of the designated growth area Melton - Caroline Springs, to the end of 2030.

The advice in this report is based upon available information provided by Melton Shire Council, State government departments and agencies, Brimbank City Council, community and industry representatives and consultants.

The report focuses on the Melton - Caroline Springs growth area and does not consider the merits of growth in Melton - Caroline Springs compared with any other designated growth areas. See Figure 1: Study Area.

This report consists of the following main parts:

Executive Summary including an overview of the Committee’s findings and recommendations.

Part 1 Introduction: Terms of reference and CSG process

Part 2 Context: A description of the growth area within a metropolitan, regional and local context

Part 3 Key Issues Analysis: An outline of issues identified in investigation and the context of the growth area to provide future direction statements.

Part 4 Main Findings and Recommendations: The Committee’s main conclusions and recommendations

Part 5 Planning framework: Detailed recommendations relating to land use activities and other matters to assist in the development of the growth area plan

This document must not be circulated - Confidential Page 31 Melbourne Airport CityCity ofof HumeHume

Calder Park Sydenham ShireShire ofof Water Gardens MeltonMelton Water Gardens ShireShire ofof MeltonMelton Melton MooraboolMoorabool Melton

Toolern

Keilor Downs Rockbank

St Albans Caroline Springs Springs CityCity ofof BrimbankBrimbank Ginifer

Primary Study Area Deer Park Urban Growth Boundary (Aug. 2005) Robinson Albion Local Government Boundary Freeway/Highway Ardeer Sunshine Rail Line - Existing & Proposed Stations

20052005 AerialAerial PhotographyPhotography CityCity ofof 0 1 2 WyndhamWyndham Km WyndhamWyndham Page 32

Figure 1: Study Area CONFIDENTIAL Map Ref. 1916, 12 August 2005 Confidential Introduction 1.2 The Melton - Caroline Springs Committee for Smart Growth

The following are present members of the Committee.

Membership of the Melton - Caroline Springs Committee for Smart Growth

Primary Members Role on Committee Alternative Members

Prof. Rodger Eade Chair

Community Organisation Mr Bill Earle Representative

Ms Jill Earnshaw Mr Donald Purdue VicRoads Representative

Cr Chris Papas Cr Renata Cugliari Melton Shire Council Representative

Mr Paul Jarman Mr David Kirkland DSE Regional Representative

Dr Jenny Morris Mr Geoff Hutton* DOI representative

Mr George Petsinis HIA Representative

Mr Neville Smith Mr Luke Shannon Melton Shire Council Representative

Mr Maurice Street UDIA representative

Community Organisation Mr Mark Vodell Representative

Department of Sustainability and Mr Julian Hill Ms Cathy Wilkinson Environment Representative

Past Members include: Cr Richard Gough

*Mr Geoff Hutton has attended as an observer on behalf of DOI. 1.3 Terms of reference

The Minister for Planning’s Terms of Reference for the Committee are as follows:

“The Committee for Smart Growth is responsible for reviewing and revising existing plans or developing new plans for the development of the designated growth area consistent with the Principles, Key Directions and Policies of Melbourne 2030.”

The Committee will review, provide advice and recommend as appropriate, to the Department of Sustainability and Environment and local councils on:

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The detailed technical investigations of development constraints and issues within the growth area carried out by the Technical Working Group.

An overall strategic framework plan (including an integrated transport strategy) for the growth area that accords with and implements Melbourne 2030, as the basis for a new or revised Ministerial Direction.

Issues of development staging as proposed by the Technical Working Group and a ‘preferred development sequence’.

The preparation of any associated development guidelines, policies or precinct plans that may be needed to ensure that development achieves the agreed outcomes.” It is expected that the Committee’s report will be used by the State government in reviewing and preparing a growth area plan for this growth area. Local Councils and other agencies can use recommendations from the report to modify existing local policy where required and to assist agencies in developing budgets and funding proposals.

Committee process

The Committee has been meeting regularly since May 2004. The Committee’s work has been through the following key stages:

Committee Program Outline

Stages Undertakings Date

1 Investigation work to identify issues and constraints October 2004 (development of issues papers)

2 Prioritisation Workshop October 2005

3 Community workshops to gain input from the February 2005 public and an understanding of community values

4 Design Workshops to assist in development of the March 2005 strategic framework options (IBD)

5 Refinement and evaluation of options March/ April 2005

6 Decisions on options and issues May/June 2005

7 Preparation of a Final Report July/August 2005

This document must not be circulated - Confidential Page 34 Confidential Introduction In addition to the above, the Committee has received and considered submissions related to the planning of the growth area that were provided following the release of Melbourne 2030 in 2002. Furthermore, landowners, developers and others have provided unsolicited correspondence and proposals to the Committee for consideration in its review of the growth area. All submitters to the release of Melbourne 2030 in 2002 were offered the opportunity to meet with the Chair and other members of the Committee to update any information from their initial submission. 1.4 Additional investigations

Two specific sections of work that are still progressing and need to be considered in growth area plan preparation. These are summarised below.

Proposed Christie’s Road Rail Station and Deer Park Bypass

The area of Ravenhall located around Christies Road, between the Western Freeway and the Melbourne-Ballarat Railway line, has been identified as containing highly significant, conservation-status Plains Grasslands communities (see Section 3 for further details). Species of endangered and/or threatened animals and plants, and relatively large pockets of remnant vegetation communities are known to occur in this area, however, the extent of the biodiversity is currently unknown.

As part of the Deer Park Bypass evaluation project, VicRoads has commissioned a detailed winter flora & fauna study. DSE and DOI are assisting to fund the work which commenced in July 2005. It is expected that the draft report will be available late August 2005.

Open Space Strategy

A working group has been established to develop a set of Environmental Significant Overlay (ESO) principles for triggering waterway corridor assessment to protect and manage streamside values as part of development and on-going land management.

Green Wedge Management Plans are being prepared for this area. The process includes the involvement of Melton Shire Council and the results of these investigations will assist in helping to plan for the long term interests of the rural land within this corridor. Of particular note will be the area positioned to the north of the Caroline Springs Regional Park. This land on current plans would sit between the Regional Park and the existing urban area of Caroline Springs and may need careful consideration in respect to the possible range of land uses.

This document must not be circulated - Confidential Page 35 Confidential Introduction 1.5 Disclaimer

The views expressed in this report do not necessarily represent the position of:

Any specific local or state government department or agency or organisation, or any of their employees; or

Members or employees of the State of Victoria who participated on the Committee.

Melton Shire Council, the Council Representatives on the Smart Growth Committee or Council Staff that participated in the Technical Working Group deliberations. The Committee emphasises that further detailed analysis may need to be undertaken prior to implementation of the recommendations contained in this report.

Economic, social and environmental issues affecting the growth area were taken into account during the development of this report however; comprehensive analysis of these issues is beyond the time and resources available to the Committee.

The Committee recognises that implementation of its recommendations will be subject to available funding and the priorities set by the State government and Melton Shire Council.

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Part 2: Context

Confidential Context Part 2. Context 2.1 Settlement history

The study area is located in the western region of Melbourne, and covers approximately 400sq km. The township of Melton is located approximately 35km from Melbourne’s CBD and Caroline Springs approximately 25km. The 2001 population of the Shire of Melton was 52,830. Council estimate that the Shire’s current population is 69,034 (compared with the Victoria in Future estimate of 72,386). Melton township is located on the Western Highway and the Melbourne to Ballarat Railway Line and is in close proximity to Melbourne Airport.

The area comprises three distinct areas:

The township of Melton which is a physically separate township that is linked to metropolitan Melbourne for employment, social and community facilities via train and road routes.

The outer metropolitan suburbs of Hillside, Taylors Hill, Caroline Springs, Burnside, Ravenhall, Plumpton, Melton South/ Brookfield, Kurunjang and Melton West.

The non urban areas that separate the two, including the minor urban settlement of Rockbank and the agricultural area of Plumpton. This non urban area is currently outside the urban growth boundary and sits as an urban break between Melton township and suburban areas of western Melbourne. This area also includes a number of environmental features including Kororoit Creek, Mt Cottrell, and various areas of significant grassland vegetation as well as valuable stone resources. See Figure 2: Regional Context Three Aboriginal clans represent the earliest inhabitants of the Melton – Caroline Springs area, prior to the first European settlers in the 1830’s. The clans were the Tallin willam – meaning ‘Talling dwellers’ who identified with the area around Toolern Creek and other streams draining into the Werribee River around Bacchus Marsh), the Kurung jang balug – meaning ‘red ground people’ were associated with the Werribee River and Mount Cottrell area and the Marin balug - meaning ‘Marin people’ (Marin being the locality name for Saltwater River) who were associated with Kororoit Creek. Very little is known about the occupation of the Melton – Caroline Springs area by these clans, with most references to Woi wurrung clans describing Aboriginal associations with either the Yarra River or Mount William, west of Kilmore (Presland 1994).

The village of Melton developed during the 1840s and 1850s due to its location between Melbourne and the Ballarat Goldfields. Melton retained its rural status until the full electrification of the town in 1953 and the installation of reticulated water in 1962.

Melton township was declared a Satellite City in 1974, leading to significant residential development from the late 1970s through to the present. A 15 kilometre green break was instituted between Melton and western Melbourne at this time to promote its development as a separate residential town.

The eastern portion of the study area (Burnside, Caroline Springs, Hillside and Taylors Hill) commenced development in the late 1980s from Hillside and through Taylors Hill extending from the Melton Highway and Calder Freeway as well as from Burnside, through to Caroline Springs in the mid 1990s. This eastern area has experienced rapid

This document must not be circulated - Confidential Page 39 Confidential Context growth over the last five years as the urban area extends westward from the established suburbs within the municipality of Brimbank. Melton township is also experiencing some growth but at a much slower rate.

The Rockbank Plains area south of the Melton Highway provides a home to a small residential settlement, approximately half way between Melton and Caroline Springs. The area has historically not progressed as an urban settlement due to physical servicing constraints and a poor soil capability, particularly the existence of basalt rock throughout the area. The basalt and other stone resources are a part of the economic function of the area. 2.2 Metropolitan context

The Melton – Caroline Springs growth area sits within the broader western region of Melbourne and the peripheral western fringe of the Melbourne urban area.

Key services are provided at various Principal and Major activity centres through the region. These are highlighted on Figure 2: Regional Context.

This document must not be circulated - Confidential Page 40 (( RoxburghRoxburgh ParkPark

(

(( BroadmeadowsBroadmeadows MeltonMelton ( Me ¿ lton H ( ( wy ( MelbourneMelbourne ( ( AirportAirport

( ((SydenhamSydenham ( ( (( ( ToolernToolern AirportAirport WestWest ( ( ( AirportAirport WestWest ( ( ( ( ( RockbankRockbank ( s W e e ( CoburgCoburg r st t er n ( e Fw y (( StSt AlbansAlbans ( ( ( m ( o ( l i

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e ( ( (( m ( (( ( Boun o ( ( dary l R i oad ( ( Employment ( Principal Activity Centre K ( ( 0 ( ( ( ( (1 CBDCBD Urban Areas Major Activity Centre ( ( ( ( Waterway (( Specialised Activity Centre ( Major Roads Primary Study Area AltonaAltona( NorthNorth ( ( ( ( ( ( Rail Line & Station Urban Growth ( Boundary (Aug. 2005) ( Municipal Boundary ( ( (( 303030 Kilometres KilometresKilometres Radius from Central 303030 Kilometres KilometresKilometres PortPort PhilllipPhilllip 0 1 2 Business District PortPort PhilllipPhilllip Km ( ( BayBay ( ( ( ( ( WerribeeWerribee ( AltonaAltona( ( ( HoppersHoppers CrossingCrossing ( ( Page 41

Figure 2: Regional Context CONFIDENTIAL Map Ref. 1917, 17 August 2005

Part 3: Key Issues Analysis

Confidential Key issues analysis

Part 3. Key issues analysis 3.1 Changing population base

The majority of this population growth since the 2001 census has been in Melton East (Caroline Springs / Hillside / Taylors Hill), where population growth rate since 2001 is estimated to approximately 21%, compared to under 2% for the balance of the Shire.

In 2001, 48.1% of households in Melton Shire were couples with children compared to the Melbourne average of 36.1%. The Shire also has a higher than average number of one parent families (13.4% compared to 10.7%). Within the growth area there is a significant difference in household make up between Melton township and Melton East. The area of Caroline Springs/ Hillside and Taylors Hill predominately comprised of couples with children under 15 years and young couples without children, although such households are likely to have children in the future. There is a lower than average number of couples with non dependant children, lone persons and one parent families in this area.

In contrast, Melton township has experienced a change in household structure as households have aged, since the growth policies for the town of the 1970s and 80s. The (Draft) Melton Township Structure Plan prepared on behalf of the Melton Shire Council notes that:

“The most common household type in Melton Township in 2001 was two- person households. This was not so for 1996, when four-person households were most common. The township has experienced a considerable increase in one person households between the period 1996 – 2001, which yielded a rise of almost 30%” (see Page 24).

Although there is evidence that household size has fallen over time in Melton and is likely to continue to fall in both Melton township and Melton East, the size of dwellings being constructed and lots being provided is larger than in inner metropolitan areas. This limits the ability to provide households with access to a range of social infrastructure, particularly within walkable distances.

Residents’ housing choices reflect a complex balancing of many factors including cost, access to transport, education, employment and other services and facilities used by the household, proximity to family and social networks, urban amenity, style of dwelling and surrounding area and other issues. In Melton and Melton East / Caroline Springs, limited housing and lifestyle choice has contributed to each of these areas attracting a large influx of households with a homogenous socio-economic background. This limited choice constrains the potential to attract a more diverse population, as well as the ability of existing residents to find dwellings and neighbourhoods to meet changing needs and preferences.

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Confidential Key issues analysis To support the development of sustainable communities, the two communities must offer a broader range of lifestyle opportunities, attractive to a more diverse population and able to respond to demographic and social change. Ensuring a range of dwelling types and a number of ‘points of difference’ will facilitate real choice for existing and future residents of the study area. 3.2 Aspirations for urban consolidation

Minimising urban encroachment offers multiple environmental benefits such as reducing air emissions, including greenhouse gasses, and avoiding encroachment on areas of biodiversity importance. A more compact urban form will promote walking and cycling for local trips, bringing more people within easy access to public transport, thus reducing the need for car use. This will minimise energy use in the form, type and layout of built structures. Melbourne 2030 aims to promote a minimised urban foot print through urban consolidation. This is further articulated in the Neighbourhood Principles of Melbourne 2030 (Refer Appendix 1).

Maintaining housing affordability is another aspiration, and the Government has a guideline that a 15-year supply of land for urban development should be maintained in growth areas. The demand for greenfield land will depend on the success of urban development and consolidation efforts and changing demographics and housing preferences over time. Hence, the redevelopment of urban consolidation sites should be included in land supply assessments.

There is a considerable amount of undeveloped land within the Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) (see table below) which is held in several ownerships. Sufficient greenfield land has been identified within the UGB to cater for 16,000 dwellings. Council holds parcels of land within the UGB in the Toolern area. The future use of this land has been identified for employment purposes. The land is affected by the Toolern Employment Precinct Development Plan overlay which encourages high quality employment activities. Council owns substantial parcels of land outside the UGB in the Toolern area. To date this land has been identified for future residential uses (Melton MSS).

As normal market conditions mean that it is not known when sites within the existing urban area can be developed to their optimum, two scenarios for additional land requirements have been provided.

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Low Land Requirement High Land Requirement (DSE) (Council)

Urban Consolidation 3,995 Dwellings 1,576 Dwellings (dwelling gain)

Greenfield sites inside 16,000 Dwellings 14,860 Dwellings UGB (dwelling gain)

Total land required outside 1,626 ha* 3,824 ha (Gross)* UGB for residential development

* Gross land requirement assumes that a certain percentage of land is used for other uses eg. commercial, community etc. (DSE assumption: 32% non-residential), (Council assumption varies).

Dwellings on Greenfield sites are derived at a range of between 12.5 – 15 dwellings per ha, thereby allowing for a gradual change from the current density patterns (12.5 per ha) to the aspirational density of 15 dwellings per ha in Melbourne 2030 over the planning horizon.

Total land required derived from a net of 15 dwellings per ha (average).

In addition, Council have planned for entire communities, rather than just the projected demand up until 2030. The higher land figure under Council’s scenario reflects a planning framework for communities that will continue to develop beyond 2030, so that individual communities are not planned and developed in a piecemeal fashion, and so that Council and other service providers can have a greater degree of certainty in planning for longer term infrastructure investment. 3.3 Land capability constraints

Expansion of the Melton-Caroline Springs growth area is constrained in part by the underlying geological and hydrogeological conditions of the basalt plain landscape. The study area is characterised as a relatively flat plain, incorporating several remnant volcanic cones, reactive clay soils, shallow depth to bedrock, with areas of poor drainage and shallow slope.

Zones of poor land capability are patchily evident across the study area. Many areas of poor land capability can be developed, but at a cost (in terms of amenity, construction, risk of structural failure and on-ongoing maintenance). Shallow depth to bed-rock and reactive clays (high shrink-swell potential) occur across large expanses of the growth area, but have not been considered an absolute constraint to future development. Although they are amenable to standard engineering responses, these areas must be recognised to generally have a higher per lot of construction cost.

This document must not be circulated - Confidential Page 45 Confidential Key issues analysis Areas of shallow water table, saline discharge, very poor drainage (such as low level alluvial terraces), sink holes and incised drainage lines have been determined as inappropriate for development. This exclusion is based on the significantly higher cost to the community for construction and long-term maintenance of buildings and infrastructure, higher risk of structural failure, and the limitations posed on plant growth for gardens and playing fields.

In accordance with current State catchment management policy, river courses, floodways and riparian habitats are also considered important environmental assets requiring protection as part of the urban development process.

Specific areas of exclusion are:

Drainage depressions along the edges of local waterways (particularly Toolern Creek north of the Western Freeway and in patches south of the Freeway; Kororoit Creek between Melton Highway and Caroline Springs) and in wetland complexes south west and north of Rockbank.

Salinity discharge sites, including visibly salt-affected surface soil and surface crusting, have been recorded and mapped at several locations, primarily along Kororoit Creek, north east of the Rockbank area, and at the confluence of the Werribee River and Toolern Creek. Moderate salinity hazard also occurs over a larger area north east of the Rockbank area arising from groundwater levels between 2m to 5m depth. Such areas represent a constraint that must be avoided or subject to further, detailed hydrogeological assessment. See Figure 6: Land Capability and Salinity.

Sink hole alluvial plains prone to subterranean collapse, particularly north west of Melton township (along an eastern tributary of Djerriwarrh Creek in the vicinity of Harkness Road).

Low level alluvium land systems, particularly along Toolern Creek, having poor drainage capability and likely to be waterlogged over significant periods of time.

Implications for growth area planning

Avoid land significantly constrained by shallow water tables, salinity risk, poor drainage, sub-surface instability and flooding.

Apply a risk based assessment approach prior to rezoning all land, particularly that land which has been classed as poor capability on the basis of regional scale assessments.

Where considered necessary, conduct additional hydrogeological assessment where risk has been identified. See Figure 3: Physical Constraints.

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Page 47 boundaries)

Figure 3: Physical Constraints CONFIDENTIAL Map Ref. 1914, 17 August 2005 Confidential Key issues analysis 3.4 Native vegetation and faunal habitat

In order to maintain regional biodiversity for the long term future, core areas of significant habitat, high quality grassland, remnant woodlands and areas known to support significant populations of threatened species have been excluded from the proposed growth area. Recent fieldwork and subsequent biodiversity modelling has been used to build on the findings of earlier reporting on the biological values of the region. In many instances, significant habitats such as those along waterways, also represent important landscapes or sites for local indigenous people. This synergy provides simultaneously for the conservation of both biodiversity and cultural heritage (refer also to Section 3.8).

The rationale for exclusion of high biodiversity areas from development has included (but is not limited to) consideration that protection of listed species and net gain / offset requirements to compensate for loss of significant native vegetation. These will increase the cost of development through reduced land availability or funding of offset sites.

Background and analysis

Most remaining Ecological Vegetation Classes (EVCs) in Melton-Caroline Springs are threatened – either depleted, vulnerable or endangered according to DSE classifications. Urban development poses a serious risk to the remaining biological values and it is recognised that careful planning is required to ensure protection and enhancement of these important environmental assets.

Native vegetation is still relatively common across the southern parts of the study area. Much of this vegetation is Plains Grassland (an endangered vegetation formation in south eastern Australia) that has been modified to varying degrees by past land use. As a consequence, the vegetation and habitat quality is somewhat patchy. However, it is the extent and contiguity of these grasslands and the diversity of landforms represented in this study area that is highly significant for the long-term viability of ecosystem and species conservation. In addition, these native vegetation remnants are known to support a range of threatened flora and several threatened fauna species.

Most of Victoria’s lowland vegetation communities on fertile soil substrates (such as soils derived from Basalt) have been grossly depleted. Prior to European settlement, the dominant vegetation communities of these Volcanic Plains were Plains Grassy Woodland and Plains Grassland (Victoria’ Native Vegetation – Framework for Action, 2002). More than 90 % of these two EVCs have been lost to agriculture and urban development (Trail and Porter 2000) and both are classified as endangered. The study area retains high quality floristically diverse and fauna species-rich examples of both these EVCs. Extremely limited areas of all of these biological communities are currently preserved within Victoria, and most extant stands are in poor condition and receive limited conservation management. Identification of these important values within the Melton study area offers an opportunity to (at least in part) rectify this situation and apply appropriate land management compatible with long term protection of these vegetation communities.

Given anticipated hotter and drier conditions that the region is likely to experience with global climate change, the biodiversity offered by these native grasslands may become an important asset for Victoria’s agricultural future. The ability of native grasslands to

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Confidential Key issues analysis withstand dry conditions makes them a valuable commodity as a potentially more reliable source of stock feed during dry years. The importance of preserving our remaining grassland biodiversity is highlighted by the estimate that less that 1% of Victoria’s native grasslands currently remain, and most of that is in small, patchy remnants.

Remnant flora and fauna values vary in their distribution across the study area. This presents an opportunity to both avoid key areas of significant biodiversity, while utilising other large areas, with few remaining values, for urban development. The preferred development option of Toolern encroaches on some sites of moderately high biodiversity value, although it avoids all sites of very high value. Given the overall multidisciplinary preference to procure a viable community and urban structure from the Toolern area, additional investigation is required to determine values.

Priority areas of conservation

Endangered biological communities define significant areas of land that should be excluded from urban development. The most important areas of biodiversity are described below and shown on. Figure 4: Biodiversity Values and Figure 5: Biodiversity Concept also identify a concept of regional biodiversity protection and connectivity. In defining conservation areas, care must be taken to recognise their value for preservation over community use. Conservation sites generally require some break from residential development to prevent incursion and degeneration from light, noise, runoff, litter, and feral pests and household pets. Priority areas for conservation are:

Ravenhall Grasslands: An extensive area of basalt plains grassland between the Western Highway and Melbourne-Ballarat Railway, roughly bounded on the east by Westwood Drive and on the west by the high voltage transmission easement. On the basis of available data, the site is one of the few large (> 100 ha) Themeda triandra dominated grasslands remaining in the State. The site supports large populations of nationally significant plants, Senecio macrocarpus and Pimelea spinescens; Cullen tenax endangered in Victoria; and the nationally vulnerable Striped Legless-lizard (Delmar impar). This area is currently being targeted with a flora and fauna study being managed by VicRoads (refer Section 1.5 On-going investigations), with results expected by late August 2005.

Caroline Springs West Grasslands: A collection of grassland remnants to the west of the suburb of Caroline Springs. The southern component of the site is bounded by Clarke Road, the Western Highway, Kororoit Creek and Sinclair’s Road. The northern component of the site is roughly bounded by the power transmission easement, Sinclair’s Road, Taylor’s Road and Kororoit Creek. The site is somewhat variable in terms of quality but areas dominated by Themeda triandra are generally high with limited weed invasion and a high diversity of indigenous herbs. The southern part of the site between Kororoit Creek and the Western Highway and two outlying areas are of particularly high quality. The site has not been subjected to detailed flora and fauna survey, but it is known to support populations of the nationally endangered plants Pimelea spinescens and Cullen parvum. The site also supports habitat for Growling Grass Frog and Striped Legless-lizard.

This document must not be circulated - Confidential Page 49 Confidential Key issues analysis Mt. Cottrell Grasslands: This large site is generally bounded by Greig’s Road, Mt Atkinson Road, Middle Road and Faulkner’s Road. The site has been identified as having high significance on the basis of the extent, contiguity and quality of native grassland, but has not been subject to detailed survey. Further detailed work is likely to reveal additional values due to the range and size of landforms and habitat types represented across this landscape. The site protects the undisturbed headwaters of the Dry Creek / Skeleton Creek systems in a semi-natural state and potentially supports habitat of sufficient extent as to ensure the long term viability of a range of species.

Mt. Cottrell Woodland and Bush’s Paddock: Comprises the Council owned Bush’s Paddock which is managed for nature conservation and land within the Melton waste water treatment plant, east of the Werribee River and west of Mt Cottrell Road. The site supports Plains Grassland and Plains Grassy Woodland remnants. The condition of the Council owned land – primarily Plains Grassland is improving as a consequence of active weed management and ecological burning. The remnant Plains Grassy Woodlands within the Melton waste-water treatment plant is surrounded by irrigated pasture and has severe weed management issues. Collectively the site is an important remnant with the potential to link areas of native vegetation to the east of Mt. Cottrell Road with the Werribee River and beyond. The site has been rated as having regional significance for botanical values.

Harkness Road Woodlands: Approximately 1km south of Harkness Road - Porteous Road intersection. The site supports an intact and comparatively weed free remnant of bio-regionally endangered Plains Grassy Woodland dominated by Grey Box (Eucalyptus microcarpa). The field and shrub strata are recovering well from grazing and are designated as of regional significance.

Exford Road Woodlands: Located on the eastern side of Toolern Creek approximately 2 km south of Melton South. Has a biodiversity value of State significance. The site supports locally rare and bioregionally endangered (Buloke, Yellow Gum and Grey Box dominated) Grassy Woodland and several rare and regionally significant plants (including the nationally rare Glycine latrobeana).

Beatty’s Road / Deans Marsh Wetlands: The mid reaches of the Kororoit Creek (north of Rockbank) This area is associated with a number of wetlands that have been incorporated into a single site as several of them are linked by surface channels and subsurface flows, and many, if not all of them, presumably interact hydrologically with Kororoit Creek. Nominated as a site of State faunal significance, these wetlands periodically support large numbers of waterfowl. The site contains a number of seasonal / ephemeral wetlands of various regionally rare and restricted types including Muehlenbeckia florulenta fringed swamps (Deans Marsh) and Red Gum dominated swamp (along Leakes Road south of Beatty’s Road). Threatened species recorded from across the site include Growling Grass-frog, Cullen parvum and Ranunculus diminutus (rare in Victoria).

Rockbank Wetlands: The area incorporates a collection of small seasonal / ephemeral wetlands to the south and west of Rockbank township. Earlier studies have identified that some or all of these wetlands variously have local to regional significance for biological values and these values could be enhanced with sensitive management.

This document must not be circulated - Confidential Page 50 Confidential Key issues analysis Other key habitat

Apart from local grasslands, waterways and wetlands create the most significant habitat refuges in this dry landscape. The major waterways, including Toolern Creek, Kororoit Creek, Djerriwarrh Creek and the Werribee River provide refuge for fauna in dry conditions, and provide a base from which those fauna can disperse out into the landscape during suitable conditions. Variable width protection corridors need to be established in order to protect water quality, habitat and ecological linkages along these waterways. Further consideration of waterway and water quality protection is given in section 3.5. A 1991 report by the Wildlife Branch of the Department of Conservation and Environment observed that the Deanside Wetlands (Deans Marsh) 1.5km north- east of Rockbank railway station was refuge for up to 500 water fowl in one instance.

Implications for growth area planning

Avoid urban development in the core areas of remnant grassy ecosystems, particularly west and south-west of Caroline Springs; and south of Rockbank in the vicinity of Mt Cottrell.

Expansion of Melton township is more highly constrained by biodiversity values to the north-west and towards the south-east (at the extents of the proposed Toolern growth option area), with growth opportunities most easily accomplished directly to the west, south, east and north.

The metropolitan area is most highly constrained by biodiversity values in the south- west, between Taylors Road and the Western Freeway (west of Caroline Springs;, with opportunities for growth westward along the Melton Highway (west of Hillside and Taylors Hill)

Major creeks and rivers should be afforded significant setbacks from development to protect inherent streamside flora and fauna values, to provide floodway capacity and to enhance habitat and recreational links. (Refer also to sections 3.5 and 3.10).

Many opportunities exist in the growth area to enhance native vegetation and biodiversity in ways that provide positive benefits for local communities. Key areas can form the basis of a network of open space and conservation areas that will significantly improve the environment and amenity of the area. It will be necessary to further investigate opportunities for links and compatible land use between core biodiversity areas, through the mechanisms of a Regional Open Space, Public Realm and Landscape Strategy (Section 3.10) and an Open Space Taskforce (Section 5.17).

It is important to proactively plan for the management and enhancement of retained biodiversity sites areas as part of the M2030 planning process. Even though some areas may fall outside the UGB, urban impacts will degrade these values unless core areas are actively managed. For areas outside the UGB this is being further addressed through the current Green Wedge Management Plan process.

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Figure 5: Biodiversity Concept CONFIDENTIAL Map Ref. 1966, 17 August 2005 Confidential Key issues analysis 3.5 Waterways and water quality

Major waterways in or close to the primary study area are Toolern Creek, Kororoit Creek, Djerriwarrh Creek and the Werribee River. Waterway protection is considered vital to a healthy community and landscape and is a basic requirement of all state planning processes.

Waterways

Natural drainage systems are fundamental for the movement and storage of stormwater and prevention of urban flooding. Creek corridors are important flora and fauna habitat, often contain significant geomophological/geological features, and are important to the community for landscape, recreational and cultural values. They generally contain concentrations of archaeological sites and are significant places of attachment for the indigenous community. This correlation presents opportunities for an integrated approach to preserve these areas for biodiversity, heritage and geological values and for flood management as well as open space or recreational use.

According to the recent River Health Strategy, the current condition of waterways in the study area ranges from poor to very poor. Destruction of riparian vegetation has exposed stream banks to erosion and allowed weed invasion. Stream health has declined due to increased flows caused by land clearance, siltation, turbidity, nutrient loads and urban pollution. An incremental loss of natural stream structure and decline in water quality can occur as a consequence of poorly designed or unsympathetic development such as rural residential subdivision in the green wedge area. These issues are being further addressed through the current Green Wedge Management Plan process.

Council currently has no policy on waterway corridors, but is considering a standard 30 meter buffer either side of major creeks plus an additional 30 metres for recreational use. As a point of reference the existing Environmental Significance Overlay (ESO) for Djerriwarrh Creek varies from approximately 100m to over 300m depending on adjacent features. A systematic approach to defining waterway buffers is currently being discussed with Council and key agencies to provide a basis for more detailed planning as part of the growth area plan implementation.

In broad terms the Committee proposes waterway corridors should be based on an inner corridor (comprising the natural valley form and core environmental values to the break of slope) and a outer corridor (often 30m beyond the break of slope. Typically the outer corridor would provide space for trails, vegetation cover for sediment filtration wildlife corridors, and greater protection for indigenous and post-contact heritage values. As with the existing planning scheme, use of an Environmental Significance Overlay (ESO) is proposed. It is important to note that applying an ESO, will act as a trigger for more detailed site specific investigations or assessments have no direct impacts on tenure or zoning.

The magnitude of buffer distances will reflect local circumstances such as the adjacent land use, flood and water quality protection, land capability risks, habitat and recreational corridors and cultural heritage constraints. Any given section of waterway may also be constrained by circumstances in addition to those listed. The application of buffers in growth areas is being investigated in greater detail by DSE. Buffer distances referred to here are indicative of an order of magnitude only and are provided for broad strategic directional guidance. Waterways can include constrained or encumbered land,

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Confidential Key issues analysis but this is excluded from the public open space allocations routinely provided as part of subdivision proposals. These riparian zones can enhance the liveability of adjacent residential and commercial developments and significant waterway buffers may be provided in addition to mandated requirements. Sporting grounds and other compatible uses can be co-located to expand a waterway corridor. Arrangements for ongoing management of any land set-aside are an issue that will also need to be addressed in the development of the growth area plan.

It is noted that Kororoit Creek and its associated wetlands support one of Melbourne’s few known meta-populations of the endangered and iconic indicator species, the Growling Grass-frog.

Implications for growth area planning

Waterway ESOs to be incorporated into the planning scheme requiring additional evaluations in buffer or corridor areas.

Developer and operator requirements to achieve a net gain in water quality through more stringent stormwater treatment requirements.

All major waterways in the study area should be protected by environmentally based waterways corridors and protected using local government planning scheme overlays (ESOs).

Support existing council review processes that assist in establishing a clear and consistent process for determining waterway buffers relevant to actual conditions and risks. For initial growth area scale planning purposes it is considered appropriate to apply the following buffers:

The key waterway in the study area – Werribee River should be protected by a substantial buffer. This could typically be in the order of 200-400m in recognition of its environmental, landscape and heritage values. This corridor would enhance protection of the stream side environment, including potential for future trail development, and improve protection of water quality and aquatic habitat.

Significant streams and creeks such as Kororoit, Djerriwarrh and Toolern Creeks should typically be protected by a 60-100 m buffer (either side) Note that land may be required for a retarding basin proposed upstream of Minns Rd. to control downstream flow.

Minor creeks such as Arnold’s Creek and Little Blind Creek should typically be protected by a 30-50 m corridor (either side) to allow sufficient set back from floodways and for linear trail access. Wider areas may be requires along specific segments.

Water quality

The community benefits of creating and maintaining healthy waterways in an urban landscape are well documented and have already been highlighted. From an ecological perspective, if designed and managed appropriately, urban development can provide a means of achieving improvements to aquatic and riparian habitat that will lead to important outcomes for biodiversity conservation both inside the growth area and

This document must not be circulated - Confidential Page 55 Confidential Key issues analysis beyond. In particular, there is a need to work towards improvements in water quality and to ensure that no downstream degradation occurs.

Recent evidence suggests that despite the application of current ‘best practice’ urban stormwater treatment standards, change in landuse from rural grazing to urban typically leads to a net deterioration of water quality and adds to existing environmental risks in waterways. This report recommends that efforts across the growth area must be directed to improving, not just maintaining the status quo. Future urban growth must be premised on measures to achieve a net gain in storm water quality discharging to waterways. Given the existing poor condition of local waterways, this aim is not only advisable, but necessary to reverse the trend and losses.

To achieve water quality improvement within the Melton-Caroline Springs growth area, stormwater and flow buffering works to protect water quality and stream condition must be incorporated into the development planning and infrastructure funding program. Higher standards and different approaches to the application of water sensitive urban design techniques and stormwater treatment will be required. These measures may need to exceed current ’best practice’ standards, particularly in relation to industrial and commercial estates – involving ‘within development’ water sensitive urban design, along with ‘end of pipe’ stormwater treatment works and measures to maintain waterway buffers to enhance waterway habitat function.

Implications for growth area planning

Planning should seek to protect creek corridors and restore riparian environments, to improve their habitat values, their functions as catchments and filters for stormwater and their contributions to preservation of landscapes and cultural heritage. 3.6 Existing landuse constraints

Some existing land uses generate conflict with urban development. Potential areas of conflict have also been considered as follows:

Most of the area designated as Extractive Industry Interest Area (EIIA) and all licensed quarries (with their existing 500m buffer zones as per EPA Publication AQ 2/86 for open cut mining) have been excluded from the growth area. The EIIA covers a large proportion of the area between Melton township and the metropolitan edge, and encompasses five existing stone quarry tenements. Although not an absolute constraint, the EIIA was considered to hold a significant, long term economic benefit for Victoria which should not be compromised by the UGB unless considered absolutely necessary for the configuration of a viable and sustainable community. Basalt available in this area is considered an important resource for construction of roads, houses and other physical infrastructure. The stone resource underlying a development area may have a potential in ground value of approximately $5.8 million per hectare. Existing quarries were considered an absolute constraint due to dust, smell, noise and potential future use (eg. landfill) conflicts. Development focus on Toolern may necessitate incursion into the EIIA (between Toolern and Rockbank) which will need to be evaluated for long term lost opportunity costs and if required, negotiated between DSE and DPI. See Figure 3: Physical Constraints.

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Tullamarine Airport Environs Noise Overlay was considered a severe constraint and precluded residential development from the area between Hillside and Diggers Rest. However this area is still considered viable for future industrial use.

One existing broiler farm and three potential broiler farms to the west, south west and south east of Rockbank have not been omitted from the available land as they are isolated sites and it may be possible to alter their locations if considered necessary for the configuration of a viable and sustainable community. The separation distances for broiler farms are determined through the relevant Code of Practice.

Areas of better quality agricultural soils and arable land, notably to the west of Hillside (east of Leakes Road) provide a modest benefit to the economic base of the region and additional tourist asset (e.g. olive groves and wineries). Further investigation of land management and best use is being addressed in the current Green Wedge Management Plan process. These areas were only considered available for urban growth if it was necessary for the configuration of a viable and sustainable community. With access to recycled water from local treatment plants these areas were considered a viable long-term economic activity and are viewed by Council as a developing, specialist attraction for the area. This is dependent on the provision of recycled water at an economic rate. Most rural areas of the municipality are suffering the effects of poor rainfall accentuated by recent drought conditions, significant land management issues including surface rock, erosion and the existence of native grasslands, but also high infestation of noxious weeds. Given the State Government policy direction that green wedge land should not be fragmented any further this provides ongoing challenges for rural landowners and the municipality in establishing alternate uses for rural land. Some of these issues can be addressed as part of the Green Wedge Management Plan process.

Parallel gas and electricity easements (20 metres and 160 metres respectively) extending north south through the growth area, west of Caroline Springs / Hillside create a distinct break between existing and potential westward growth of the metropolitan area. The impact on community cohesiveness across this barrier was evaluated as part of the options assessment of new urban development opportunities west of these easements.

Although not specifically delineated at this stage, reasonable buffer distances must also be developed during future planning of the area (for example, between residential or industrial development and major transport routes) to ameliorate noise and air pollution and protect the health of residents and workers. Where possible it is recommended that natural landscape features (e.g. waterways) be used as boundaries between potentially conflicting uses. See Figure 6: Land Capability and Salinity.

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Flooding

Waterways and natural drainage depressions across the study area are susceptible to flooding. Floodway risk areas apply to substantial sections of the Toolern Creek area in the northern part of the study area based on physiographic features (slope and low level alluvial terraces). The quantitative nature of this risk awaits more detailed flood risk assessment by Melbourne Water who has only recently taken over responsibility for this portion of the catchment. Full evaluation also requires hydrogeological investigations of areas with poor land capability and an engineering assessment of the options for managing flood risks in the area. The Committee recommends that growth should not be promoted in these areas of high risk and that further detailed investigation and modelling is required for these areas.

Implications for growth area planning

Future urban use of land affected by flooding risks will be clarified by further work to define revised Urban Floodway Zones and Rural Floodway Overlays.

Floodplains and other components of the urban stormwater management system can play an important role in the open space network and in the enhancement of biodiversity in the region.

Floodways can provide a natural boundaries and buffers between incompatible landuses (rural/urban interface; extractive industry operations etc.)

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Land Capability B oundary R Note: Land capability and salinity data oad Severly Constrained captured for study area only Extremely Constrained Page 59 Figure 6: Land Capability and Salinity CONFIDENTIAL Map Ref. 1915, 17 August 2005 Confidential Key issues analysis 3.7 Cultural values

Indigenous cultural heritage

The study area is located within the language group of the Woi wurrung (Wurundjeri) who occupied the basins of the Yarra and Maribyrnong rivers. Whilst detailed information on the location of indigenous heritage sites is not publicised, and the mapping of sites is far from comprehensive, all sites are protected by State and Commonwealth legislation. Indigenous heritage includes both cultural (anthropological) and archaeological values.

Preliminary work indicates that the plains north of Melbourne contain a range of archaeological site types, including relatively common ones such as artefact scatters and scarred trees and more unusual features such as stone arrangements, quarries, grinding grooves and burial sites. Post-contact sites, such as camping areas have also been identified.

For the purposes of regional scale land use planning it is important to note that landscape features are in important indicator of the likelihood of encountering archaeological sites. The highest-value landscapes, often areas in close proximity to waterways, (in particular Kororoit Creek), have formed the core focus for Aboriginal activities throughout the past. The majority of archaeological sites are located within 200m of the major creeks that is Kororoit, Toolern and Djerriwarrh and within 100 m of other smaller creeks and tributaries. Artefact scatters in particular occur in higher numbers and densities within 50 m of Kororoit Creek and there is high potential for subsurface cultural deposits along the major and minor creek corridors.

In addition a considerable number of sites have been located in the geologically recent alluvial land system along Djerriwarrh and Toolern Creeks, although these areas have been poorly studied. Based on those few assessments it is predicted that this zone is one of high archaeological potential and significance with a wide range of site types occurring, particularly within 400 m of Djerriwarrh Creek. It is more difficult to predict the archaeological potential and significance of Toolern Creek (in the upper and lower segments). However, it is likely that sites will occur within 200 m of the creek bank. Generally there is a wider range of site types present in this zone. This zone also appears to have sustained fewer disturbances from intensive agriculture and urbanisation than areas in the eastern section of the study area. Consequently, there is high potential for a wide range and number of archaeological sites to occur within this zone.

While archaeological site identification and assessment is generally the principal focus of indigenous heritage assessment processes, effective consultation between Aboriginal groups with traditional ownership interests will be vital in determining areas of Aboriginal heritage significance that are not reflected in the archaeological site distribution pattern. Indigenous communities are interested in a great breadth of issues concerning their relationship with the land. These include attachments to particular places that may have spiritual significance or be the sites of past cultural practices and to the broader concept of ‘country’ and the appropriate ways of looking after the land.

Archaeological sites are vulnerable to land use change, particularly where this results in large-scale ground disturbance, as is usually the case when land is developed for housing or other urban uses.

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Confidential Key issues analysis Implications for growth area planning

Planning should recognise the importance of the land in the growth area to indigenous people and the existence of significant cultural and archaeological sites.

Cultural values and historical sites should be incorporated into the character of the community where possible.

Indigenous communities would like to see improvements in the process of identifying and managing heritage values in land use. Aboriginal cultural heritage organisations have a role to play when more detailed planning work is undertaken in the future. This will enable potential development areas to be assessed and cultural heritage values preserved.

Non-indigenous cultural heritage

Approximately 53 heritage sites within the study area are listed on the Register of the National Estate, the Victorian Heritage Inventory or the Schedule to the Heritage Overlay in the Melton Planning Scheme. Further additions to the Heritage Overlay may occur as Melton Shire is in the process of reviewing the Heritage Overlay.

In the growth area planning process isolated sites have been left within the developable land on the basis that individually, they are of small land coverage and given appropriate assessment and conservation, they could contribute to the character of the urban area.

Implications for growth area planning

Identified heritage places should be protected from unsympathetic development.

Protection and enhancement of heritage assets can help to provide an identity and an improved sense of place for new communities. 3.8 Air and noise

Major transport corridors (airport, rail and road), industrial activity (quarrying and manufacturing) and agricultural activity (farm machinery and scare guns, sprays) are the key sources of existing or potential noise and air emissions within the study area.

Highways and arterial roads, particularly the Western Freeway with its high proportion of truck traffic, concentrate vehicle-generated emissions, such as particulate discharges from diesel engines. Relatively large urban areas across Australia are already subject to undesirable levels of traffic noise. Achieving a workable solution for future residential development facing busy roads requires attention to setbacks, encompassing service roads or vegetated plantations, barriers to noise transmission (where possible) and measures to control noise generation (e.g. care with the location of bus stops, vehicle speed restrictions and noise reducing road surfacing) as part of the detailed design of new urban precincts. In particular, the strip of land between Toolern and Rockbank, bordered by both the Western Freeway and the Melbourne-Ballarat Railway, will need sensitive design and appropriate planning overlays if targeted for development.

Melbourne Airport is located in proximity to the study area. The need to protect the Airport from encroachment by noise-sensitive development is a major consideration, in order to maintain its curfew free operation. A Melbourne Airport Environs Strategy

This document must not be circulated - Confidential Page 61 Confidential Key issues analysis Plan was approved by Parliament in 2004. The Airport Environs Overlay, which identifies areas that are or will be subject to high levels of aircraft noise. See Figure 3: Physical Constraints.

Implications for growth area planning

Development proposals within major transport corridors need to take account of safe buffer distances and design and construction measures that can be taken to ameliorate air and noise pollution and protect the health of residents and workers.

Buffer areas – which can be occupied by compatible land uses that do not themselves generate high levels of noise or emissions to air – should be maintained around industrial, agricultural, quarrying and waste management operations.

No residential development in the airport overlay area, although use as future industrial can be considered. 3.9 Open space network

It is important to preserve opportunities to create accessible, diverse and appropriately located ‘quality’ open space to meet existing community needs and to respond to the requirements of future populations and changing demographics.

The current regional status of open space planning in the growth area is as follows:

Melton Shire Council already has some well-developed linear trail and cycleway network trails. However there are some existing shortfalls that need attention to complete a continuous trail network.

Parks Victoria has identified the need for 2 new regional parks within the growth area to address the existing inequity in access to regional open space, and to serve future predicted population growth. Parks Victoria has recommended that further planning for the growth area should include the establishment of an appropriate Open Space, Public Realm and Landscape Strategy, leading to an integrated open space system. The open space system should incorporate local, district and regional open space and linkages.

The Strategy should aim to achieve:

Continuous and accessible links to the major open spaces throughout the region.

Parks and links that are bounded by streets or edges with active frontages (rather than back fences) to optimise access and natural surveillance.

Public open spaces which are planned and designed in consideration of local landscape, cultural heritage and biodiversity values, not just recreational and civic values.

Connections and co-location for compatible land uses, to achieve optimal integration, and use of these links to promote and support community health, community identity and sharing of recreational facilities.

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Employment

One of the critical failings of the Satellite City development of Melton in the 1970s was to assume that the township could develop and thrive as a dormitory suburb, dependent upon Melbourne for employment and higher order services. Policies of the time had little consideration of the need to provide local employment opportunities on the assumption that residents would commute to metropolitan Melbourne for employment. Successive Melton Councils have attempted to address this issue but with limited success.

Earlier failures to successfully address development of local jobs and the general attraction of the Melton township as a first home buyer “mono-culture”, has resulted in a concentration of low- skilled employees within the town. The skills of the community are heavily biased to blue-collar occupations. The lack of employment diversity also makes the local area economy vulnerable to economic downturn. Should the economy fail in the key employment fields held by the community, this can heavily impact all sectors of the local community through reduced consumer spending and raised unemployment.

Any opportunity for a whole of Government approach with the assistance of Federal, State and Local Government which aims to increase employment opportunities through locating and establishing industries and businesses in Melton would provide an obvious employment advantage.

In Melton township, the current employment ratio is one job to every 3.3 residents in the workforce compared to the north west region rate of one job for every 1.6 and the metropolitan Melbourne rate of one job for every 1.1 resident in the workforce. This results in a significant addition to loads on the transport system and therefore has infrastructure cost implications.

In comparison the Melton East (Caroline Springs / Hillside / Taylors Hill) area has extended west from the existing urban area of Melbourne, with closer links to employment nodes of this area. The area has a broader skill base, having a range of household types.

It is noted that:

There is a clear social and functional distinction between the Caroline Springs / Hillside / Taylors Hill area and Melton township. The former is more integrated with the metropolitan area as a whole, whereas the township has more of a region and western Melbourne focus, providing some limited catchment to rural areas to the north and west (and potentially the planned Eynesbury township to the south).

A significant number of local jobs will be required within the growth area to ensure that the majority of residents can access jobs within a reasonable time. If this outcome cannot be delivered, social consequences will include longer journeys to work with increased social tensions reflected in higher potential for unemployment, family stress and higher demand on social services. A sound and realistic jobs growth and diversification strategy needs to be devised and implemented, otherwise these problems are likely to be further exacerbated.

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The key to achieving greater local employment will be to grow the local business base and the range and quality of businesses and jobs. This will be dependent on attracting a critical mass of business owners, managers and professionals into the area. This means that the housing market must also offer superior lifestyle for a broader range of social groups with hard and soft infrastructure to support these new segments of the community.

The existing VLine fast train service from Ballarat through Melton to Spencer Street and the electrified suburban Sydenham rail line to the City Loop provide for the current key mass transport links to central Melbourne but the potential to improve these services is limited due to current rail network constraints.

There is some rural activity in the area, notably in horticultural pursuits along the Koroit Creek valley (eg. viticulture) and a significant equine industry sector. The protection and enhancement of these agricultural pursuits will be important to reinforcing local employment opportunities and providing a range of economic sectors in the area.

There is an opportunity to increase and diversify the skill base of existing residents of the area through education focussed toward specific skills that can be attractive to future employers in the area and in the western region.

Implications for growth area planning

There is an aspirational target of Council to achieve a ratio of 0.7 jobs for every household in the growth area. To achieve this significant additional land is required for employment purposes, as well as a significant change in the business and employment culture of Melton to attract a critical mass of employment generating activities.

Agricultural land to the north east of Melton township provides employment and generates income.

Current employment issues facing the Shire include:

A lack of a skilled workforce to create high order services to enhance the area (particularly Melton township) as a self sustaining activity area.

A lack of jobs relative to the existing resident base of the area.

A lack of higher order services, due to a lack of population catchment, particularly in and around Melton township where population diversity is lacking.

A lack of efficient public transport to increase the attractiveness of the Melton township as both residential and a workplace destination.

Extractive industry interest areas and quarry operations

Melbourne 2030 and the State Planning Policy Framework both provide for the long term protection of stone resources (sand, clay, rock and gravel) accessible to major markets. Extractive Industry Interest Areas (EIIAs), as outlined in Section 3.6, are a planning tool to safeguard extractive resources. They identify areas likely to contain stone resources of sufficient quality and quantity to support commercial extractive industry operations.

This document must not be circulated - Confidential Page 64 Confidential Key issues analysis There is an EIIA running north-south in the green wedge between Mt Cottrell Rd to the west and Plumpton Rd to the east. The EIIA also extends generally south of the railway through to Boundary Road. This EIIA is well located in regard to metropolitan markets and transport infrastructure. The land covered by the EIIA should not be used for urban development unless it can be demonstrated that preventing future access to the resource is necessary for the sustainable development of communities. Proposed development pockets generally avoid major incursion into the EIIA areas, except for the Toolern area (see Section 5).

Justification for reducing the size of an EIIA must include, amongst other considerations, an assessment of the long term availability of sand and stone resources to ensure that sufficient resources remain available for future generations at an affordable cost.

Full evaluation of the potential lost opportunity costs of these stone resources (potentially billions of dollars) has not been within the scope of this report, but must be calculated during the next phase of planning. This assessment must include not only the area of development proposed within the EIIA, but also losses associated with the 500m buffer that is required between a quarry and other incompatible uses. This evaluation will need to be accomplished in collaboration with DPI and DSE when actual development areas are known (particularly in the Toolern area), and reasonable justification for the loss of access to the resource will need to be demonstrated.

There are three current extractive industry operations quarrying basalt, one site at Exford yet to be developed and one proposal for future development for scoria extraction in the Plumpton north area. The Boral Deer Park Quarry (Work Authority 97) at Ravenhall has a resource life of over 100 years. The other quarries off the Melton Highway have a projected resource life of 10+ years.

The existing extractive sites have requirements for buffers of 500m to be maintained between operational areas and adjoining land uses, to minimise the potential for noise and dust to travel off-site and impact on neighbours.

Implications for growth area planning

The location of the EIIA potentially constrains urban development in the Rockbank area and in the central band of land between Melton township and Caroline Springs, including the eastern extent of the Toolern development option.

Any proposed growth in these interest areas must consider the impact on existing and potential future extractive operations.

New extractive industry developments will require separation distances similar to those for existing activities (i.e. 500 metres for planning purposes).

Extractive operations limit the areas suitable for development due to their impact on amenity and the buffer areas required.

Quarries also represent future landfill sites. This is a further reason for retaining separation distances between them and sensitive uses.

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Policy context

Melbourne 2030 and the Melbourne Transport Plan include a number of basic directions and supporting statements for the provision of transport infrastructure and services across the metropolitan region and in the growth areas. These include:

Direction 8: addresses the goal of the proportion of motorised trips by public transport ‘The Growing Victoria target for public transport is a 20% by public transport mode share by 2020. The public transport system in and around metropolitan Melbourne must be expanded, resourced and promoted accordingly’.

This is supported by Policy 8.1 ‘The provision of local bus services has not kept pace with urban development and many people now live beyond convenient walking distance (400 metres) of any form of public transport’.

Policy 8.4 says ‘Manage the road system to achieve integration, choice and balance by developing an efficient and safe network and making the most of existing infrastructure’

This is supported by ‘Selected expansion and upgrading of the road network will continue. Improvements will include the completion of high quality connections between regional cities, the upgrading of key freight routes, and ongoing development in outer suburban areas. Upgrades to arterial and secondary road systems will also be undertaken to provide higher standards of on-road public transport. As road vehicles (car, bus, freight, commercial and emergency service vehicles) will continue to be needed for many trips, key cross-town arterial links in the outer suburbs must be improved’.

Mode choice

Car is the dominant mode for all trips with a mode share of 83%. It is particularly dominant for trips of 1 to 3kms (87% mode share) and 3 to 40kms (96%). Car driver and passenger are the mode choices for 89% of journeys to work made by residents in the Melton township and 91% of journeys made by the residents of Caroline Springs and Hillside.

21.5% of work-trips originating in the Shire of Melton have a destination within the LGA, 16.3% travel to the City of Melbourne, 48.6% travel to western suburbs from Brimbank to Werribee and 13% travel beyond.

The workforce employed in the Shire of Melton comes from across the north–west metropolitan area, with 29% of employees travelling from outside Melton. Car accounts for 89% of journey to work trips into the Melton Local Government Area (LGA).

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The current road network is identified in Figure 7: Road Transport. Issues relating to the road network are as follows:

The Western Highway/Freeway, which passes through the growth area, is part of the AusLink national transport network. The Western Ring Road between the Western Highway and the Hume corridor is also part of the AusLink national transport network.

The growth area has good access to the Laverton North industrial and freight logistics area via the Western Freeway and the Western Ring Road and Hopkins Road. This will be further enhanced once the Deer Park By-pass is built linking the Western Freeway to the Western Ring Road by a freeway connection thus avoiding the congested section of the highway through Deer Park. The Western Ring Road also provides access to the freeway network to the west and north of the metropolitan area, including the Tullamarine, Northern Ring Road and the partly open Craigieburn By- Pass. However, these roads encounter congestion, such as the Tullamarine and Calder Freeway interchange, which is currently being reviewed to help ease congestion.

Beyond Melton township, the Western Freeway is yet to be upgraded to freeway standard between West Melton and the Bacchus Marsh By-pass. The Freeway is on a constrained alignment with steep gradients as it crosses Djerriwarrh Creek and traverses Anthony’s Cutting. VicRoads has proposed a future realignment of the freeway in this location.

Within the growth corridor, the grid of arterial roads is quite sparse. The only significant east-west roads between the existing urban boundary at Hillside and Caroline Springs and the Melton township are the Melton Highway and the Western Highway/Freeway. Due to the lack of development, there is considerable distance between north-south roads from Caroline Springs to the Melton township, with the exception of Hopkins Road, which provides access between the Western Highway corridor and Werribee. The road network provides local access to rural properties and would require upgrading and reconfiguring if and when urban development takes place. Major road projects that have been proposed for the State Highway/Freeway network include:

Western Freeway Deer Park By-pass, included as an investment priority for 2004-05 to 2008-09 by the Federal Government in the AusLink White Paper (June 2004). Pre- construction is due to commence in 2007-08.

Western Freeway Leakes Road interchange at Rockbank, included as an investment priority for 2004-05 to 2008-09 by the Federal Government in the AusLink white Paper (June 2004). A planning scheme amendment process to determine the form of the interchange and the land required is current. Pre construction works are due to commence in 2007-08.

An additional interchange on the Western Freeway at Harkness Road, Melton West and a grade separation to carry Bulmans Road over the freeway (to connect with Clarkes Rd to the north).

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Western Freeway west of the land owned by the Melton Shire is reserved in the Planning Scheme to improve the alignment and gradient between Harkness Road and the Bacchus Marsh By-pass.

The completion of the above projects will result in a continuous freeway between the Western Ring Road and Ballarat.

The Melton Highway will be progressively upgraded as required. The Outer Western Suburbs Transport Strategy (DoI, October 2001) highlighted the necessary elements of the longer term transport strategy for the outer west. This included Hopkins Road and its extension to the north (via Plumpton Road) as well as Palmers and Robinsons Roads to provide a continuous link between Werribee and the Western and Calder corridors.

In addition to the above improvements to the State Highway/Freeway network, the Shire of Melton, surrounding councils and VicRoads are developing or considering the main and collector road network, notably in the Caroline Springs / Hillside / Taylors Hill area to accommodate recent and current urban development.

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Figure 7: Road Transport CONFIDENTIAL Map Ref. 1919, 17 August 2005 Confidential Key issues analysis Public transport

Existing services are identified in Figure 8: Public Transport and are outlined as follows:

Melton township is currently serviced by VLine trains to Spencer Street. While the travel time to Spencer Street ranges between 29 to 43 minutes, there are only 23 daily services operating in each direction between Melton and Spencer Street, while nine of these services stop at Rockbank.

The Sydenham (Watergardens) metropolitan rail service serves the north-eastern part of the growth area via Sunshine to the City Loop with stations at Watergadens, Keilor Park, St Albans, Ginifer and Albion. Rail services currently operate from 4.55am to 1.00am on weekdays with service frequencies varying between 15 minutes in the peak to 27 minutes.

There are four local bus services within Melton and three in Melton East. There is also a Nightrider bus service between the CBD and Melton township. Public Transport proposals for the growth corridor include the following:

New stations on the Melton line at Toolern (to service the Melton township expansion option and Ravenhall (to service the Caroline Springs area).

Within the existing Melton township, urban consolidation would provide residential densities that place more people within an easy walk of activity centres and public transport interchanges, to support public transport and reduce car dependency. Any additional station will place an emphasis on VLine rail services to inner Melbourne for journeys to work.

The PPTN bus route along the Melton Highway linking Melton station and High Street to Watergardens.

The PPTN bus services along Gourlay Road/Caroline Springs Boulevard between Watergardens and Laverton via Christies Road (and the proposed Ravenhall rail station) and Robinsons Road.

Possible extension of the Gold Orbital Service from Tullamarine Airport to Watergardens to connect with the PPTN.

With the introduction of the Regional Fast Rail Service from Ballarat, the number of services to Melbourne stopping at Melton may increase. Train size may also increase.

There is limited potential for additional peak suburban rail service to/from Watergardens (one extra train). It should be noted that the development of the rail network is restricted by capacity constraints on the suburban system from Sunshine into the inner parts of the system and by the lack of opportunities for additional services to use the City Loop. One loop of the City Loop system is allocated the ‘Northern Group’ which includes the Williamstown, Altona, Werribee, Sunshine/Watergardens, Broadmeadows/Craigieburn and Upfield lines converging at North Melbourne. Several growth areas (Wyndham, Melton and Hume) will compete for any spare capacity. There are also constraints between Sunshine and Footscray/North Melbourne which may not be adequately addressed until a commitment is made to build the additional tracks needed for the airport rail link into Spencer Street.

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Figure 8: Public Transport CONFIDENTIAL Map Ref. 1936, 24 August 2005 Confidential Key issues analysis Freight network

The Toolern employment node (Melton township) is located along the Western Freeway with access to the freeway at the Ferris Road interchange (movements to/from the east and west) and at a possible interchange near a mid-point between Ferris and Leakes Roads (with access to/from the east only). See Figure 9: Freight Network.

Work trip access between the Melton township and the Laverton North industrial area will be via the Deer Park By-pass and the Western Ring Road, and via Hopkins Road. Access between Melton East and Laverton North will be via Westwood Drive/Robinsons Road and the Western Ring Road.

Major freight movements to/from the industrial area at Toolern will have good direct access to the Western Freeway via the Ferris Road interchange. Planning of Toolern will need to consider potential amenity issues associated with industrial uses, in particular the conflict of freight movement through residential areas.

The western corridor is the third most important freight corridor for inter and intrastate movements to and from Melbourne (behind Hume and Princes Highway West). The corridor accounts for an estimated 15% of all freight by tonnage. This represents between 5 – 9 million tonnes per annum. Freight movements through the growth corridor will be largely constrained to the Western Freeway.

The freight task is expected to grow strongly. Forecasts indicate the task growing by up to 40% by 2010 and doubling over the following twenty years. Inter-capital non-bulk freight is anticipated to grow the strongest at 4% per annum.

Gateways to central Melbourne by road beyond the proposed Deer Park By-pass are constricted by capacity limitations at the West Gate Bridge and crossings of the Maribyrong River. Studies are now underway to examine options for improving passenger and freight capacity through the inner west, including the West Gate Freeway corridor.

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Figure 9: Freight Network CONFIDENTIAL Map Ref. 1928, 17 August 2005 Confidential Key issues analysis Walking and cycling

Walking and cycling are the most sustainable modes of travel, and therefore a high quality pedestrian and cycle network is an essential part of an integrated transport network to achieve Melbourne 2030 objectives and Melton Shire Council’s preferred transport outcomes.

Existing urban development patterns and residential densities do not support a dense network of neighbourhood activity centres, and therefore limit the potential for walking and cycling for local retail and convenience needs.

Walking and cycling currently have an estimated 14% of all trips undertaken within the growth area, which includes 42% of all trips under 1km which drops to 13% for all medium length trips (1-3kms). 6% of journey to work trips were undertaken using walking and cycling in the Melton township, with 4% being the equivalent percentage for Melton East.

The proportion of non-work related walk and cycle trips in the growth area is lower than Melbourne wide. Within the growth area, 14% of trips were by foot compared to 18% Melbourne wide.

The development of urban consolidation sites within the Melton township and East Melton is intended to achieve various positive outcomes, including increased residential opportunities close to activity centres and public transport, improved natural surveillance and frontage interfaces to streets and public spaces, and safe and direct walking/cycling paths to activity centres. The urban design of an area can have an important effect on supporting or hindering pedestrian movement. The layout of streets can either provide clear, simple routes that are easy to use for pedestrians, or it can provide more labyrinthine, confusing routes which tend to discourage walking. Pedestrians are highly sensitive to the complexity of routes and they tend to choose the simplest path. This means that overall, movement flows tend to become concentrated on those streets that offer the simplest links through the street grid.

A spatial analysis / pedestrian modelling study has been carried out for the Melton – Caroline Springs area to examine the nature of the pedestrian environment in the existing urban area, and identify strategies for improving conditions and new growth and redevelopment (refer also 5.1 Urban Form and Structure). This study analysed the following conditions:

Visibility analysis: a measure of how much space pedestrians can see as they move around at ground level, and is one of the most important factors determining the pattern of pedestrian flows in models of movement.

Accessibility analysis: a measure of how well a pedestrian route (or activity centre or transport node) is connected into the wider street network around it.

Natural surveillance: the location of building entrances and windows and the extent to which streets are overlooked by them is particularly important in deterring anti-social or criminal behaviour. Walking and cycling must be recognised as legitimate modes of transport, potentially integrating other transport modes, and provisions must allow for this, rather than focussing on recreational activities:

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The Melbourne Trail Network (MTN) currently proposes a number of recreational connections to Kororoit Creek, Werribee River and their tributaries.

Melton Shire Council has implemented a number of on-road bicycle lanes and shared footways, but this network is primarily designed for recreational use. Some footways are not aligned along pedestrian desire lines and tend to be designed more for leisure and recreational use. The spatial analysis work emphasises the importance of planning for integrated and permeable street networks, direct and legible routes to key destinations, and high levels of pedestrian amenity.

Continual back fences along arterial roads limit pedestrian access from adjacent neighbourhoods and create poor amenity and safety conditions for pedestrians. These routes often accommodate bus routes, activity centres, and provide the most direct access to destinations, so access and amenity is vital for pedestrians and cyclists.

The fragmented land parcels available within the growth area has resulted in poorly integrated neighbourhoods and disconnected street networks, as well as varying standards of pedestrian path provision. While Caroline Springs features generally wide paths on both sides of streets with good access to bus routes, some parts of Hillside provide narrow paths of poor quality and amenity. 3.12 Urban form and greenhouse gas emissions

Reducing the urban encroachment of metropolitan growth provides an important means of reducing air emissions including greenhouse gasses.

A more compact urban form reduces the need for motorised transport and minimises energy use in the form, type and layout of built structures. It also provides an important element in justifying high frequency public transport services, particularly bus services, which require a substantial catchment within walkable distances of the pick up points.

Urban form and the transport system and usage patterns to service new urban areas can lock in a level of energy usage that is difficult to change. The choices applied in the growth area will have enduring impacts well into the future. The likelihood of climate change and increases in oil prices as a peak in oil production approaches make it critical to consider the future implications of not embracing a change to conventional urban development.

Increases in residential densities and attention to clustering services within a short and direct journey to where people live will have significant positive impacts through facilitating walking/cycling, reduced car travel time and public transport use.

Reductions in car related greenhouse emissions and, adoption of more intensive urban development can achieve further greenhouse reductions due to increasing the area of shared walls/floors, which decreases the energy flow between the dwelling and the environment.

A higher, but diverse, residential density with access to public transport and tied to a ‘cluster and connect’ design focus in the location of services, together with greater employment self containment has positive and enduring environmental advantages.

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Decreased car travel time and distance travelled.

Reductions in travel time per household, particularly during off-peak travel.

Increased ‘local’ trips per dwelling.

Increase in the number of walk and cycle trips as a proportion of total travel.

Increased capacity for a higher proportion of people using public transport especially with a greater land use mix.

Implications for growth area planning

There is a need to integrate local bus routes and services with existing rail stations and planning for new stations.

New residential neighbourhoods and employment areas should be located where they have access to the existing or proposed PPTN or where they will provide concentrations of users sufficient to enable efficient and effective new links to be provided.

An urban form that promotes walking and cycling, rather than car use, to access services and employment is highly desirable.

More compact patterns of urban settlement, serviced by efficient and effective public transport, will also help to reduce transport-related greenhouse gas emissions. 3.13 Service infrastructure provision and funding

There are no constraints to water supply transfer services to the area. Existing transfer infrastructure has the capacity to supply forecast growth.

Although water supply to the area is secured, water reuse and reduction in consumption of water is required. New developments in the area should implement procedures (including waste water reuse, water sensitive urban design and effective stormwater management) where applicable, to assist with reducing overall water consumption.

There are two water and sewerage service providers in the study area, City West Water and Western Water. Western Water is the water supply, sewerage and recycled water provider for this region with the exception of Melton east. Melbourne Water manages waterways and drainage within the study area.

City West Water purchase water from the bulk supplier Melbourne Water and distributes it to customers in the east of the study area including Caroline Springs.

Western Water purchases bulk water from Southern Rural Water’s Lake Merrimu and utilises its own Devilbend Reservoir to supply Bacchus Marsh, Melton, Toolern Vale and Rockbank. Western Water’s Regional Action Plan released by the Minister for Water and Deputy Premier on the 4th August 2005 recognises that Lake Merrimu was originally built to supply water for growing urban communities, (Melton and Bacchus Marsh). The Government will assign the remaining 20% share of Lake Merrimu’s storage capacity to Western Water to improve its average annual supply and long-term reliability of supply subject to the outcomes of an environmental assessment of the Werribee River and the Central Region Sustainable Water Strategy process. The Lake

This document must not be circulated - Confidential Page 76 Confidential Key issues analysis Merrimu and Devilbend water is supplemented through the purchase of water from Melbourne Water via the recently constructed supply pipeline from Melbourne to Melton and Bacchus Marsh. The proposed development in Toolern and Kororoit is adjacent to this pipeline.

Western Water and City West Water have indicated that they are committed to meeting the Government target to reduce per capita drinking water consumption in Melbourne by 15% by 2010. This commitment will assist with securing water supply to the region.

Development north of Minns Road may require the installation of an additional tank and some upgrades to existing sewer infrastructure to meet service requirements.

Sewage from Caroline Springs is treated at Melbourne Water’s Western Treatment Plant at Werribee. Sewage from Melton and Rockbank is treated at Western Water’s Melton Purification Plant (Surbiton Park). An upgrade is planned by City West Water for the Derrimut Interceptor Sewer from Caroline Springs to Melbourne Water’s sewerage system. Western Water is also planning to construct a new Melton outfall sewer on the eastern side of Toolern Creek between 2006 and 2008. Development in both Toolern and Kororoit will be serviced by the proposed outfall sewer. Taking into consideration the water supply and sewerage servicing requirements preference should be given for the incorporation of the Kororoit South pocket in preference to the Exford Road/Reservoir area. A development priority, considering water and sewer infrastructure investment, would be Toolern, and then Kororoit.

Western Water is committed to recycling treated water. Surbiton Park currently recycles 100% of its wastewater effluent. Demand for recycled water supplied by Western Water is currently higher than volumes available. Western Water has undertaken or is investigating a number of initiatives to provide recycled water to the Melton Rockbank region for agricultural purposes. The development of Eynesbury will enable the use of Class A recycled water to areas south of the Melton township. Western Water advises that this level of recycled water could also be available to any other developments in and around the Melton township. Class A recycled water enables third pipe connection to households for domestic usage. Future growth in the Melton region can provide more recycled water for urban, recreational and agribusiness purposes.

Electricity and natural gas

Powercor and AGL distribute electricity throughout the study area via the Melton Zone substation. Transmission lines are controlled and owned by SPI Powernet. Electricity infrastructure other than transmission lines are installed and owned by Powercor or AGL.

According to Powercor there is very little system capacity left for an expanded population. However, Powercor augments its services on an as needs basis, and they are currently augmenting and constructing new overhead lines in Caroline Springs to meet future expected levels of demand. They are also planning to construct a new zone substation within ten years to service the Caroline Springs area.

To relieve the loading on the overall sub-transmission loop, Powercor intends constructing a second sub-transmission line between Keilor Terminal Station and Sunbury zone substation. AGL is presently augmenting a 66 kV sub-transmission loop

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Natural gas is distributed throughout the study area by TRU (formerly TXU) and natural gas transmission lines are provided and owned by GasNet. TRU (formerly TXU) does not anticipate any problems with supply in the study area. Installation of LPG lines is not allowed within 60 m of transmission lines. However, this does not necessarily preclude any other developments within that buffer.

It is important to note that efficient and effective supply of utilities to the area requires land to be appropriately located and available for the required infrastructure in advance of urban development (e.g. a zone substation requires up to 1 ha of land). Increasing resistance from the public towards the location of overhead power and transmission lines and zone substations can make finding suitable sites to augment supply very difficult. Purchasing appropriate sites to locate utility infrastructure which services major new developments can be difficult to find and currently purchasing more than 5 years in advance of development can pose a significant risk to providers.

Consequently, advantages can be gained through a co-ordinated approach to infrastructure planning. This may include ensuring enough land is reserved for infrastructure and where practical, utilities such as gas and water use the same trenches, to assist with reducing land requirements.

Telecommunications

The majority of the telephone, broadband and ISDN lines in the study area are installed and owned by Telstra. Telstra augments its services on an as-needs basis. Forecasting is conducted on a week to week basis where each exchange is monitored to gauge new installation rates (telephone, broadband and ISDN), effective use and growth levels per annum. Long-term forecasting also takes into account growth pattern information obtained from local councils and developers.

Caroline Springs was recently identified as an area of demand under Telstra’s most recent broadband ADSL extension program. Telstra is planning to install new mobile phone towers in Melton/Diggers Rest, along the Calder Highway between Melton and Hume, Eynesbury Estate, Melton North and Melton South.

Funding

The delivery of environment, transport, economic and social outcomes as envisaged by Melbourne 2030, requires significant investment in infrastructure. To date the provision of infrastructure within the growth area has generally lagged behind development.

The growth area is part of a metropolitan wide initiative to manage the overall development of Melbourne (i.e. all of Melbourne’s new greenfield development is being channelled to specific growth locations, thus these areas are bearing a cost associated with the burden of housing the newest communities of Melbourne). This raises the issue as to what degree the responsibility for funding of infrastructure should be shared by the wider Melbourne community as well as those new communities within the growth areas.

This document must not be circulated - Confidential Page 78 Confidential Key issues analysis Development contributions will be an important though limited source of funding for infrastructure (the principles of need, nexus and equity should continue to apply). Development Contribution Plans (DCPs) have traditionally been constrained to funding only very localised infrastructure and only that component related to new development. Melton Shire has had recent success in relation to negotiated outcomes for the provision of regional infrastructure.

There is a need to provide clarity as to how strategic infrastructure will be funded. To the extent that the development industry will be expected to contribute to major infrastructure, a clear long-term development concept is essential to enable more consistent, equitable application of DCPs. An indication of the nature of the infrastructure to be provided through DCPs in the future should therefore desirability be given before or when the UGB is moved to help ensure that an appropriate share of the costs can be effectively factored into land purchases. Such a strategy should consider:

The appropriate level of funding needed

Who is responsible for its provision

The timing of that expenditure

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