Plenty Ranges Visual Character Area

VALUES THREATS • Part of the foothills of the Great Dividing Range comprising the • Land capability is influenced by steep slopes and gravel content most significant backdrop element of the City of Whittlesea • Spread of weeds and threat of bushfire • Characterised by strongly dissected steep slopes and valleys • Potential for salinity in gully lines and seasonal waterlogging on framing the Plenty Valley and Whittlesea Township lower slopes • Provides a sense of ‘wildness’ with wet sclerophyll forests, • Loss of riparian vegetation contributing to bank erosion cascades and fern gullies representing the southern-most extent • Fencing of property boundaries across watercourses in Bruces of the Great Dividing Range and Barbers Creek creates a potential barrier to wildlife • Contains the comprising Wet Forest and movement Cool Temperate Rainforests (possibly the only unlogged areas of • Development on hilltops and major ridgelines incorporating cut this type in Victoria) and fill on building sites • Undisturbed stands in the Mt Disappointment Reference Area are • Subdivision pattern is highly fragmented with few allowances for of extreme biogeographic importance for rainforest insects (semi topography, land capability or natural features aquatic species share a Gondwana history) • Potential for land degradation is high and the need for careful • Most of the area is in public ownership contained within state farm management practices is important forests and protected catchment areas with a small number of • Removal of vegetation for development or farming practices cleared residential and farming properties intensifies erosion and salinity • Most of the cleared land is used for grazing and includes some of • Siting of dwellings and structures in visually sensitive areas the most agriculturally productive land in the municipality • Contains the upper reaches of the and a small area OPPORTUNITIES FOR ACTION of the Diamond Creek catchment represented by generally • Encourage innovative forms of agribusiness smaller streams and tributaries • Strengthen rural compliance to reduce illegal earthworks, • Contains the water supply catchment areas of Yan Yean and dumping, weeds and vegetation removal Toorourrong Reservoirs which comprises a platypus ‘hide’ • Maintain the vegetation backdrop in the upper slopes • Heritage elements include bluestone aquaducts and buildings • Discourage siting of dwellings and other structures in visually associated with , remnant exotic gardens sensitive areas associated with Toorourrong Reservoir and early settler’s • Remediate and protect waterways, in particular Scrubby Creek residences and gardens and Barbers Creek from gully, bed and bank erosion • Wooded slopes are visible from nearly every point in the • Reposition fences away from cutting across watercourses to municipality and well beyond and provide a marked contrast to facilitate wildlife movement the surrounding plains, valleys and lower slopes • Protect riparian vegetation to create habitat links and minimise • Contains roadside vegetation with high conservation value bank erosion • Recreational values associated with the Whittlesea Golf Course • Utilise Whittlesea-Yea Road as a gateway to the region • Sites of Aboriginal cultural heritage associated with waterways • Continue to restructure Eden Park and Humevale Township and the forests • Encourage regeneration and revegetation particularly along habitat links • Ensure the protection of rural character occurs in the design and in the assessment of development proposals

D r a f t W h i t t l e s e a G r e e n W e d g e M a n a g e m e n t P l a n 2 0 1 1 - 2 0 2 1 108 Plenty Ranges Visual Character Area Road visual corridor - width varies Located in the north and north-east of the (typically 250m either side) municipality, this VCA is characterised by strongly dissected steep slopes and valleys associated with the southern slopes of the Great Dividing Range.

Containing the protected water catchment areas of the Toorourrong and Yan Yean Reservoir, this natural area contains wet sclerophyll forests, cascades and fern gully's less than 3 kilometres from the settlement of the Whittlesea Township.

Communities Yan Yean Humevale Whittlesea

Figure 2 opposite displays typical section and plan of the Plenty Ranges. Location of development within and adjacent to road visual corridor subject to preparation of a site analysis, PLAN design response and detailed siting and design plans, sections and elevations

Preserve existing vegetation

Avoid development Site buildings on on ridges and lower slopes, ensure major hill tops proper layout of access drive

SECTION Typical section and plan are indicative only for illustrative purposes Figure 2 Location of development must be PLENTY RANGES made with consideration of fire proneness, required buffers and VCA geotechnical matters

109 D r a f t W h i t t l e s e a G r e e n W e d g e M a n a g e m e n t P l a n 2 0 1 1 - 2 0 2 1 The Hills Visual Character Area

VALUES THREATS • Forms the backdrop to the surrounding plains, valleys and distant • Historical subdivision patterns have made few allowances for ranges topographical or natural features where lot boundaries typically • Four distinct sub-areas - Eden Hills, Whittlesea Hills, Eastern traverse watercourses and sites of environmental significance Hills and Quarry Hills • Unmanaged rural land leading to weeds and overall appearance • Characterised by lighted wooded rolling hills and undulating open of disrepair pastures • Development on hilltops and major ridgelines and close to major • Slopes are generally steep and include granite outcrops in the view corridors Quarry Hills • Cut and fill required for building sites • Intensive historic subdivision pattern of the Eden Hills and • Reduction in native vegetation cover associated with associated road network offers greater public access which development increase the viewing opportunities to the CBD • Impounding water at Yan Yean and Toorourrong Reservoirs has • A high number of residential and farming properties are dotted altered the flows of the Plenty River through the hills with the Eden Hills the most extensively developed OPPORTUNITIES FOR ACTION • Grazing and livestock enterprises occur on the gentler slopes • Encourage innovative forms of agribusiness along with olive groves • Strengthen rural compliance to reduce illegal earthworks, • The entire area has visual sensitivity due to topography, slope, dumping, weeds and vegetation removal major ridgelines and viewing corridors • Discourage siting of dwellings and other structures in visually • Panoramic views to the Melbourne CBD skyline and surrounding sensitive areas plains • Strengthen the boundary of the Quarry Hills to clearly define • Contains the middle catchment of the Plenty River and contain the extent of urban development in South Morang, • Farm heritage elements include hedgerows and shelterbelt Mernda and Epping plantings • Maintain the significant viewing opportunities afforded by • Regional parklands associated with Quarry Hills Donnybrook Road (She-Oak Hill) • Sites of Aboriginal cultural heritage associated with waterways • Creation of an improved regional parkland at Quarry Hills to and hilltops create a green break and provide recreational opportunities • Protect the northern areas of the Plenty River catchment from intense development, runoff and erosion • Ensure the protection of rural character occurs in the design and in the assessment of development proposals

D r a f t W h i t t l e s e a G r e e n W e d g e M a n a g e m e n t P l a n 2 0 1 1 - 2 0 2 1 110 The Hills Road visual corridor - width varies Visual Character Area (typically 250m either side) This VCA stretches from the Plenty Ranges in the north to the urban edge in the south. It provides a backdrop to the Western Plains and Plenty Valley with lightly wooded

rolling hills and undulating open pasture. ROAD ROAD Many sites offer panoramic views across plains to the distant city skyline. A large number of rural living and farming properties are dotted throughout this VCA, with Eden Hills the most extensively

developed and subdivided. PLENTY PLENTY Sub-areas - Eden Hills - Whittlesea Hills Avoid development on ridges and major hilltops and steeper slopes Figure 3 opposite displays typical section Place dwellings and buildings PLAN to maximise views out while screening from major view locations and plan Location of development within and adjacent to road visual corridor subject to preparation of a site analysis, design response and detailed siting and - Eastern Hills design plans, sections and elevations

- Quarry Hills Consider views from Plenty Road corridor

in design ROAD ROAD Communities PLENTY Eden Park

Whittlesea Site buildings on lower slopes to minimise South Morang/Mernda/Wollert SECTION cut and fill and to ensure proper layout of access drive Typical section and plan are indicative only for illustrative purposes

Location of development must be made with consideration of fire proneness, required buffers and geotechnical matters Figure 3 HILLS VCA WHITTLESEA HILLS SUB-AREA

111 D r a f t W h i t t l e s e a G r e e n W e d g e M a n a g e m e n t P l a n 2 0 1 1 - 2 0 2 1 Western Plains Visual Character Area (only partly included within the Green Wedge)

VALUES THREATS • River Red Gums, stony knolls and • Soils have high rock content, slow permeability and drainage, erosion potential grassland areas are the dominant natural • Illegal filling of land, removal of vegetation, rocks, rocky knolls and outcrops have landscape features adverse impacts on fauna and habitat • Represents the eastern-most extent of the • Spread of weeds and dormant ‘land-banking’ properties at the urban-rural interface Western Plains land type in Victoria • Extractive industry operations • Soils and landforms are suitable for • Historical subdivision patterns have made few allowances for topographical or grazing natural features where lot boundaries typically traverse watercourses and sites of • Supports two of the fifteen nationally environmental significance critically endangered ecological • River Red Gum dieback and lack of regeneration communities - Plains Grassland and Plains • Sensitivity to tall, vertical built form above the predominant tree canopy, introduction of Grassy Woodland contrasting colours and textures in new developments • Grasslands support a number of nationally • Insensitive development of European and Aboriginal cultural heritage sites significant fauna species including nesting • General subdivision pressure adult bird species and one of the most diverse collections of reptiles and frogs on OPPORTUNITIES FOR ACTION the volcanic plains of Greater Melbourne • Maintain the open landscape as a non-urban break • Contains the middle reaches of the Merri • Retain the wooded appearance of the Plains Grassy Woodland Creek catchment and the headwaters • Protect sites of environmental significance of the Darebin Creek which all retain a • Protect the water quality, flow and floodplain capacity of the Merri Creek and Darebin substantially natural form Creek by strengthening planning controls to protect waterways • Open pastures, paddocks, dry stone walls • Fence off watercourses from stock access to protect waterway banks and water quality and farming buildings are evocative of the • Protect riparian vegetation to create habitat links and minimise bank erosion more distant plains region of the state but • Consider the creation of a tourism route incorporating mineral springs, cheese factory, are in proximity to the urban areas places of heritage significance, areas of environmental significance and watercourses • Heritage elements include exotic • Ensure buffer areas provided for extractive industries are in accordance with relevant hedgerows, early settler's homesteads and requirements and guidelines settlements, mineral springs, horse studs • Retain broad acre rural land for a range of agricultural activities and dry stone walls • Clearly define the urban-rural boundary • Significant long distance views to the • Strengthen rural compliance to reduce illegal earthworks, dumping, weeds and Melbourne CBD skyline along main roads vegetation removal • Views to dormant volcanic cones provide a • Ensure the protection of rural character occurs in the design and in the assessment of strong contrasting element to the general development proposals flatness of the area • Contains Craigieburn grasslands, Merri Creek trail and the Growling Frog Golf Course • Sites of Aboriginal cultural heritage associated with waterways and scar trees are scattered throughout

D r a f t W h i t t l e s e a G r e e n W e d g e M a n a g e m e n t P l a n 2 0 1 1 - 2 0 2 1 112 Western Plains Road visual corridor - width varies Visual Character Area (typically 250m either side) Due to the recent expansion of the UGB, the Westrn Planins Visual Character Area is only partly included within the Whittlesea Green Wedge.

This area is characterised by generally flat Maintain the open plains character while screening to undulating open plains with extensive development areas of River Red Gum Woodlands.

With open native grasslands, pastures and farm buildings, it is reminiscent of the more distant basalt plains regions of the state. Consider views from Dry stone walls and remnant buildings Road corridor and elevated properties

provide visual reminders of the rural past. in design MAJOR ROAD ROAD MAJOR Stony rises and knolls are quite prevalent amongst the grasslands.

Sub-areas - Northern Plains

Figure 4 opposite displays typical section PLAN Location of development within and plan and adjacent to road visual corridor subject to preparation of a site analysis, Develop landscape design response and detailed siting and treatments which maintain design plans, sections and elevations the general open plains - Red Gum character while screening views Consider views from of visually obtrusive elements Road corridor and

and providing localised shelter elevated properties ROAD ROAD Figure 5 over the page displays typical for residences in design MAJOR section and plan Consider views from elevated neighbours - Southern Plains

Communities Woodstock SECTION

Typical section and plan are indicative only for illustrative purposes

Location of development must be made with consideration of fire proneness, required buffers and geotechnical matters Figure 4 WESTERN PLAINS VCA NORTHERN PLAINS SUB-AREA

113 D r a f t W h i t t l e s e a G r e e n W e d g e M a n a g e m e n t P l a n 2 0 1 1 - 2 0 2 1 Road visual corridor - width varies (typically 250m either side)

Develop landscape treatments which maintain the existing River Red Gums wherever possible.

Limit works to outside of the drip line of tree canopies wherever possible

Indicative drip line of PLAN remnant trees

Protect

existing Development below ROAD ROAD MAJOR vegetation general canopy line of trees

Location of development within and adjacent to road visual corridor subject to preparation of a site analysis, design response and detailed siting and design plans, sections and elevations SECTION Typical section and plan are indicative only for illustrative purposes Figure 5

Location of development must be WESTERN made with consideration of fire proneness, PLAINS VCA required buffers and geotechnical matters RED GUM SUB-AREA River Red Gum Woodland and Rocky Knoll

D r a f t W h i t t l e s e a G r e e n W e d g e M a n a g e m e n t P l a n 2 0 1 1 - 2 0 2 1 114 • Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2006, • Commonwealth Government of • Department of Sustainability and REFERENCES Census Data, Commonwealth of , 1992, National Strategy for Environment 2002c, Victorian River Australia Ecologically Sustainable Development, Health Strategy, State of Victoria, • Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2008, Commonwealth Government of Melbourne 4620.0 Natural Resource Management Australia • Department of Sustainability and on Australian Farms 2006-2007, • Contour Consultants, 1999, Rural Environment 2004, Our Water Our Commonwealth of Australia Landscape Character Assessment Future, State of Victoria, Melbourne • Beardsell, C 1997, Sites of Faunal in the City of Whittlesea, Melbourne, • Department of Sustainability and and Habitat Significance in North-East Victoria Environment, 2005a, General Practice Melbourne, Shire of Nillumbik • Department of Conservation and Note: Preparing a Green Wedge • Binning, Cork, Parry and Shelton, Natural Resources, 1995a, A Management Plan, State of Victoria, 2001, Natural Assets: An Inventory of Preliminary Study of Dryland Salinity Melbourne Ecosystem Goods and Services in the in the North-West Yarra Catchment, La • Department of Sustainability and Goulburn Broken Catchment, Victoria Trobe University, School of Agriculture, Environment, 2005b, Principles, Issues • City of Whittlesea, 1992, Local Victoria and Guidelines for the Preparation of Conservation Strategy, Melbourne, • Department of Conservation and Green Wedge Management Plans, Victoria Natural Resources, 1995b, Spotting Soil State of Victoria, Melbourne • City of Whittlesea, 1994, Whittlesea Salting: A Victorian Field Guide to Salt • Department of Sustainability and Township Local Structure Plan, Indicator Plants, State of Victoria Environment, 2005c, Regional Matters, Melbourne, Victoria • Department of Infrastructure, 2002, State of Victoria, Melbourne • City of Whittlesea, 2000a, Rural Review: Melbourne 2030: Planning for • Department of Sustainability and Draft for Consultation, Melbourne, Sustainable Growth, State of Victoria, Environment, 2005d, Biosites Update, Victoria Melbourne State of Victoria, Melbourne • City of Whittlesea, 2000b, Local • Department of Planning and Community • Department of Sustainability and Conservation Strategy, Melbourne, Development, 2008a, Melbourne @ 5 Environment, 2006a, VPP Practice Victoria Million, State of Victoria, Melbourne Note: Extractive Industry Proposals, • City of Whittlesea, 2001, Land • Department of Planning and Community State of Victoria, Melbourne Management Kit, Melbourne, Victoria Development, 2008b, Aboriginal • Department of Sustainability and • City of Whittlesea, 2005, Sustainable Historical Places, State of Victoria, Environment, 2006b, Melbourne Atlas, Farming and Land Management Melbourne State of Victoria, Melbourne Support Programs, Melbourne, Victoria • Department of Primary Industries, 2005, • Department of Sustainability and • City of Whittlesea, 2009a, Shaping Our Matching Salinity Management Actions Environment, 2008a, ecoMarkets: Future Whittlesea 2025 – Strategic to Groundwater Flow Systems in the Valuing Our Environment, State of Community Plan, Melbourne, Victoria Whittlesea/Nillumbik Area (Summary), Victoria, Melbourne • City of Whittlesea, 2009b, Whittlesea State of Victoria, Knoxfield • Department of Sustainability and and surrounding districts Community • Department of Sustainability and Environment, 2008b, Native vegetation Recovery Plan, Melbourne, Victoria Environment, 2002a, Victoria’s Native net gain accounting first approximation • Clifton, C and Heislers, D 2004, Vegetation Management: A Framework report, State of Victoria, Melbourne ASSALT: an asset based salinity priority for Action, State of Victoria, Melbourne setting approach, 9th Murray-Darling • Department of Sustainability and Basin Groundwater Workshop Environment 2002b, Victorian Pest Management – A Framework for Action, State of Victoria, Melbourne

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