Draft Yarra Strategic Plan Planning Evidence Statement for St.Kevins College 18 May 2020 Prepared for: Prepared by: St. Kevin’s College Sophie Jordan Consulting Pty Ltd PO Box 7200, Richmond Victoria, 3121 T: 0414 857 650 E: [email protected] W: sophiejordanconsulting.com.au 2 Contents Page Page 01 Introduction 5 02 St. Kevin’s College Land 7 03 The Draft Yarra Strategic Plan 11 04 The Current Planning Policy Framework 14 05 Analysis of the Strategic Plan 23 06 Conclusions 31 Appendices Appendix A Summary of Professional Experience 3 4 1.0 Introduction 1. I have been requested by Norton Rose Fulbright on behalf of St Kevin’s College Toorak to prepare and present expert planning evidence with regard to the draft 10 year Yarra Strategic Plan (the Strategic Plan) and the implications of this Strategic Plan from a statutory planning perspective on the land owned by St.Kevin’s College. 2. The Strategic Plan was released for public comment on 23 January 2020 and gives effect to the long term community vision for the Yarra River in the form of an integrated river corridor plan to manage the Yarra River and surrounding parklands for future generations across several public agencies. 3. I have not been involved in the preparation of any part of the Strategic Plan or any associated strategic documentation that has informed the current version of the Strategic Plan. 4. Since July 2019 I have been engaged by St Kevin’s College to provide statutory planning services. During this time I have prepared two planning permit applications for two of the school’s campuses being the Glendalough (Junior) Campus at 75 Lansell Road, Toorak and the Heyington (Senior) Campus at 31 Moonga Road, Toorak respectively. 5. This statement of evidence has been informed by my experience as the planning consultant advising St Kevin’s College and my detailed understanding of the implications of the current planning framework on two of the school’s campuses in Toorak. 6. In preparing this statement I have undertaken the following: • Reviewed the Strategic Plan including background reports; • Reviewed the Lower Yarra River Corridor Study (November 2016); • Reviewed relevant planning controls and policies relating to the Yarra River and private land adjacent to the River contained within the Stonnington, Boroondara and Yarra Planning Schemes, including Plan Melbourne 2017- 2050; • Reviewed Draft Yarra Strategic Plan Fact Sheet – Land Use Framework and Panel Process (January 2020); • Reviewed Draft Yarra Strategic Plan – City of Stonnington Feedback (March 2020); and • Reviewed St Kevin’s College’s submission to Melbourne Water, prepared by Norton Rose Fulbright. 7. The following statement provides a summary of my assessment and opinions in relation to the Strategic Plan and outlines recommendations regarding further the final drafting of future planning controls. 8. For the purposes of this statement of evidence, included in Appendix A, is a summary of my experience and other relevant particulars. 6 2.0 St.Kevin’s College Land 2.1 St Kevin’s College Campuses 9. St Kevin’s College, Toorak comprises two major education campuses within the municipality of Stonnington. Both campuses are sited adjacent to the Yarra River and are proximate to Gardiner’s Creek (refer to Figure 1). These campuses are commonly referred to as the ‘Heyington Campus’, which is located at 31 Moonga Road, Toorak and at the ‘Glendalough Campus’ which is located at 73 – 75 Lansell Road, Toorak. Glendalough Campus Heyington Campus Figure 1: Aerial View of St Kevin’s Colleges Source: Nearmaps 2020 10. St Kevin’s College has provided education for boys from years prep to year 12 across both campuses for the last 50 years. The sites have gradually developed so as to provide new educational facilities and sporting facilities to keep abreast of modern standards. Importantly, each stage of development that the College has undertaken over the last few decades has occurred through close working relationship with key stakeholders i.e. City of Stonnington and the local community – to ensure the campuses continue to positively contribute to whilst minimise adverse impacts to the surrounding environment 11. The future of the Glendalough Campus and the Heyington Campus remains focused on educating junior, middle and senior students of St Kevin’s College. In order to ensure that a dynamic, supportive and progressive environment continue 7 to be afforded, that allows the students to grow and develop, St Kevin’s College will continue to improve their facilities not only from an operational but also the contemporary learning and recreational spaces. 12. The following section of this report provides an outline of the physical characteristics of each campus. Glendalough Campus 13. The Glendalough Campus is the junior school of the St Kevin’s College and was established in 1972 following the issuing of planning permit ref: 70/261 by the City of Prahran. In 1999, the Glendalough Campus became a full primary school, catering for prep to year 6. 14. This campus is located on the northern side of Lansell Road and is bound by the Yarra River along the northern boundary of the site. 15. This campus has evolved over time, with each building program focused on providing its pupils with modern, purpose built facilities that address the needs of the student body at the time. 16. The school was originally built in the early 1970s, with additions constructed in the mid 1980s and more recently, the Boyd Egan Hall and the Victor McMahon Music Centre in 2014. Existing play areas and open space are apportioned to the north of the campus. Vegetation is largely concentrated along the northern and eastern site boundaries with screen planting and canopy trees. Key A – General teaching spaces B – Administration C – Music Centre D – Boyd Edgan Hall 8 Heyington Campus 17. The Heyington Campus has been in operation since the 1960s. It exists within a small precinct that is not highly visible from any access street but is predominantly characterised by educational/ institutional facilities and is surrounded by generous areas of open space extending along the Yarra River. 18. The Heyington Campus features a total of seven buildings together with a small pavilion building which sits between the two ovals. The existing buildings are generally focused on the northern portion of the allotment and have been constructed over the last few decades in discrete stages. The last major expansion occurred in 2010 (planning permit ref: 1099/07) for a four storey building – commonly referred to as the ‘Godfrey Building’ (see building E on plan below). 2.1 Current Planning Applications Glendalough Campus – 73 – 75 Lansell Road, Toorak 19. A planning application was lodged with the City of Stonnington on 12 November 2019. This application seeks approval for buildings and works to the existing education centre (primary school) in a General Residential Zone. It includes the development of a new building at the southern boundary of the site, the construction of a car park for the sole use of the school and removal of vegetation 9 from the central playground area. 20. Further information was submitted to Council on 9 April 2020 and the application is due to proceed to public notification at the time of preparing this statement. Heyington Campus – 31 Moonga Road, Toorak 21. Over the course of the last 9 months I have been involved in the preparation of a permit application relating to a proposed extension to the existing Wilding Centre (swimming pool building) located in the centre of the Heyington Campus. 22. The design for the proposed buildings and works is well progressed and a number of key specialists have been engaged to provide input, including consultation with Melbourne Water. 23. It is anticipated that this application will be submitted to the City of Stonnington before the end of the financial year. 10 03 The Draft Yarra Strategic Plan 24. The draft Yarra Strategic Plan (the Strategic Plan) was released for public consultation on 23 January 2020, with community comment required by 29 March 2020. 25. The Strategic Plan was prepared by Melbourne Water as the lead agency in 2019 and seeks to respond to the increasing density and scale of recent developments proposed and approved adjacent to the Yarra River and its environs. It has been prepared using a collaborative governance approach by the Yarra Collaboration Committee. The Committee, comprising a number of State and local government departments, government agencies and the Wurundjeri Woi wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation, sought to identify a 50 year Community vision. 26. Fundamentally, the Strategic Plan recognises the importance of the Yarra River and outlines the approach for the future management of the River corridor as it extends through urban, suburban and semi rural environments. It provides a high level regional strategic framework to guide future urban development for the waterway and its surrounds to address challenges primarily presented by climate change and population growth. 27. The Strategic Plan states that its various aims will be achieved through a revised planning framework that will introduce new controls affecting land adjacent to the Yarra River. 28. The Strategic Plan comprises two parts: • Part 1: Working Together to Deliver the Community Vision, as required under Section 17 of the Yarra River Protection Act 2017; and • Part 2: Land Use Framework, as required under Section 20 (1)(b) of the Yarra River Protection Act 2017. Part 1 – Working