Planning and Environment Act 1987

WHITEHORSE PLANNING SCHEME

AMENDMENT C43 PART 2

EXPLANATORY REPORT

Who is the Planning Authority?

This amendment has been prepared by the Whitehorse City Council. The Whitehorse City Council is the planning authority for the amendment.

Land affected by the Amendment

The amendment affects five (5) heritages places and land in the municipality: • 22 St Johns Avenue, Mont Albert. • 11 Drewett Street, Surrey Hills. • 29 Erasmus Street, Surrey Hills • Myer Memorial: Box Hill Cemetery. • Box Hill Cemetery Columbarium, 395 Middleborough Road, Box Hill.

What the Amendment does

The amendment:

• Includes the three individual properties listed above in the schedule to the Heritage Overlay and on the Planning Scheme maps.

• Implements section 48 of the Heritage Act 1995 by modifying the existing heritage status of the Box Hill Cemetery Columbarium, 395 Middleborough Road, Box Hill and the Myer Memorial: Box Hill Cemetery by recognising their Victorian Heritage Register status in the schedule to the Heritage Overlay and on the Planning Scheme maps.

Why the Amendment is required

Whitehorse City Council is obliged, under section 12 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987, to implement the objectives of planning in . These objectives include the need for planning to be easily integrated with conservation and other policies at State, regional and municipal levels and to ensure that the effects on the environment, and social and economic effects are considered when decisions are made about the use and development of land. As a result, the Council has undertaken two major heritage studies.

The Heritage Review 1999 resulted in Planning Scheme Amendment C3, which introduced protection to a number of properties. This review, however, was limited to properties identified in earlier and City of Box Hill studies.

The City of Whitehorse Heritage Review 2001 achieved three major outcomes: • To review and prepare statements of significance for a number of individual properties which were identified in the process of undertaking the City of Whitehorse Heritage Review 1999. • To identify fourteen areas of potential cultural heritage value. • To undertake a comprehensive field survey of the remaining parts of the City of Whitehorse never previously surveyed, where many places of potential heritage interest within the City of Whitehorse were identified. As a result of the preparation of statements of significance, a number of properties have been assessed as being of historical significance. The inclusion of these properties in a Heritage Overlay assists in ensuring that the history and culture of the municipality is preserved for future generations. The Whitehorse Planning Scheme provides an opportunity to link the objectives of Council and the community to the planning policies and land use/development controls provided by the Scheme. It is imperative, therefore, that this amendment takes place to clearly identify buildings and areas of historical significance to provide certainty for land owners and the community about how these important assets can be successfully retained and integrated into the changing urban form.

The amendment is also required as the Heritage Act 1995 requires an amendment be made to any planning scheme applying to a place which is included in the Victorian Heritage Register to identify the inclusion of that place in the Victorian Heritage Register.

Impact of the Amendment

Minister's Directions

The amendment is consistent with the Ministerial Direction on the Form and Content of Planning Schemes under section 7(5) of the Act.

The amendment is affected by Ministerial Direction 9, which requires planning scheme amendments to have regard to 2030 – planning for sustainable growth.

The relevant directions and policies of Melbourne 2030 include: • Direction 5 “A great place to be”; • Policy 5.2 “Recognise and protect cultural identity, neighbourhood character and sense of place”; and • Policy 5.4 “Protect heritage places and values”.

Policy 5.2 states “The special characteristics of a local environment or place will be reinforced by emphasising … heritage values and built form that has resonance for the community.”

Policy 5.4 is to be implemented by “supporting the identification, conservation, protection and management of cultural heritage”.

Social and Economic Effects This amendment has beneficial social impacts as it serves to protect and enhance the history and cultural roots of the City of Whitehorse for future generations. Historical buildings and precincts are important not only in tracing how this municipality developed but also in forming the cultural identity of the City. It is not expected that the application of the Heritage Overlay to properties will have significant economic impacts.

Environmental Effects The amendment will have no significant effect on the natural environment and will add to the richness and diversity of the built environment.

Strategic and Policy Justification of the Amendment

The application of the Heritage Overlay implements the State Planning Policy Framework, Clause 15.11 - Heritage. Clause 15.11-2 states that Council should identify, conserve and protect places of natural or cultural value from inappropriate development, including important buildings, parks, gardens, areas and other places associated with the historic and cultural development of Victoria. The Municipal Strategic Statement emphasises the importance of protecting and enhancing buildings, structures and natural features which are of historical significance to both the state and the municipality. Clause 21.07 of the Planning Scheme, Protecting Areas of Special Significance, states the following:

“Objective 4 To protect and enhance the City’s buildings, trees and structures of historical significance.

Strategies Strategies to achieve this objective include: • Identifying those buildings, structures and features of historical significance within the municipality. • Protecting these buildings and features with appropriate controls under the planning scheme. • Ensuring that the use and development of sites of historical significance retain and enhance their integrity, character and appearance.”

Where you may inspect this Amendment

The amendment and any supporting documents are available for public inspection, free of charge, during office hours at the following places.

Department of Sustainability and Environment Whitehorse City Council Planning Information Centre 379-397 Whitehorse Road Upper Plaza, Nauru House Nunawading 80 Collins Street Melbourne