Planning and Environment Act 1987 GREATER GEELONG PLANNING
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Planning and Environment Act 1987 GREATER GEELONG PLANNING SCHEME AMENDMENT C113 EXPLANATORY REPORT Who is the planning authority? This amendment has been prepared by the Roads Corporation trading as VicRoads, who is the planning authority for this amendment. VicRoads has been authorised by the Minister for Planning to prepare the amendment. (Authorisation No. A0073, 22nd July 2005) Land affected by the amendment. The amendment applies to land on a proposed alignment described as Option 1 in the Environment Effects Statement for the Geelong Bypass - Section 3 between a line 300 metres south of Hamilton Highway, Fyansford and the Princes Highway at Waurn Ponds. Land that would be directly affected by the amendment is identified in the Planning Scheme Amendment maps 1-4. The maps define the land proposed to be included in the Public Acquisition Overlay (PAO3) and Road Zone Category 1 and to be deleted from Heritage Overlay (HO69). Other land more generally affected by the proposed amendment includes: • an area shown as a corridor as an opportunity for a possible future link between the Princes Highway and the Surf Coast Highway on figure 1 of proposed Clause 21.26, and • land between the proposed Geelong Bypass and the existing Princes Highway that is recommended for strategic investigation of future land use. What the amendment does. The amendment proposes to: • Amend Clause 21.08 of the Local Planning Policy Framework to reflect the proposed change to the alignment of the Geelong Bypass and to recommend investigation of the potential future use of land between the existing Princes Highway and the proposed Geelong Bypass alignment in the vicinity of Waurn Ponds. • Amend Clause 21.26 of the Local Planning Policy Framework to reflect the completion of the Princes Highway upgrade between Melbourne and Geelong, and to incorporate the findings of the Geelong Ring Road Strategic Study and the outcomes of the Environment Effects Statement (EES) process for Geelong Bypass Section 3. This includes: o Strategic recognition of a possible future road link between the Princes Highway and the Surf Coast Highway o The investigation of options for bicycle routes adjacent to the Geelong Bypass in appropriate locations o The inclusion of the Geelong Ring Road Strategic Study (VicRoads 2002) as a reference document. • Rezone an area of land at the proposed Barwon River crossing, Fyansford, from Public Conservation and Resource Zone to Road Zone Category 1. • Delete a small area of land at the intersection of Barrabool Road and Three Springs Road, Ceres, from the Heritage Overlay (HO69) to the extent that it is affected by the Public Acquisition Overlay for the Geelong Bypass. • Introduce a Public Acquisition Overlay (PAO3) to the land to be reserved and acquired by Roads Corporation for the construction of the Geelong Bypass – Section 3, and associated works. • Amend the schedule to the Rural Zone so that a permit is not required for earthworks by or on behalf of the Roads Corporation for the Geelong Bypass and associated works. • Amend the schedule to the Rural Living Zone so that a permit is not required for earthworks by or on behalf of the Roads Corporation for the Geelong Bypass and associated works. • Amend Schedule 3 to the Significant Landscape Overlay so that a permit is not required for buildings and works or the removal of vegetation by or on behalf of the Roads Corporation for the Geelong Bypass – Section 3 and associated works. • Amend the schedule to Clause 52.17 so that a permit is not required to remove, destroy or lop vegetation, to the minimum extent necessary, for works undertaken by or on behalf of the Roads Corporation for the construction of the Geelong Bypass – Section 3 between a line 300m south of the Hamilton Highway and the Princes Highway at Waurn Ponds. Strategic assessment of the amendment • Why is the amendment required? The amendment is required: • to reserve land by application of the Public Acquisition Overlay in the Planning Scheme, which will enable the Roads Corporation to acquire land for the construction of the Geelong Bypass – Section 3 and associated works. • to allow the construction of the Geelong Bypass – Section 3 and associated works by or on behalf of the Roads Corporation without the need to obtain planning permits for use of land or the construction of buildings or works. The EES process will address the issues normally associated with the assessment of a planning permit application. • to update the Local Planning Policy Framework of the Planning Scheme to reflect the outcomes of the EES process, the Geelong Ring Road Strategic Study and to ensure consistency with the Zones and Overlays and other requirements. • How does the amendment implement the objectives of planning in Victoria? The planning scheme amendment will be supportive of and assist in the implementation of the objectives of planning in Victoria as set out in Section 4 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987. In particular, Objectives 4.1(b), (d) and (e) are relevant to the amendment: (a) to provide for the fair, orderly, economic and sustainable use, and development of land; through the selection of a preferred option for a major state and regional road which best meets these criteria (b) to provide for the protection of natural and man-made resources and the maintenance of ecological processes and genetic diversity; through the completion of a careful and thorough environmental investigation, responsive design and assessment process. (c) to secure a pleasant, efficient and safe working, living and recreational environment for all Victorians and visitors to Victoria; through its contribution to the achievement of a safe and efficient state and regional road system for local and recreational travellers alike (d) to conserve and enhance those buildings, areas or other places which are of scientific, aesthetic, architectural or historical interest, or otherwise of special cultural value; by consideration and mitigation of any potential effects on the heritage values and features of the area (e) to protect public utilities and other assets and enable the orderly provision and co- ordination of public utilities and other facilities for the benefit of the community; by facilitating the implementation of a major infrastructure facility. (f) to facilitate development in accordance with the objectives set out in paragraphs (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e); through the facilitation of the provision of an important component of the state and regional road system, (g) to balance the present and future interests of all Victorians; by consideration of the relevant short and long term benefits and disbenefits of the various project options. • How does the amendment address the environmental effects and any relevant social and economic effects? The amendment would give effect to Option 1 for the Geelong Bypass. It would incorporate the results of the EES process which is considering the environmental, social and economic implications of various road options against a set of project assessment objectives. The key issues are assessed as follows: Environmental Effects • Indigenous Flora and Fauna Limited terrestrial flora and fauna of significance were recorded during investigations on or adjacent to the road alignment options due to extensive land clearing in the area in the 19th century. Habitat of significance in the study area was recorded adjacent to the south bank of the Barwon River (Floodplain Riparian Woodland) and adjacent to Waurn Ponds Creek (Creekline Grassy Woodland). No fauna of National or State Significance were recorded in the investigations. The investigations concluded that provided appropriate environmental management actions were taken in the construction of the road, none of the options presented significant potential impacts on terrestrial flora and fauna. There is little to distinguish between the evaluated options in their support for project environmental objectives. None of the evaluated road options were assessed as being likely to impact on the aquatic environment of the Barwon River or Waurn Ponds Creek provided appropriate environmental management procedures are in place during construction. • Cultural Heritage Aboriginal and European cultural heritage investigations were conducted along the road alignment options and within a cultural contextual area. A study of relevant registers revealed 37 Aboriginal archaeological sites, one Aboriginal historic place and 126 European historic sites in the contextual study area. Of these seven occur within the road corridors which were assessed. Field surveys identified an additional nine new sites within the corridors. These sites comprised seven Aboriginal sites and two European Historic sites. The cultural heritage assessment concluded that “none of the Aboriginal or European historic sites in the vicinity of the alignments have high scientific values”. However the assessment recommended a number of further survey and subsurface testing actions of any of the potentially disturbed Aboriginal archaeological sites before they are disturbed for road construction purposes. It also recommended that options be further assessed for their impact on any of the European heritage sites including the structural integrity of the historic Waurn Ponds Bridge. Investigations also identified one place (the Mt Duneed Reserve) to be of high social significance to the Wathaurong (Aboriginal community). In view of the significance of the place it was avoided in all alignment designs considered in the