Planning and Environment Act 1987

LA TROBE PLANNING SCHEME

AMENDMENT C13

EXPLANATORY REPORT

Who is the Planning Authority?

This amendment has been prepared by VicRoads and the is the Planning Authority for this amendment.

Land affected by the Amendment.

The amendment applies to land located approximately 10 km east of the Township as shown on Part Map 33PAO and Part Map 34PAO. The land lies to the east of the Loy Yang Power Station between Bartons Lane and the Hyland Highway, in the vicinity of Scales Road.

What the Amendment does.

The amendment proposes to include land required for works associated with the deviation of the Hyland Highway in a Public Acquisition Overlay. It also proposes to include part of the land required for the highway deviation in the Schedule to Clause 52.17 – Native Vegetation to exempt removal of native vegetation for road construction purposes from a requirement to obtain a planning permit.

Why the Amendment is required.

The amendment is needed in order to facilitate compulsory land acquisition for the future construction of the deviation of the Hyland Highway and to allow a limited amount of native vegetation to be removed for road construction purposes.

Background.

The need for the Hyland Highway deviation was identified more than 15 years ago, during the early planning of the Loy Yang Mine & Power Station. State Government approval of the Loy Yang Project in 1976 included a highway deviation.

The actual route was selected after consultation with all interested parties between 1994 and 1998. Key stakeholders included Vic Roads, Loy Yang Power, City of Latrobe, and the Community and Government authorities.

The proposed highway deviation is programmed to be completed in March 2003 to co-incide with the Loy Yang Mine cutting the Hyland Highway in April 2003. When this occurs, Hyland Highway traffic from Traralgon will be deviated along the existing Traralgon Creek Road, Bartons Lane (past the Loy Yang power station and mine) and along a new section of highway.

The new road – an extension of Bartons Lane - will be 4.5 kilometres long and will link with the existing Hyland Highway just west of Scales Road, Flynn Creek.

The impact on motorists travelling between Gormandale and Traralgon will be a net increase of approximately 3.7 kilometres.

Impact of the Amendment.

Social and Economic Effects

The alignment of the new section of highway is located on Loy Yang Power freehold land, two unused Government Roads and unreserved Crown land. In addition, it may be necessary to acquire a small portion of the Mechanics Institute site on the southeast corner of the Hyland Highway and Scales Road.

The intersections of Scales Road, the existing Hyland Highway, Flynn Creek Road and the proposed Hyland Highway deviation will be modified as necessary to comply with VicRoads guidelines.

Consultation with adjacent landowners will ensure specific requirements are addressed and minimal inconvenience occurs during road construction.

With the deviation of the Hyland Highway, it is expected that some re-routing of traffic will occur.

Previous traffic count data indicates that trucks will circumnavigate the Traralgon township – for example log trucks moving through to the APM at Maryvale.

It is further anticipated that following the deviation, further commercial vehicles and cars will use alternative routes when travelling to or the direction.

Environmental Effects

The amendment should have no significant effect on the environment or the environment on the use or development envisaged in the amendment.

An Environmental Effects Report has been prepared to comprehensively review environmental issues. The scope of the impact assessment included air quality, water resources, soils, flora, fauna, indigenous and post indigenous heritage, land use, public amenity, noise and visual amenity.

The report concludes that all impacts can either be avoided or successfully mitigated with the adoption of appropriate management strategies.

Minister's Directions The use and development envisaged by this amendment is not affected by any Minister's Directions.

Strategic and Policy Justification of the Amendment

The amendment is consistent with the Local Planning Policy Framework of the La Trobe Planning Scheme.

In assessing the strategic and policy justification for the amendment, it is important to focus on the purpose of the highway deviation – to provide for the ongoing development of the Loy Yang Mine through the continued availability of brown coal.

Clause 21.01-17 acknowledges that the coal industry has been the single most influential land use activity in terms of physical, social, economic and environmental impacts in the municipality.

Furthermore, these impacts have been both profound and unique in due to their nature and extent.

Clause 21.03-2 identifies that the Latrobe City should become known as · A world leader in the environmentally responsible, efficient and competitive use of brown coal in a wide range of industrial applications, including the generation of electricity. · A world leader in energy research, education and development, including in greenhouse gas management and ‘greenhouse friendly’ applications of brown coal energy.

These visions are based on the ongoing availability of one of the regions valuable resources – brown coal.

A key objective of the Coal Resources Policy (22-01) is – to ensure that the use and development of land overlying the coal resources recognises the need to conserve and utilise the coal resource in the context of overall resources, having regard to social, environmental, physical and economic considerations in order to ensure a high quality of life for residents.

As an extension to this objective it is Council policy that “ transport corridors are protected and maintained”.

In summary, the amendment is consistent with the Local Planning Policy Framework of the La Trobe Planning Scheme. Where you may inspect this Amendment.

The amendment is available for public inspection, free of charge, during office hours at the following places.

Department of Infrastructure Department of Infrastructure Planning Information Centre Regional Office Upper Plaza 120 Kay Street Nauru House Traralgon 80 Collins Street Melbourne 3000

Latrobe City Council Civic Centre Kay Street Traralgon