KNOX PLANNING SCHEME
21.08 RECOGNISING AND PROTECTING SIGNIFICANT NATURAL FEATURES AND 09/11/2006 CULTURAL HERITAGE C40
21.08-1 Overview 19/01/2006 VC37 Natural features
Knox contains important habitats for flora and fauna and plays an important role in maintaining natural processes in the broader region. The importance of Knox’s natural assets has been documented in a number of state, regional and local studies. The local community values the natural flora and fauna of Knox and sees its preservation and enhancement important. Parklands, waterways and relatively undeveloped urban and rural areas provide locations for natural features. The protection of native vegetation, water, air and soil quality in these areas is vital to sustaining natural systems. In turn, these natural systems provide the source of clean air and water. Knox contains large parks of regional significance and a network of local parks. Regional parks include Churchill National Park and Police Paddocks Reserve to the south and the Dandenong Valley Parklands. Many of Knox’s parks are linked along waterways providing not only an important recreation resource but providing important habitat links. The parklands help to contribute to the health of waterways which traverse the Municipality (e.g. Dandenong Creek, Blind Creek, Monbulk Creek, Ferny Creek and Corhanwarrabul Creek). There have been recent sightings of platypus in a number of local streams. Knox is adjoined by areas of environmental significance such as the Dandenong Ranges National Park and contributes to the natural viability of these areas. Areas of natural vegetation also exist in residential and rural locations providing examples of remnant vegetation and valuable habitat.
Cultural heritage
Local heritage is an integral part of the evolution of land use in the municipality. The Knox Heritage Study (1993) has been adopted by the City of Knox for the protection of known heritage sites in the municipality. Many of these sites have been individually listed in Clause 43.01 of this scheme. The challenge is to retain and promote the upkeep of these in a way that is sympathetic to their heritage values. Viable uses need to be retained or identified to help preserve these sites. Development of these sites and nearby land will need to consider potential impacts on the heritage values of these sites. The rural landscapes of the Lysterfield Valley have been recognised by the National Trust as being of cultural heritage value. It is important that planning and development approvals within the municipality acknowledge the importance of identified heritage sites and promote their protection and enhancement.
21.08-2 Objectives, strategies and implementation 09/11/2006 C40
Objectives
To protect and enhance places of cultural heritage. To protect environmental features.
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Strategies
Promote protection, retention, restoration, conservation and viable uses of heritage places. Ensure that environmental features are protected. Identify land with flooding issues and constraints and ensure that development responds to these environmental conditions.
Implementation
These strategies will be implemented by:
Policy and exercise of discretion
Ensuring best practice environmental management be used in the design, construction and operation of drainage systems to reduce impacts on surface waters and ground water. Ensuring development be designed and managed to minimise the impact of urban stormwater runoff on waterways, in accordance with any best practice environmental management guidelines approved by relevant statutory authorities. Ensuring use and development is consistent with park management plans. Obtaining comment where appropriate from the Department of Natural Resources and Environment and local conservation groups when considering applications. Ensuring planning applications on sites listed in the schedule to the Heritage Overlay acknowledge the importance of the site. Ensuring planning applications on land adjoining sites identified in the schedule to the Heritage Overlay acknowledge the importance of the identified site. Ensuring advertising signs located on or abutting land listed in the schedule to the Heritage Overlay are designed and sited to complement the heritage values of the listed property. Encouraging preparation of management plans for heritage places on private land. Facilitating uses which acknowledge the importance of identified heritage places within a current day context. Considering any management plans for the heritage place. Using the Dandenong Foothills Policy to ensure that environmental capacity of the land is considered in proposals for the sensitive eastern part of the municipality. Encouraging the retention of remnant native vegetation for its habitat and other ecological values, particularly where the vegetation is located: Along creek valleys. Along linear reserves. In the vicinity of the Dandenong Ranges National Park. In the vicinity of other parks and reserves. Requesting, where appropriate, that planning applications for use or development in, or adjoining, parks and adjoining waterways provide information which identifies any potential vegetation, habitat, air, water and soil quality impacts on the park or waterway.
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Considering park management plans when assessing transport proposals in the vicinity of public parks. Requiring proponents to identify environmental impacts of proposals on land in the non-urban area. Using the Dandenong Foothills Policy to ensure that design and development issues are addressed. Using the Scoresby-Rowville Employment Precinct Policy to ensure that design and development issues are addressed in development adjoining identified heritage sites within the Precinct.
Zones and overlays
Applying the Heritage Overlay to protect specific heritage places identified in the Knox Heritage Study (1993). Applying the Significant Landscape Overlay Schedules 1 to 5 to the Dandenong Foothills area to protect the landscape qualities of the area. Applying the Urban Floodway Zone to protect floodways from development. Applying the Floodway Overlay to protect floodways from development. Applying the Land Subject to Inundation Overlay to all land affected by flooding from open watercourses. Using the Design and Development Overlay in the sensitive Dandenong foothills area to encourage low density development through provision of minimum lot sizes. Applying the Low Density Residential Zone generally to the western fringe of the Dandenong Ranges National Park, residential areas of The Basin and near the corner of Taylors Lane and Wellington Road to minimise development in areas without reticulated sewerage. Applying the Rural Zone to parts of the Lysterfield area, parts of the Monbulk Creek Valley and parts of The Basin which are unsuitable for urban development. Applying the Rural Living Zone to provide for residential use in the rural environment of The Basin, Lysterfield and the area near the intersection of High Street Road and Nortons Lane to ensure that environmental impacts are considered. Applying the Public Conservation and Resource Zone to specific areas along Dandenong Creek to protect the natural environment. Applying the Environmental Rural Zone in The Basin to protect identified areas of flora and fauna significance in proximity to the Dandenong Ranges National Park. Applying the Comprehensive Development Zone 1 to Waterford Valley to ensure that residential and drainage uses on the site can be co-ordinated. Applying the Urban Floodway Zone to land within Caribbean Gardens that has been identified as being critical for flood catchment purposes. Applying the Development Plan Overlay Schedule 6 to particular properties within the Scoresby-Rowville Employment Precinct near Corhanwarrabul Creek and Lake Caribbean to ensure that appropriate drainage and environmental management processes and works are undertaken. Applying the Development Plan Overlay Schedule 6 to Stamford Park and adjoining land to ensure that appropriate development occurs within the identified view corridor from historic Stamford Park House. Applying the Vegetation Protection Overlay to identify significant vegetation which should be protected where possible in the design of transport infrastructure.
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Applying the Vegetation Protection Overlay 1 to retain remnant vegetation with two or more intact strata. Applying the Vegetation Protection Overlay 3 to retain remnant overstorey vegetation. Applying the Rural Zone to existing rural land. Applying the Environmental Rural Zone to the Dobsons Creek area and land adjoining Dandenong Ranges National Park to maintain and enhance viability of natural eco- systems.
Further strategic work
Further documenting identified heritage sites. Further reviewing sites identified for inclusion in the Heritage Overlay. Developing management plans for publicly owned sites.
Other actions
Liaising with the Port Phillip Catchment Management Authority and local conservation groups. Giving effect to Floodplain Management Strategies to be undertaken by Melbourne Water. Working with the Department of Sustainability and Environment as the owner and manager of Crown Land. Liaising with the Roads Corporation, Department of Sustainability and Environment and Parks Victoria.
Reference documents:
Knox City Council (1994), Conservation Strategy McInnes, M. (1993), City of Knox Heritage Study Water Ecoscience Pty Ltd, Melbourne (1998), Vegetation Assessment and Protection Strategy for the City of Knox National Parks Service (1996), Churchill National Park and Lysterfield Lake Park Draft Management Plan Rhodes, D. Du Cross (1993), Dandenong Valley Park: Future Directions Plan Resources Document: Archaeological Survey of Dandenong Valley Metropolitan Park Parks Victoria (1995: revised 1998), A Guide to Priorities for Melbourne’s Open Space Network – South East Region Kenmore Course Pty Ltd (1996), Least Waste Managing Waste: The Way Ahead For the Eastern Region Regional Waste Management Plan 1996-2020
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