Exhibition of Moorabool Planning Scheme Amendment C108 – Ballan Precinct 5

The planning scheme is a statutory document that sets out the objectives, policies and provisions relating to the use, development and protection of land. 

A planning scheme amendment may involve a change to a planning scheme map, a change to the written part of the scheme, or both. Amendments can have significant planning implications and affect the wider community because they change the way land can be used or developed. They can also change the basis for making planning decisions in the future.

A full explanation of Amendment C108 can be found in the Explanatory Report in the 'Project Documents' section of this page. 

• To recognise areas of predominantly single and double storey residential development. 

• To manage and ensure that development respects the identified neighbourhood character, heritage, environmental or landscape characteristics. 

• To allow educational, recreational, religious, community and a limited range of other non-residential uses to serve local community needs in appropriate locations. 

• To ensure that a development plan is prepared to the satisfaction of Council, before a planning permit is granted for use or development (except for minor works) of the land.  

• To guide and facilitate staged, master-planned development of the land.

• To ensure the identification and effective protection of environmental, cultural, heritage and landscape significance.  

• To ensure the coordinated, efficient, and timely provision of physical and community infrastructure and public open space that enhances the amenity, safety and liveability of the precinct and surrounds.  

• To ensure a diverse and appropriate mix of lot sizes, including appropriate interfaces with adjoining rural land, Western Freeway, Geelong-Ballan Road, Old Melbourne Road and Werribee River.  

• To facilitate an appropriate supply of housing diversity including opportunities for social and affordable housing. 

• A development plan must satisfy all requirements specified in the schedule and must include a masterplan generally in accordance with Map 1 to the schedule (see Project Document section on this webpage for a copy of the map). 

   

• To protect areas of significant vegetation. 

• To ensure that development minimises loss of vegetation. 

• To ensure that there is no net loss to biodiversity as a result of the removal, destruction or lopping of native vegetation.  

• To protect native flora and fauna including species listed under the Environment Protection Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988. 

To ensure that potentially contaminated land is suitable for a use which could be significantly adversely affected by any contamination. 

All individual submissions will be acknowledged in writing.  Following the exhibition process, section 23 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 requires Council to consider all submissions made to the amendment and either: 

• change the amendment in the manner requested in any submissions; or 

• refer the submissions to an independent Planning Panel appointed under Part 8 of the Act; or 

• abandon the amendment or part of the amendment. 

A panel is appointed by the Minister for Planning to hear submissions about amendments to planning schemes, and to make recommendations or provide advice about if the amendment should proceed. 

It will have one or more members, depending on the issues involved. The basic role of a panel is to: 

• give submitters an opportunity to be heard in an informal, non-judicial manner. 

• give expert advice to the planning authority (in this case Moorabool Shire Council) about an amendment and about submissions referred to it. 

Council, as the planning authority, must consider all submissions and the panel report, and then decide whether to adopt or abandon the amendment. If Council adopts the amendment, it will need to submit the amendment to the Minister for Planning for consideration and decision.