Planning and Environment Act 1987
WHITTLESEA CITY COUNCIL PLANNING SCHEME
DRAFT AMENDMENT C182
EXPLANATORY REPORT
Who is the planning authority?
This amendment has been prepared by the Minister for Planning, who is the planning
authority for this amendment.
The amendment has been made at the request of Whittlesea City Council.
Land affected by the amendment
The amendment applies to all residentially zoned land (Residential 1 Zone) within the
newly developing suburbs of the municipality, namely Mernda, Doreen, parts of South
Morang, Epping North and Wollert (south of Craigieburn Road). The boundary of the
newly developing areas is shown in the map below:
What the amendment does
The amendment implements the new residential zones into the newly developing areas
(NDAs) of the municipality, by making the following changes to the Whittlesea Planning
Scheme:
 Amending map nos. 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18 and 19 to apply the General Residential
Zone to all Residential 1 Zoned Land within the NDAs of the municipality (as identified
in the above map).
Strategic assessment of the amendment

Why is the amendment required?
The amendment is required to implement the new residential zones into the newly
developing areas (NDA) of the municipality.
Council has until 30 June 2014 to transition the NDAs to the Reformed Residential Zones.
If Council does not finalise an amendment to implement the new residential zones by this
date, the Minister for Planning will automatically rezone all residential land to the General
Residential Zone.
To facilitate this process the Minister for Planning recently announced the appointment of
a Residential Zones Standing Advisory Committee (RZSAC) to assist with
exhibition/consultation and reviewing matters related to the introduction and suitability of
the zone translations. The RZSAC has primarily been set up to assist Councils to meet
the transition deadline, particularly those that do not have up to date local housing
policies.
The City of Whittlesea does not have an adopted local housing policy for the NDAs. On
this basis, Council has resolved to participate in the RZSAC process in relation to the
NDAs within the municipality. Amendment C182 has been prepared in accordance with
the RZSAC Terms of Reference and seeks to apply the General Residential Zone to all
Residential 1 zoned land within the City of Whittlesea’s newly developing areas on the
basis that:
 The Development Plan / Structure Plan processes undertaken in the NDAs provide
the strategic policy basis underpinning the nature and location of development over
and above the underlying residential zoning.
 The General Residential Zone most closely reflects the existing Residential 1 Zone
and transitioning to it will maintain the integrity of the Development Plan / Structure
Plan processes undertaken in these areas. It is also the default zone that will apply
on July 1, 2014 if Councils are unable to meet the transition deadline.
 How does the amendment implement the objectives of planning in
Victoria?
The proposed amendment seeks to implement the following objectives of planning in
Victoria as set out in Section 4(1) of the Planning and Environment Act 1987:

a) Providing for the fair, orderly, economic and sustainable use and development
of land.
 g) Balancing the present and future interests of all Victorians.
The proposed amendment will provide clarity about the type of development that can
be expected within the NDAs of the municipality. This will assist in ensuring that
development in the NDAs adequately responds to the current and future housing
needs of the City of Whittlesea.
 How does the amendment address any environmental, social and
economic effects?
The proposed amendment is not anticipated to have any adverse environmental, social
or economic effects.

Does the amendment address relevant bushfire risk?
Yes, the amendment has addressed the relevant bushfire risk. The amendment simply
proposes a direct translation of the existing Residential 1 Zone to the State
Government’s new General Residential Zone. This reflects the default position that will
be enforced by the Minister for Planning if the amendment is not adopted by 1 July,
2014.
 Does the amendment comply with the requirements of any Minister’s
Direction applicable to the amendment?
The amendment is consistent with the Ministerial Direction on the Form and Content of
Planning Schemes under section 7 (5) of the Planning and Environment Act 1987. The
amendment is also consistent with Ministerial Direction No.9 which seeks to ensure
that planning scheme amendments have regard to the Metropolitan Strategy.
An evaluation of the proposed amendment has also been undertaken in accordance
with the strategic considerations set out in Minister’s Direction No. 11 Strategic
Assessment of Amendments, and the amendment is consistent with these
considerations.
The amendment is also consistent with the procedural matters outlined in the Terms of
Reference for the Residential Zones Standing Advisory Committee.
 How does the amendment support or implement the State Planning Policy
Framework and any adopted State policy?
The proposed amendment is consistent with the objectives of the State Planning Policy
Framework (SPPF) and will assist in achieving objectives in relation to the following
clauses:
Clause 11 – Settlement
This Clause seeks to anticipate and respond to the needs of existing and future
communities through provision of zoned and serviced land for housing, employment,
recreation and open space, commercial and community facilities and infrastructure.
The proposed amendment addresses this Clause by providing strategic direction to
facilitate moderate housing growth and diversity within the newly developing areas of
the municipality.
In particular, the proposed amendment supports the following sub-clauses:

Clause 11.02 – Urban Growth
Clause 15 – Built Environment and Heritage
This Clause seeks to ensure all new land use and development appropriately responds
to its context, achieves high quality urban design and architecture and supports the
development and maintenance of communities with adequate and safe physical and
social environments for their residents. The proposed amendment addresses this
Clause by providing strategic direction to ensure moderate residential growth and
development within the newly developing areas of the municipality is locationappropriate, site-responsive and diverse.
In particular, the proposed amendment supports the following sub-clauses:

Clause 15.01 – Urban Design
Clause 16 – Housing
This Clause encourages the provision of housing diversity with efficient supporting
infrastructure, which is planned for long term sustainability and affordability, and
encourages the location of new housing in or close to activity centres and sites that
offer good access to services and transport. The proposed amendment will provide
clarity and direction around the form of future residential development within the newly
developing areas which is consistent with the objectives of the Clause.
In particular, the proposed amendment supports the following sub-clauses:

Clause 16.01 – Residential Development
 How does the amendment support or implement the Local Planning Policy
Framework?
The proposed amendment supports the following land use planning objectives for the
municipality as set out at Clause 21.04:
 Urban Growth:
To efficiently manage urban growth in a manner that maximises relationships
between compatible land uses.
 Urban Design:
To progressively upgrade the image and appearance of the City of Whittlesea
focusing on environmental features, landscape qualities and urban and landscape
design improvements.
 Residential Capacity and Location:
To plan for a diverse series of residential communities that have a unique identity
and sense of place, that caters to all segments of the housing segments of the
housing market, and that respects and incorporates local and cultural features.
 Housing Diversity and Affordability:
To promote the establishment of increased diversity and quality in housing provision
to meet the needs of existing and future residents of the City of Whittlesea in a
manner which contributes positively to local character and sense of place.
 Does the amendment make proper use of the Victoria Planning
Provisions?
The proposed amendment uses the most appropriate Victorian Planning Provision tool
to guide future housing growth and change in the newly developing suburbs of the
municipality.
Of the new Reformed Residential Zones, the General Residential Zone, in terms of
purpose, permissible land uses and built form outcomes, is the closest to the existing
Residential 1 Zone which applies to the NDAs. It is also the default zone that will apply
on July 1, 2014 if Councils are unable to meet the transition deadline.
The General Residential Zone respects and preserves urban character whilst enabling
moderate housing growth and diversity. In the suite of zones, the General Residential
Zone sits between the Residential Growth Zone, which enables housing growth and
diversity, and the Neighbourhood Residential Zone, which favours no change in areas
with identified neighbourhood character and heritage. This reflects the intent and
objectives of the current Residential 1 Zone which applies to all residentially zoned
land within the NDAs.
 How does the amendment address the views of any relevant agency?
Relevant agencies will be given the opportunity to review the amendment as part of the
formal exhibition of the amendment and any submissions will be considered by the
Residential Zones Standing Advisory Committee.
 Does the amendment address relevant requirements of the Transport
Integration Act 2010?
The proposed amendment is consistent with the transport system objectives and
decision making principles set out in Part 2, Divisions 2 and 3 of the Transport
Integration Act 2010.
Resource and administrative costs
What impact will the new planning provisions have on the resource and
administrative costs of the responsible authority?
The proposed amendment is not anticipated to have any impact on the resource and
administrative costs of Council.
Where you may inspect this Amendment
The amendment is available for public inspection, free of charge, during office hours at the
following places:

City of Whittlesea Council offices, 25 Ferres Blvd, South Morang

City of Whittlesea Libraries:


2A May Road, Lalor

52 main Street, Thomastown

394 Plenty Road, Mill Park
City of Whittlesea website, www.whittlesea.vic.gov.au
Submissions
If you would like to make a written submission to the Residential Zones Standing Advisory
Committee, you can do so before Monday 14 April, 2014.
Submissions can be made online at www.dtpli.vic.gov.au/residential-zones-advisorycommittee and you must complete the online Submission Coversheet. Parties wishing to
post in a written submission will need to contact Ms Jessica Cutting at Planning Panels
Victoria to obtain a hard copy of the Submission Coversheet.
Please note that submissions must be directed to the Committee through Planning Panels
Victoria. Council cannot accept submissions.
All submissions and all information provided at the Hearing will be treated as public
documents.
If you have any questions regarding the proposed changes to the residential zones in the
NDAs, please contact Paul Marsden, Principal Policy Planner, City of Whittlesea on 9217
2241 or paul.marsden@whittlesea.vic.gov.au.
Information about the Advisory Committee including its Terms of Reference can be found
at:
 Department of Transport, Planning and Local Infrastructure,
www.dtpli.vic.gov.au/residential-zones-advisory-committee
If you have any questions regarding the Advisory Committee, how to make a submission
or the public hearing, please contact Jessica Cutting, Senior Project Manager at Planning
Panels Victoria on 8392 6383 or jessica.cutting@dtpli.vic.gov.au.
Advisory Committee hearing dates
The Committee has pre-set the Hearing dates for the week starting 28 April 2014. If you
wish to present at the Hearing, please complete the relevant section of the Submission
Coversheet.