Town and Country Planning Board of Victoria
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1967-68 VICTORIA TWENTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING BOARD OF VICTORIA FOR THE PERIOD lsr JULY, 1966, TO 30rH JUNE, 1967 PRESENTED TO BOTH HOUSES OJ;' PARLIAMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 5 (2) OF THE TO\\''N AND COUNTRY PLANNING ACT 1961 [Approximate C08t of Report.-Preparation, not given. Printing (225 copies), $785 J By AUJhorzly: A. C. BROOKS. GOVERNMENT PRINTER. MELBOURNE. No 38-1283/68.-"[40 cents] INDEX PAGE Constitution of the Board 5 Legislation 5 Planning Schemes Being Prepared by the Board 5 Planning Schemes Being Prepared by Councils 15 Melbourne Metropolitan Planning Scheme 16 Interim Development Orders 17 Revocations of Portions of Planning Schemes 17 Western Port Development .. 18 Gippsland Lakes Inquiry 18 Control of Junk Yards 19 Advertising Signs and Panels 19 Port Phillip Authority 20 Melbourne's Future Water Supply 21 Future Growth of Melbourne 22 Planning for Comprehensive Residential Development 22 Urban Redevelopment 24 Land Use Abutting Country Roads Board's Roads 26 Land Use Zoning-By-laws Under the Local Government Act 27 Scheme Under Section 605 of the Local Government Act 28 Australian Planning Institute Congress-Sydney 1966 28 Acknowledgments 28 Staff 29 Appendices- I., II., Ill., and IV... 30 ILLUSTRATION. Map of Victoria .. at back Town and Country Planning Board TWENTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT 179 Queen-street, Melbourne, 3000 The Honorable the Minister for Local Government, 61 Spring-street, Melbourne, 3000. SIR, In accordance with the provisions of Section 5 (2) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1961 (Act No. 6849), the Board has pleasure in submitting to you for presentation to Parliament the following report on its activities during the twelve months ended 30th June, 1967. The delay in the submission is due largely to the Board's preoccupation with the major study and report on Melbourne's Future Growth undertaken at your request. During the period under review the Board held 45 meetings, and in addition was represented at a number of conferences held in the metropolitan area and various country centres. CONSTITUTION OF THE BOARD. During 1966 Mr. A. N. Kemsley was invited by the Minister to agree to an extension of his membership of the Board for a period of one year. This was due to expire on 25th May, but with Mr. Kemsley's agreement the Governor in Council on the lOth May, 1967, approved a further extension to the 29th March, 1968. The continuation of Mr. Kemsley's membership of the Board which began on the 27th February, 1946 when the Board was first established, was warmly welcomed by his colleagues. LEGISLATION. A Bill to amend the Town and Country Planning Act 1961 was introduced into the Legislative Assembly during the Autumn Session of Parliament (1967). The Bill represented a substantial amendment to the principal Act and in particular made provision for the establishment of regional planning authorities designed primarily to co-ordinate the planning of large urban areas consisting of more than one municipality where this could not be achieved by the individual municipalities. The Bill was read a second time, but the House rose before it could proceed further. Many of the amendments contained in the Bill had been recommended by the Board as the result of difficulties experienced in the preparation and administration of planning schemes. The Board is most anxious therefore in the interests of efficient planning administration that the amendment will be favourably considered at the earliest opportunity. PLANNING SCHEMES BEING PREPARED BY THE BOARD. Two principal planning schemes prepared by the Board received Governor in Council approval during the period covered by this Report, the Councils being appointed responsible authorities for their respective municipalities. 6 The number of schemes being prepared by the Board (see Appendix Ill.) remains at eighteen as the Minister during the year directed the Board to prepare two additional schemes. These are for the environs of two reservoirs under construction by the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission, Lake Merrimu and Lake Nillahcootie. APPROVED SCHEMES. Eppalock and Tower Hill Planning Schemes. The Eppalock Planning Scheme was approved on 17th January, 1967, the responsible authorities being the councils of the Shires of Metcalf, Mclvor and Strathfieldsaye. It is typical of a number of planning schemes which are being prepared by the Board to safeguard the environs of reservoirs from development prejudicial to the functioning of the storages and to provide for the location of appropriate uses such as holiday camp areas, caravan parks, boating clubs and facilities and limited residential settlement. The Tower Hill Planning Scheme was approved on the 17th May, 1967, the responsible authorities being the councils of the Borough of Koroit and the Shires of Warrnambool and Belfast. Although the objects of this scheme are similar to those of the Eppalock Planning Scheme its principal aim is the preservation of a striking and well known volcanic crater and its environs. The crater was once noted for its beautiful natural landscape the restoration of which is being undertaken by the Fisheries and Wildlife Department. ADDITIONAL SCHEMES. Lake Merrimu and Lake Nillahcootie Planning Schemes. The Lake Merrimu Planning Scheme was commenced by the Board on 8th September, 1966, and in view of the need to bring the area under control as soon as possible an Interim Development Order was approved by the Governor in Council on 4th October. The Order covers only that part of the planning area within the Shire of Bacchus Marsh, the balance of the area being under an Interim Development Order administered by the Gisborne Shire CounciL The bulk of the planning area is a proclaimed water supply catchment area within which the Soil Conservation Authority has designated land uses. The statutory notice sent out by the Board to neighbouring municipalities, Government authorities and other interested organizations has produced much useful information. The drafting of planning proposals is proceeding. The reservoir to be known as Lake Nillahcootie is on the Broken river. The planning area defined by the Board is divided by the boundary between the Shires of Benalla and Mansfield, the greater portion being within the latter Shire. The councils for both Shires agreed on the limits of the planning area and the Board resolved to commence the scheme on 1st January, 1967. Interim development control was obtained on the 7th February. The planning area extends approximately two miles on either side of the Broken river for a distance of some six miles. A section of the Midland Highway which follows the river in this locality has been relocated clear of the reservoir area. There is no township in the planning area the land use of which comprises about 30 farms, the balance being Crown land. Major construction works to the stage of storing water have recently been completed. The area to be inundated will extend some four miles up the river from the dam. As with other schemes of this nature the Lake Nillahcootie Planning Scheme will be designed to protect the land surrounding the reservoir from speculative subdivision which would be liable to occur as a result of the attraction created by the reservoir. The scheme will also provide for the development of acceptable tourist or holiday type facilities and, if considered necessary, for limited residential settlement. Phi/lip Island and Waratah Bay Planning Schemes. The Phillip Island Planning Scheme is still the subject of an Interim Development Order administered by the Board. The primary purpose of the scheme awaiting approval is the recognition of established land use on the Island and the promotion of orderly development within the committee areas. Apart from allowing for some extension of urban growth at established resorts such as Cowes, and a number of reservations designed to protect the natural habitat of the unique wildlife on the Island, the balance of the planning area has been retained in the rural zone. 7 The unique wildlife resources are a feature of the Island. There are few places, and certainly none in Australia where so much unique wildlife can be observed in its natural surroundings and in such a compact and accessible area. With the growth of the tourist industry the value of these resources has greatly increased because of their natural attraction to overseas as well as local tourists. Consequently the need for planning has achieved a wider significance embracing not only organized development but factors such as management, particularly as regards the tourist section of the Island, and the protection of the rural landscape which provides a setting for the main wildlife habitats and of the foreshore scenery. In June, 1966, the Minister made a tour of the Island accompanied by the Chairman and the Shire President and council officials. After the tour the Minister requested the council to take action to remove or improve a number of unsightly residential buildings, the Country Roads Board to plant trees on sections of roadways to screen certain unsightly developments, and the Board to examine prematurely subdivided areas zoned residential with a view to reversion to rural use. The Board's examination led to the view that the previous study of the Island for the purpose of zoning should be extended to permit the formulation of comprehensive proposals regarding management of the Island's tourist resources, amendments to the planning scheme to introduce more stringent measures to protect these resources and the landscape, and also treatment of prematurely subdivided and poorly developed areas. The Board is now preparing a report to the Minister along these lines. The Waratah Bay Planning Scheme was adopted by the Board on 9th November, 1966, and subject to the Minister's consideration awaits the approval of the Governor in Council.