Exhibition of Moorabool Planning Scheme Amendment C103moor– Hopetoun Park North

A full explanation of Amendment C103 can be found in the Explanatory Report and supporting documents on this webpage, or at the Department of Transport and Planning www.planning.vic.gov.au/public-inspection.

Amendment C103moor proposes to apply the Neighbourhood Residential Zone (NRZ) to the site. This is one of the most restrictive residential zones, either due to development constraints or the need to protect an identified neighbourhood character of an area.  The NRZ allows for residential development and land uses that serve the local community such as medical or childcare services. The Zone purpose is as described below:  

• 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.  

A Schedule 8 to the Neighbourhood Residential Zone is proposed in Amendment C103 to provide specific guidance by setting out the following purposes:   

• To establish an open and spacious neighbourhood character including through the establishment of larger lots around the perimeter of the new residential area. 

• To provide development that is respectful of the existing open and spacious character of Hopetoun Park through the implementation of front, rear and side setbacks that provides adequate area for appropriate landscaping.  

• To increase the presence of indigenous and native vegetation both within the public and private realms, particularly canopy trees, to reinforce the open woodland character of the area.  

• To strengthen habitat corridors between waterways, conservation reserves, and grassland to the east. 

The Development Plan Overlay is a tool to ensure development across large sites is well coordinated and managed. It requires a landowner to first prepare a Development Plan (or Masterplan including detailed guidance around movement, open space and development). Once a Development Plan has been prepared, it becomes the masterplan for the area, and development needs to be consistent with the plan. Future permits are not required to be publicly advertised as long as they are in accordance with the Development Plan and Development Plan Overlay.

The Development Plan Overlay Schedule 7 guides proposed subdivision and development to meet the following purposes:  

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

• To ensure the identification and effective management of areas of environmental, heritage and landscape significance.  

• To provide an appropriate transition between the new residential growth area and the existing low density residential development at Hopetoun Park.  

• To enhance the amenity, safety and liveability of the existing development at Hopetoun Park, through increased services and infrastructure delivered in the growth area.  

• To implement measures to mitigate potential environmental and bushfire impacts. 

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.

The proposed Design and Development Overlay Schedule 17 has been based on an assessment of the existing character of the Hopetoun Park area. Requiring  minimal or rural fencing, and larger separations between dwellings can ensure the new dwellings respect the existing lower density rural character of the area.  

The Design and Development Overlay Schedule 17 guides proposed subdivision and development to meet the following objectives:   

• To ensure new residential development minimises its visual impact when viewed from the Western Freeway, Bacchus Marsh Valley and the existing Hopetoun Park residential development. 

• To provide development that respects the existing open and spacious character of Hopetoun Park through the implementation of front, rear, and side setbacks, ensuring adequate space for landscaping that reinforces the open woodland character. 

• To encourage fencing that provides a 'rural' feel, and sense of openess towards the street. 

• To encourage the use of materials for building construction that blend aesthetically with the landscape. 

• To ensure setbacks to dwellings respond to the requirements of Clause 13.02 to reduce bushfire risks. 

The proposed Environmental Significance Overlay Schedule 7 currently applies to areas in Balliang East to protect native vegetation of the Victorian Volcanic Plain Bioregion. This amendment applies the same Overlay to proposed conservation areas within the site which contain native vegetation identified through surveys. These areas are not identified to be developed for new residential purposes. 

The Environmental Significance Overlay Schedule 7 contains the following objectives: 

• To prevent a decline in the extent and quality of native vegetation and native fauna habitat of the Victorian Volcanic Plain. 

• To enhance the environmental and landscape values of the area. 

• To avoid the fragmentation of contiguous areas of native vegetation or native fauna habitat. 

• To ensure that any use, development or management of the land is compatible with the long-term conservation, maintenance and enhancement of the grasslands. 

• To avoid the destruction of habitat for native fauna resulting from the modification of land form and disturbance of surface soils and rocks. 

• To enable areas of environmental significance, due to their native vegetation or habitat values, to be identified. 

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.

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. 

More information about the amendment process is available here