Planning and Environment Act 1987

WHITTLESEA PLANNING SCHEME

AMENDMENT C72

EXPLANATORY REPORT

Who is the planning authority?

Whittlesea City Council has prepared Amendment C72 to the Whittlesea Planning Scheme. The Whittlesea City Council is also the planning authority for the amendment. The amendment has been prepared at the request of Parks Victoria.

Land affected by the amendment

The amendment affects land within the Plenty Gorge Parklands described as: • Part of 620 and 640 (Lot 2 PS 515344V) Bridge Inn Road, Mernda • 1358 (Lot B PS 512678F) Plenty Road, Mernda • Crown allotment 2007, Parish of Morang, Mernda • 660 (Part Crown Section 20), 672 (Lot 1 TP 814158M), 740C (Reserve No. 1 PS 316019S) and 790E (Lot 3 PS 534897T) Bridge Inn Road, Doreen. • 85 (Lot 2 PS 510189H), 115 (Lot 2 PS 510175U) and 125 (Part Crown Section 14) Wiltonvale Road, South Morang. • Wilton Vale Road, road reserve, South Morang. • 900K (Lot 1011 PS 542715H), 994-1044 (Part Crown Section 11) Plenty Road, South Morang. • 10 (Part Crown Section 11) and 15-25 (Crown Allotment E) Gordons Road, South Morang • Gordons Road, road reserve, South Morang • 10 (Lot A PS 341895X) and 48 (Lot A PS 418681S) Bushmans Way, South Morang • 125 (Crown Allotment 75, Section 6) Gorge Road, South Morang. • Lot C LP 218747T (15C) Kurrajong View and Reserve No. 4 PS 304409V (184C) Blossom Park Drive, Mill Park. • Part of Janefield Drive, Bundoora.

What the amendment does

The amendment does the following: • Rezones land forming part of the Plenty Gorge Parklands from Rural Conservation Zone (RCZ), Public Park and Recreation Zone (PPRZ) and Road Zone 1 (RD1Z) to Public Conservation and Resource Zone (PCRZ). • Removes the Public Acquisition Overlay (PAO1) from part of that land. • Rezones a small strip of land owned by Melbourne Water that traverses the Plenty Gorge Parklands from RCZ to Public Use Zone 1 – Service and Utility (PUZ1). • Removes the Vegetation Protection Overlay (VPO1) from land at Stockdale Way, Mill Park. • Removes Development Plan Overlay (DPO10) and applies the Road Closure Overlay (RXO) on part of Janefield Road, Bundoora. • Revises the Schedule to the Heritage Overlay to add reference to the remains of the Old Bridge Inn Hotel in HO12. • Revises the Schedule to Clause 52.03 – Specific Sites and Exclusions to list Site Specific Control – Plenty Gorge Parklands, October 2008 and describe land it applies to. • Revises the Schedule to Clause 61.03 – What does this scheme consist of to update the list of maps that comprise the Whittlesea Planning Scheme. • Revises the Schedule to Clause 81.01 – Table of documents incorporated into this scheme to list Site Specific Control – Plenty Gorge Parklands, October 2008

Strategic assessment of the amendment

Why is the amendment required? The amendment is required to ensure that all land owned and managed by Parks Victoria is designated within an appropriate zone (Public Conservation and Resource Zone). The amendment also corrects a number of zone and overlay errors relating to land within the existing and proposed parkland. How does the amendment implement the objectives of planning in Victoria? The amendment is consistent with the objectives of planning in Victoria which seek to provide for the protection of natural resources and the maintenance of ecological processes and genetic diversity. How does the amendment address the environmental effects and any relevant social and economic effects? The amendment will provide positive environmental benefits through formally designating land for public conservation and resource protection. The amendment will not have any negative economic or social impacts.

Does the amendment comply with the requirements of any other Minister’s Direction applicable to the amendment? The amendment is affected by Ministerial Direction No 9 which seeks to ensure that planning scheme amendments have regard to the Metropolitan Strategy: Melbourne 2030. The amendment is consistent with Policy 5.6 of the Metropolitan Strategy which seeks to ensure the long term protection of public open space and protect native habitat and areas of important biodiversity through appropriate land use planning. The amendment is consistent with the Ministerial Direction on the Form and Content of Planning Schemes under section 7(5) of the Act. How does the amendment support or implement the State Planning Policy Framework? The amendment is consistent with the objectives at Clause 15.09 of the State Planning Policy Framework relating to the protection and conservation of biodiversity, including native vegetation retention and provision of habitats for native plants and animals. The proposed amendment also assists in implementing the objectives of Clause 15.10 which seek to create a diverse and integrated network of public open spaces commensurate with the needs of urban communities. The amendment is consistent with the geographic strategies at Clause 12.09 of the Scheme. How does the amendment support or implement the Local Planning Policy Framework? The amendment is consistent with the Local Planning Policy Framework which at Clause 21.06-10 seeks to ‘identify, permanently preserve and promote opportunities for the enhancement of local environmental assets which are vital to the maintenance of ecological processes’. A particular strategy for achieving this objective is to ‘implement the recommendations of the Plenty Gorge Master Plan. Specific actions seek to apply the Public Conservation and Resource Zone to the Plenty Gorge Parklands. Does the amendment make proper use of the Victoria Planning Provisions? The Public Conservation and Resource Zone is the most appropriate zoning provision to reflect the conservation and other values of the Plenty Gorge Parklands. How does the amendment address the views of any relevant agency? The amendment has been prepared at the request of Parks Victoria and will ensure that planning permits are not required for the use and development of land consist with the purpose of the zone. What impact will the new planning provisions have on the resource and administrative costs of the responsible authority? The amendment will reduce the resource and administrative costs associated with managing the Whittlesea Planning Scheme.

Where you may inspect this Amendment

The amendment is available for public inspection, free of charge, during business hours at the City of Whittlesea Civic Centre, Ferres Boulevard, South Morang

The amendment can also be inspected free of charge at the Department of Planning and Community Development web site at www.dpcd.vic.gov.au/planning/publicinspection.