Draft Yarra Strategic Plan

PART 2 LAND USE FRAMEWORK Draft Yarra Strategic Plan Part 2 63 The Yarra River at the centre of planning LAND USE The Yarra Strategic Plan provides a regional framework for land use planning and decision-making on both public and freehold private land at a local level. The framework complements the FRAMEWORK collaborative actions set out in Part 1 by ensuring all activities within the corridor align with the performance objectives in the next 10 years. Purpose of the land use framework The land use framework sets out the spatial directions for the Yarra Strategic Plan, as required by Sections 20 and 21 of the Yarra River Protection (Wilip-gin Birrarung murron) Act 2017 (the Act). To deliver on the intent of the Act, while also reflecting the unique characteristics of the Yarra River, the land use framework provides direction at a whole-of-river scale and within each of the four reaches. Preparation of the land use framework has drawn from the many existing studies, strategies and projects occurring within the corridor. The framework aims to strengthen and coordinate existing work and fill gaps where required. Relevant responsible public entities will align their business-as-usual activities to the recommendations of the land use framework in order to deliver outcomes for the Yarra Strategic Plan. Application of the land use framework Once the Yarra Strategic Plan is finalised, Clause 12.03-1R ‘Yarra River Protection’ of the Planning Policy Framework found in the Victoria Planning Provisions will be updated, and the final Yarra Strategic Plan will be referenced or incorporated in planning schemes. The Yarra Strategic Plan will: • be used in the planning system to provide regional planning policy and strategic direction for all land within the Yarra Strategic Plan area • require that changes to a planning scheme (amendments) or a proposed development (permits) must consider the Yarra Strategic Plan and be consistent with its strategic objectives19. 64 Draft Yarra Strategic Plan Whole-of-river directions • Review the Yarra River’s heritage values and protections and update or introduction of new planning controls, such as the Heritage Overlay, to The Yarra River contains various extensive and distinct landscapes that are protect sites of significance. valued for their scenic, environmental, social, cultural and economic value. • Identify areas of high riparian and biodiversity value requiring protection from disturbance and introduction and/or updating of appropriate planning Planning controls should seek to protect those values and ensure that any controls such as the Environmental Significance Overlay to these or other development respects the Yarra River and its environs. A lack of consistently high-priority revegetation sites. applied planning controls throughout the Yarra River’s varied reaches, and across municipalities, will undermine the ability of the Yarra Strategic Plan to • Develop new guidelines to support appropriate landscape design and achieve the community’s long term vision and contribute to poor long term native planting at the river’s interface to ensure a consistent approach to outcomes, which threaten the river’s significant values. protect and enhance the riverbank environment. In 2017, the Minister for Planning implemented interim planning controls The Yarra River’s four distinct reaches between Richmond and Warrandyte recognising the urgent need to protect the suburban areas of the Yarra River from further inappropriate development – To reflect the unique characteristics of the Yarra River, and align with the Yarra ahead of the passing of the Act and development of the Yarra Strategic Plan. River 50 Year Community Vision, the land use framework provides direction for The interim planning controls, for the first time, brought a consistent approach the whole of river landscape across the four reaches: introducing mandatory height, setback and overshadowing controls along with • Upper rural: Upper Yarra Reservoir to Healesville consistent vegetation protection across six suburban municipalities. • Lower rural: Healesville to Warrandyte The Yarra Strategic Plan recommends the following whole-of-river planning • Suburban: Warrandyte to Dights Falls directions be progressed to ensure the values of the river are protected and the • Inner city: Dights Falls to Westgate Bridge. 50 year community vision can be realised. These include: Each reach is guided by its own 50 year community vision. The land use • Refine and introduce permanent design and development and landscape framework acknowledges the unique characteristics of each reach management controls between Richmond and Warrandyte which continue and includes some or all of these five elements: current state land use to prescribe mandatory maximum building heights, minimum development analysis, achieving the community vision, directions for future land use and setbacks and overshadowing controls, and strengthened vegetation development, existing and new areas for protection, and celebrating significant controls for all new development. places. • Prepare new planning controls which extend upstream from Warrandyte to the Yarra Ranges, employing the approach used in the preparation of strengthened controls already applied between Richmond and Warrandyte. Draft Yarra Strategic Plan Part 2 65 Current state land use analysis Land use settings include: We have undertaken current state analysis to understand existing land use, Yarra River land – comprised of publicly owned land which has been declared anticipated threats and pressures (e.g. population growth and climate for protection under the Yarra River Protection (Wilip-gin Birrarung murron) Act change); identify values; and to understand how we can achieve Traditional 2017. The role of Yarra River land is to support the health of the Yarra River and, Owners’ aspirations and the community vision. where appropriate, allow people to access the river in its most natural state. The analysis was informed by the elements of the land use framework, Bush residential – privately owned land used for agriculture, rural residential articulated in Section 21 of the Act. Further detail on the current state analysis properties and agritourism, with many land parcels having direct frontage to can be found in the Yarra Strategic Plan Map Book20. the Yarra River. The low level of development on bush residential land will allow for the restoration of a continuous corridor of native vegetation along the Yarra Achieving the community vision River and its tributaries. Each reach has its own community vision, priorities and values which define the Townships – historic townships are focal points in the upper and lower rural community’s aspirations for the reach in 50 years. The directions set out in the reaches for community access to the Yarra River, commercial activity and land use framework respond to the community’s aspirations and outline the tourism. objectives for both private and public land in the next 10 years. Directions for future land use and development Suburban – comprised primarily of residential neighbourhoods, through which the Yarra River and its parklands form a continuous landscape corridor that will The 242km Yarra River corridor features a myriad of landscapes and be protected and strengthened. environments, with differing degrees of development, access, land use and Urban – more intensely developed areas in the inner city reach that include management. a mix of established residential neighbourhoods, retail activity centres and To reflect these diverse characteristics and manage the increasing pressures on key employment precincts undergoing significant redevelopment. Managing the Yarra River corridor, directions for future land use and development have development and strengthening the Yarra River’s landscape values are key been categorised into six land use settings. All activities occurring within the directions for this land use setting. Yarra Strategic Plan area must adhere to the directions set out by the relevant Central city – within the CBD the Yarra River is a focal point with views along the land use settings. corridor framed by linked parklands, promenades and surrounding buildings. The directions for each land use setting will be translated into the Planning Policy Framework, at either the regional or local level. 66 Draft Yarra Strategic Plan Existing and new areas for protection Recommendations for the significant places will complement the whole-of-river actions and the directions for future land use and development. They include There are currently many forms of statutory protection in place to manage the opportunities for future projects and investment, and may also set out changes different values of the Yarra River. They are implemented through legislation and to local planning schemes, where required. the planning system and include: • the Planning and Environment Act 1987, which provides the legal framework for Victoria’s planning system • the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006, which declares all land within 200m of the edge of all waterways as having potential cultural sensitivity • the National Parks Act 1975 and Crown Land (Reserves) Act 1978 which apply to forested areas and many of the parklands • planning scheme overlays such as the Heritage Overlay, Environmental Significance Overlay and Significant Landscape Overlay • land use zones such as the Green Wedge Zone, Rural Conservation Zone, Neighbourhood Residential Zone and Public Conservation and Resource Zone. To realise Traditional

Load more