Mornington Peninsula Localised Planning Statement

JULY 2014 Authorised and published by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, July 2014 ACCESSIBILITY If you would like to receive this publication in an accessible format, such as large print or audio, telephone Victorian Government Contact Centre on 1300 366 356 or email [email protected] Unless indicated otherwise, this work is made available under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 licence. To view a copy of this licence, visit creativecommons.org/licences/by/3.0/au It is a condition of this Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Licence that you must give credit to the original author who is the State of . This document is also available in accessible Word format at www.dtpli.vic.gov.au/localised-planning-statements All images courtesy of Mornington Peninsula Shire Council. INTRODUCTION

The role and value of the Mornington Peninsula to the State of Victoria

The Mornington Peninsula will be planned as This includes: an area of special character and importance with a role clearly distinct from and • recognising, maintaining and enhancing complementary to metropolitan Melbourne the special values of the Mornington and designated growth areas. Peninsula • appreciating the existing diversity and The Mornington Peninsula is one of delicate balance of land-use which has Melbourne’s greatest assets, characterised been carefully planned over a long period by contained townships, a substantial and on the Mornington Peninsula and the diverse local economy, and areas of national economic, social and environmental and international conservation significance. benefits of maintaining this balance The Mornington Peninsula is critical to the future liveability, sustainability and prosperity • providing for a clear separation of the of the wider metropolitan region. Mornington Peninsula from metropolitan Melbourne, preventing expansion of the As an area near to, but with a role distinct metropolitan area onto the Peninsula from, the growing metropolitan area there and maintaining the current settlement are ever increasing pressures and demands patterns placed on the Mornington Peninsula. For this reason it is necessary to put in place clear • expressing the planning priorities for the policy directions for the long term benefit Mornington Peninsula which are different of both local communities and the wider from and complementary to those which Melbourne population. apply in other areas • integrating environmental, social and economic considerations

• supporting a strong land-use planning framework, providing certainty for landowners and the community over time.

Mornington Peninsula Localised Planning Statement 1 MORNINGTON PENINSULA LOCALISED PLANNING STATEMENT POLICY AREA

2 Mornington Peninsula Localised Planning Statement THE PLANNING STATEMENT

Integrated planning

Objective • Providing for a world class port on To recognise that maintaining the special , designed and operated values of the Mornington Peninsula is in accordance with best practice dependent on integrated and balanced and to the highest environmental planning, involving all agencies and having standards, and supported by effective regard to the needs and aspirations of freight infrastructure and buffer current and future generations. areas to avoid impact on adjoining townships. Strategies • Providing for engagement and 1. Planning for the Mornington Peninsula involvement of the community in will be directed towards the planning shaping long term decisions. and management necessary to achieve the following objectives: 2. This planning policy will guide decision making on the Mornington Peninsula • Sustaining the economic, social and by every Department, Public Authority, environmental contributions of the Council and Responsible Authority. Peninsula to the metropolitan region. 3. Planning for the Mornington Peninsula • Maintaining and enhancing will take into account the interests the character and role of the of both the Victorian community settlements, towns and villages on as a whole and the particular needs the Mornington Peninsula, both and interests of the Peninsula’s local individually and as part of a hierarchy communities and will have regard to of settlements, and to effectively the impact on both current and future managing future change. generations. • Conservation and enhancement of 4. The Mornington Peninsula will not natural systems and biodiversity. accommodate major population growth and the existing Urban Growth • Providing for recreational demand Boundary and Green Wedge rural area based primarily on the experience will be maintained. and enjoyment of the natural and cultural values of the Mornington 5. Urban development, including Peninsula. residential and low density residential development in whatever form, will • Protecting coastal areas for their be limited to areas within the Urban special recreational, community and Growth Boundary. conservation values.

6. The significance of the Mornington • Promoting sustainable agricultural Peninsula as part of the Western Port use of rural land. Biosphere will be recognised and given effect.

Mornington Peninsula Localised Planning Statement 3 7. The establishment of a strong and 9. Sustainability in the context of this consistent overall policy framework Statement will be considered in for future land use and development terms of the economic, social and is essential, including the use of environmental dimensions of land use mandatory controls and standards and development, and their interaction. where necessary, due to the particular Sustainability and stewardship will be pressures on the Peninsula’s rural guiding principles, ensuring that the landscapes, coasts, towns and villages, resources of the Mornington Peninsula and the risk of unintended and are used in such a way that the value of unplanned change through cumulative these resources, in the broadest sense, impacts. is maintained for current and future generations. 8. The development of old and inappropriate subdivisions will be 10. State of the Environment reporting prevented and a resolution sought or other appropriate monitoring for these areas consistent with frameworks will be established to current planning objectives, including evaluate the effectiveness of this policy consideration of restructuring statement in achieving the intended to facilitate appropriate forms of aims and to ensure an appropriate and development in some areas. timely response to emerging issues.

4 Mornington Peninsula Localised Planning Statement Conservation of natural systems and biodiversity

Objective 14. Maintenance of environmental quality To ensure conservation of natural systems and protection against pollution and and biodiversity on the Mornington degradation of every description will be Peninsula. primary considerations.

Strategies 15. Planning for the area will take into account information from scientific 11. The natural systems of the Mornington studies and other research into the area Peninsula, on both public and privately and adjacent bays and catchments. owned land, will be conserved and managed for their habitat and 16. The proper consideration of biodiversity values and to maintain environmental risks, including bushfire, and enhance the experience of natural erosion and inundation will be included environment. This will include the in all planning decisions. conservation of areas of significant flora and fauna value and sites of geological 17. Careful consideration of the significance. environmental implications and other impacts of all proposed development 12. Planning for the Mornington Peninsula will be carried out, in accordance with will be directed towards maintaining the scale and type of each proposal and increasing biodiversity and and in consultation with appropriate increasing the resilience of natural authorities on the need for and form of systems. Where the development environmental assessment studies that of land requires environmental may be required. offsets these will be provided on the Mornington Peninsula and in the local area where appropriate.

13. Planning for the coast will recognise that this is an inherently dynamic environment, and that it is important to clearly identify the role and function of different sections of coast, consistent with the environmental capacity of different areas, and to ensure public investment to support the recreational demands on the coast in appropriate areas to maintain and enhance the coastal experience.

Mornington Peninsula Localised Planning Statement 5 Protecting the character and role of the settlements, towns and villages

Objective assessment of any planning permit To protect the role and character of the application, priority will be given to Mornington Peninsula’s settlements, towns any local character statement or policy and villages. adopted by the responsible authority.

Strategies 21. The character and functions of the towns and villages will be protected 18. The hierarchy of settlements on and there will be no linear development the Mornington Peninsula will be between towns along the coast or recognised and maintained, with expansion into the areas between provisions to reinforce the distinction townships. Development within each between major activity centres and settlement will only be of a scale other townships through appropriate and character appropriate to the density, height and built form controls role, function and location of that and provisions to avoid out of centre settlement. commercial development. For the purposes of commercial centre 22. Future planning for the settlements planning the Mornington Peninsula on the Peninsula will be based will be considered separate from on principles of good design, metropolitan Melbourne. Integrated Local Area Planning and Environmentally Sustainable 19. The townships of the Mornington Development, all in accordance with Peninsula are expected to the character, scale, role and functions accommodate at most moderate of each settlement, including: and generally low levels of housing growth, with many smaller towns and a) ensuring a proper balance and villages intended to accommodate coordination between increases very limited further development. in housing and population and Special regard should be given to the access to employment, services, provision for appropriate housing health and education facilities, growth in the Western Port area, open space, parkland and other having regard to employment growth infrastructure that meets the needs over time associated with the further of the community development of the Port of Hastings and the opportunities this provides. b) provision for commercial development, tourism and other 20. Development within the Urban Growth activities that contribute to the Boundary, whether within residential, development of local employment commercial or other areas, will be of opportunities, the vitality of a type and scale that maintains the town centres and the economic existing valued character of each town wellbeing and prosperity of or settlement, or supports a change the community, and located to to a preferred future character that is reinforce the role of different clearly established through community townships and activity centres on consultation and the adoption of the Peninsula a relevant local area plan. In the

6 Mornington Peninsula Localised Planning Statement c) integration of transport, access 23. Having regard to the important and land use planning relationship between coastal Crown land and the townships and settlements d) the provision of appropriate of the Mornington Peninsula, and drainage, sewerage and other the increasing demand for recreation infrastructure to manage the on the coast, the principle of net impact of human settlement and community benefit will be given priority activity on the environment in the consideration of applications for the use of coastal Crown land in e) careful attention to achieving identified coastal activity nodes. good design which responds to and is appropriate to the character and function of the particular place, including consideration of built form and scale, access and connectivity, environmentally sensitive design, heritage, streetscape and landscape values, including the retention of vegetation where this is a key element of township character

f) consideration and protection of the heritage values of each township.

Mornington Peninsula Localised Planning Statement 7 Protecting landscape and cultural values

Objective 26. All development will be designed to To protect landscape and cultural values. respect and, where possible, enhance the natural environment, the rural Strategies landscape and scenic values of the Green Wedge. 24. Areas of special character, beauty and significance, including areas of strategic 27. Roads and access routes will be importance necessary to maintain the classified, with appropriate planning sense of separation between townships, provisions to protect the safety, will be designated and protected. function and amenity of each route according to its role. 25. The character of the Peninsula’s rural area, rural landscapes, coastlines and 28. Extractive industries will be contained seascapes will be protected, including: to carefully limited works and sites. a) conservation of sites and areas of historic, scientific and cultural value

b) provisions to ensure the appropriate siting and appearance of buildings and works

c) provisions to prevent intrusive commercial development, including service stations and signage on major roads.

8 Mornington Peninsula Localised Planning Statement Providing for sustainable agriculture

Objective 33. The residential occupation of rural land To recognise and protect the value of the in the Green Wedge will be linked to Mornington Peninsula for agriculture and and conditional upon measures to limit: to support and encourage sustainable a) the impacts on agriculture, agricultural land use. biodiversity, cultural heritage Strategies significance and landscape character 29. Due account will be given to the value of the Mornington Peninsula for b) the impact of the proposed agriculture and other rural pursuits and dwelling on both the existing and to the role of primary producers and potential use of adjoining rural other land managers. land.

30. Planning for the Peninsula will 34. The residential occupation of rural land recognise the opportunities to combine in the Green Wedge will be linked to agricultural land use at all scales and conditional upon the occupiers with provision for conservation of clear recognition and acceptance environmental systems, recreation and of the potential for agricultural agri-tourism. use of nearby land to affect future amenity and a clear proposal to 31. Subdivision of rural land must be strictly ensure a positive contribution to the limited to avoid further fragmentation objectives of sustainable agriculture, and to ensure that the intensity of land or the protection and enhancement use and development is appropriate to of heritage, biodiversity and landscape the agricultural capacity and natural values, or some combination of these attributes of the land and to the goals consistent with the values, protection of the environment and opportunities and constraints of each landscape. The re-subdivision of land site. will only be approved on the basis of a clear proposal to improve land management and to avoid adverse impact on landscape values.

32. The use of land for rural living will be managed to limit the impact on the sustainable agricultural use of land and to ensure recognition of the need of farms to operate without excessive constraint in a rural environment.

Mornington Peninsula Localised Planning Statement 9 Provision for recreation and tourism

Objective 38. Planning for the Mornington Peninsula To recognise and protect the recreational will include provision to specify role of the Mornington Peninsula and to minimum requirements for sites and make provision for appropriate tourism activities associated with tourism based use and development. based development to ensure long term protection of the landscape, Strategies conservation and agricultural values of 35. The recreational role of the Peninsula, the Mornington Peninsula. with particular emphasis on the experience of the natural environment 39. Support for larger scale tourism based and opportunities for outdoor and development in appropriate locations unstructured recreation, will be within the rural Green Wedge area maintained by protecting the qualities will be considered on the basis of of its natural environments, landscapes substantial strategic justification, will be and cultural heritage. subject to comprehensive design and environmental impact assessment, must 36. Appropriate recreational activities will maintain a low overall development be supported, particularly where these footprint and will need to demonstrate promote understanding of, cultivate substantial net community benefit. interest in, or are directly associated with rural pursuits, cultural heritage or 40. Use and development, which by the environment in its natural state. its intensity or form would result in defacto urbanisation of the rural or 37. The value of tourism, including coastal landscape, including large scale eco-tourism and agri-tourism caravan park or mobile home based will be recognised and supported developments, will not be permitted. in appropriate locations. In rural Green Wedge areas tourism based 41. Planning will consider the need for development will play a complementary infrastructure and facilities to support role to the primary values of the rural the recreational role of the Peninsula, Peninsula, being biodiversity, agriculture to improve the ability to meet the and landscape. In rural Green Wedge demands of visitors and reduce areas tourism based developments of the impact of recreational use on a kind, scale and location appropriate environmental systems, the coast and to the natural environment and rural township areas. character of the Peninsula will be considered provided:

a) they operate in conjunction with and support significant agricultural, recreational or conservation activity on the land, and

b) there is sufficient on site buffer provided to avoid constraining the use of adjacent land.

10 Mornington Peninsula Localised Planning Statement Planning for the port area

Objective 45. Residential development in the port To ensure the appropriate use and planning area will be strictly limited and development of the Hastings port area and contained to selected existing township adjacent hinterland. areas within the existing Urban Growth Boundary. Strategies 46. Port and port related industrial 42. Planning will ensure the appropriate development will be carefully designed development of the Hastings port to limit environmental and visual area and adjacent hinterland, having impacts. Development controls will particular regard to the need to ensure a high standard of design and maintain the value of this area for substantial onsite landscaped buffer selected port and port related industrial areas for port related industrial facilities. purposes which depend upon or gain significant economic advantage 47. Major port and port related from proximity to natural deep water development will occur within the channels, and including the exclusion framework provided by an approved of further land subdivision within the Port Area Strategic Plan and Port port area pending determination of Development Plan. proper future use.

43. Planning will provide for the protection of the important values and resources of Western Port and its land catchment having regard to the importance of recreation, nature conservation and tourism. These will be major considerations in the planning and management of the area for port and port related industrial purposes.

44. Port and port related industrial development, including major transport routes will be physically and visually separated from township residential areas by the establishment of substantial landscaped rural buffers. Land at Crib Point will not be used for port purposes or port related uses which are likely to generate significant volumes of heavy vehicle movement on local roads or through towns and villages.

Mornington Peninsula Localised Planning Statement 11 www.dtpli.vic.gov.au/planning