Planning and Environment Act 1987 GREATER GEELONG
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Planning and Environment Act 1987 GREATER GEELONG PLANNING SCHEME AMENDMENT C232 EXPLANATORY REPORT Who is the planning authority? This amendment has been prepared by the Minister for Planning, who is the planning authority for this amendment. The amendment has been made at the request of VicRoads. The Responsible Authority is the City of Greater Geelong. The Department of Transport has an agreement with VicRoads for the inclusion of the southern section of Armstrong Creek Railway Station in this amendment. Land affected by the amendment. The amendment applies to land required for the Geelong Ring Road Section 4C, which will extend the Ring Road from Anglesea Road (at Section 4B of the Geelong Ring Road) to the Surf Coast Highway. The proposed road crosses the Geelong - Warrnambool Railway Line and then traverses land owned by Blue Circle Southern Cement limestone quarry, Ghazeepore Road and continues east parallel with the Geelong - Warrnambool Railway Line on the southern side of the railway to the Surf Coast Highway. The Public Acquisition Overlay for the Geelong Ring Road Section 4C, between Ghazeepore Road and Anglesea Road covers two alternative alignments, located in close proximity. An alignment for Section 4C will be determined within the PAO and the surplus areas of PAO will be removed from the Greater Geelong Planning Scheme through a planning scheme amendment at a later date. The amendment also applies to land required for the southern section of the Armstrong Creek Railway Station. This land is located south of the Geelong – Warrnambool Railway Line and east of Ghazeepore Road in Mount Duneed. It is located north of Section 4C of the Geelong Ring Road. The section of the railway station north of the Geelong - Warrnambool Railway Line is being reserved in a separate process to this amendment. What the amendment does. The amendment: • Amends Maps 65DPO and 66DPO of the Greater Geelong Planning Scheme to remove Development Plan Overlay Schedule 8. • Amends Maps 65PAO and 66PAO of the Greater Geelong Planning Scheme to show the PAO3 for Section 4C of the Geelong Ring Road and to show PAO9 for the Armstrong Creek Railway Station. • Deletes Schedule 8 to the Development Plan Overlay (Clause 43.04). • Inserts an incorporated document titled Geelong Ring Road – Section 4C Incorporated Document, June 2010 in the Schedule to Clause 52.03 and the Schedule to Clause 81.01. Without the amendment to introduce the incorporated document, a permit would be required for some of the project works, including earthworks which change the rate of flow or the discharge point of water across a property boundary and the removal of native vegetation. Strategic assessment of the amendment • Why is the amendment required? The amendment is required to facilitate the reservation of land for the use and development of the Geelong Ring Road Section 4C and for the reservation of land for the future use and development of the southern section of Armstrong Creek Railway Station. It seeks to allow for the construction of Section 4C together with associated works via a single integrated process for assessment and approval for the use of land, removal of vegetation, earthworks and the construction works. Approval for use and development of the railway station will occur at a later time. The Armstrong Creek Railway Station will provide public transport services to Geelong and Melbourne. It will service the travel needs of the rapidly expanding southern suburbs of Geelong, including the Armstrong Creek Urban Growth Area (located south of the Geelong- Warrnambool Railway Line). The railway station is planned to be in place before the urban development is complete and will support a more sustainable community that is easily accessed by public transport. The amendment as it relates to Geelong Ring Road Section 4C arises as a follow on action from the Environment Effects Statement (EES) for Geelong Ring Road Section 3 which outlines a strategic direction for the future provision of Section 4 of the Geelong Ring Road. The EES was approved by the Minister for Planning in 2006. The land required for Section 4C was first identified in the Greater Geelong Planning Scheme via Amendment C113. This amendment applied DPO8 over land broadly identified to connect the Princes Highway (Section 4B) and Surf Coast Highway (Section 4C) prior to more detailed environmental investigations and design work being carried out. DPO8 will be redundant as a result of application more specific identification of land required for the section 4C as defined by the proposed PAO3. • How does the amendment implement the objectives of planning in Victoria? This amendment is supportive of and assists in the implementation of the objectives of Planning in Victoria (identified in Section 4 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987), as detailed below: a) To provide for the fair, orderly, economic and sustainable use, and development of land Section 4C of the Geelong Ring Road is a key element of creating a viable and sustainable transport network in Geelong and the western region of Victoria. It will serve the Armstrong Creek Urban Growth Area, facilitate economic and tourism benefits and link communities within the region and beyond. Planning for Geelong Ring Road Section 4C and all associated works has included the preparation of detailed specialist assessments to ensure adequate consideration of all relevant planning issues. Armstrong Creek Railway Station will help to provide future sustainable transport needs for the Armstrong Creek Urban Growth Area. Reservation of the land now will ensure sustainable transport options are in place as development takes place. b) To provide for the protection of natural and man-made resources and the maintenance of ecological processes and genetic diversity A thorough environmental investigation, design and assessment process has been completed which has assisted in the achievement of this objective. The design of Section 4C of the Geelong Ring Road has sought to avoid as far as possible the key limestone resource which is formed by the Blue Circle Southern Quarry. The design of the road has ensured that waterway impacts have been avoided and there is minimal impact on flora and fauna. The amendment allows for the protection of any ecological values on the land required for the southern section of the Armstrong Creek Railway Station should detailed design and investigations discover them. c) To secure a pleasant, efficient and safe working, living and recreational environment for all Victorians and visitors to Victoria The amendment supports this objective by allowing construction of Geelong Ring Road Section 4C, a vital element in achieving a safe and efficient road system both for local road users and the wider travelling public and reserving land for Armstrong Creek Railway Station, which will enhance public transport links to southern Geelong and a broader catchment area that includes Melbourne, the Bellarine Peninsula and the Great Ocean Road Region. 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 The amendment gives appropriate consideration for any potential effects on the heritage and cultural values and features of the area. The amendment does not impact on any European cultural heritage values whilst management measures will protect any Aboriginal cultural heritage values. e) To protect public utilities and other assets and enable the orderly provision and coordination of public utilities and other facilities for the benefit of the community The amendment ensures the extension of the Geelong Ring Road from Section 4B at Anglesea Road, to the Surf Coast Highway and the future construction of the Armstrong Creek Railway Station in a co-ordinated and orderly manner. Both the road and rail projects will protect utilities located adjacent to the Geelong - Warrnambool railway line. f) To balance the present and future interests of all Victorians Geelong Ring Road Section 4C is a key element of the road network in Geelong and south-west Victoria and supports the future needs of the region and the State. The project also assists with the longer term strategic direction of providing an east-west connection from the Geelong Ring Road to the Bellarine Peninsula. The Armstrong Creek Railway Station will be a key element of the public transport network and enhance public transport access for the existing urban areas of southern Geelong and the Armstrong Creek Growth Area. • How does the amendment address the environmental effects and any relevant social and economic effects? Environmental Effects The environmental effects of Geelong Ring Road Section 4 were broadly assessed as part of the EES for Geelong Ring Road Section 3. Further detailed assessments outlined below have been undertaken specifically for the Geelong Ring Road Section 4C alignment. An EES was not required for Geelong Ring Road Section 4C as these detailed assessments demonstrated that the project does not have a significant effect on the environment. These assessments have included land required for the southern section of the Armstrong Creek Railway Station. Native vegetation, threatened flora and fauna species The amendment has a small impact on native vegetation and a key consideration has been to minimise impacts on, and avoid native vegetation, where possible. Some native vegetation removal is required for the proposed road alignment, including some degraded areas of Grassy Woodland EVC. Where areas of native vegetation are affected a Net Gain Assessment has been prepared for Section 4C ensuring that the appropriate offsets are achieved for the removal of native vegetation under the native vegetation management framework. More detailed analysis and further actions relating to Armstrong Creek Railway Station will be undertaken at the time of seeking approval for its development. No species of flora or fauna listed under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 or the State Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 were recorded within the amendment area.