STONNINGTON PLANNING SCHEME
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SCHEDULE 3 TO THE DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OVERLAY
Shown on the planning scheme map as DDO3
ALEXANDRA AVENUE BOULEVARD AND YARRA RIVER SKYLINE AREA
1.0
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Design objectives
 To protect and enhance the unique landscape and built form character of the Alexandra
Avenue boulevard and Yarra River skyline area.
 To recognise the Alexandra Avenue boulevard and Yarra River skyline area as a
significant cultural landscape of pre- and post-contact settlement.
 To minimise the visual impact of development, particularly when viewed from
Alexandra Avenue, the Yarra River and its banks, and from other publicly accessible
locations.
 To ensure that new development is designed to sit beneath the predominant tree canopy
height.
 To create a high quality landscape and built form edge to Alexandra Avenue, the Yarra
River corridor, and areas of public open space.
 To consider the impact of built form and landscaping on publicly accessible views of
the Yarra River corridor.
 To ensure new development demonstrates a high standard of contemporary design and
responds to the principles of environmental sustainability.
 To ensure sufficient space is provided for the planting and growth of new vegetation,
including large canopy trees.
 To design buildings to reflect the landscape/topographical character of the area.
 To ensure materials and design details complement the landscape and built form
character of the area.
 To encourage development consistent with any concept plan approved for the area.
2.0
Buildings and works
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All applications must be accompanied by a site analysis and design response report which
demonstrates how the proposed building or works meets the requirements of this Schedule.
A permit cannot be granted to vary the Maximum Building Height specified in Table 1 to
this schedule.
A permit may be granted to replace or alter a building or works existing at the approval
date but which do not comply with the Maximum Building Height specified in Table 1,
only if the responsible authority is satisfied an increased height improves the amenity and
enhances the landscape and built form character of the area.
Buildings or works should not exceed the Maximum Building Height specified in Table 2
to this schedule. An application to exceed the Maximum Building Height specified in
Table 2 to this schedule must demonstrate how the development will achieve the
requirements of this schedule.
Building height is the vertical distance between the natural ground level at any point on the
site, and the highest point of the building, with the exception of architectural features and
building services.
DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OVERLAY - SCHEDULE 3
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STONNINGTON PLANNING SCHEME
A permit is required to construct a fence over 1.2 metres in height, that abuts a road or
public area.
A permit is not required to construct or carry out any of the following:
 Routine repairs or maintenance to existing buildings and works.
3.0
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Design guidelines
Building Siting and Massing
 Provide adequate separation between the building and the property boundary to allow
sufficient space for the planting and growth of new vegetation, including large canopy
trees.
 Provide a minimum of 20% permeable surfaces to allow for water absorption and
adequate space for landscaping.
 Site buildings or higher elements of buildings in the lower sections of the site so that
the overall visibility of the development is minimised, particularly when viewed from
Alexandra Avenue, the Yarra River and its banks, and areas of public open space.
 Design buildings to step down the site and reflect the topographical character of the
landscape; reducing the need for cut and fill.
 Avoid excessive disturbance to existing topography.
Building Height & Form
 Design new buildings to be of a scale that does not exceed the maximum building
height for the area, as identified in Tables 1 and 2 of this Schedule.
 Design buildings to sit beneath the predominant tree canopy height.
 Recess and articulate upper level(s) to reduce visual bulk and avoid impacts on
adjoining amenity such as overlooking and overshadowing.
Materials & Design Detail
 Utilise materials, colours and finishes that complement those occurring naturally in the
area e.g. dark natural colours and matte finishes below the ridgeline and tree canopy,
and lighter colours on the skyline.
 Utilise non-reflective materials and finishes which reduce distant visibility.
 Incorporate balconies, eaves or other design features to provide articulation and visual
interest.
 Avoid mock historical style housing and excessive use of ‘reproduction’ or decorative
detailing.
 Avoid visually dominant, sheer and unarticulated elevations.
 Minimise the extent of blank walls facing the river corridor and other areas of public
open space.
 Avoid conspicuous or incongruous (out of place) development that is highly visible
from Alexandra Avenue and the Yarra River corridor.
 Incorporate the principles of Environmentally Sustainable Design (ESD) in all new
development.
DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OVERLAY - SCHEDULE 3
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STONNINGTON PLANNING SCHEME
Landscaping (Private Realm)
 Promote an increase in the overall vegetation coverage of the area.
 Provide permeable space between the building and the property boundary to support
vegetation, including canopy trees.
 Consider the existing landscape character of the public realm as a guide to the selection
of vegetation within the private realm.
 Screen buildings, structures and large areas of hard surfaces with appropriately scaled
informal landscaping, suitable to the landscape character of the area.
 Limit the extent of large hard/ impervious surfaces, including driveways, paving and
car parking areas.
 Soften retaining walls with appropriate screen plantings.
 Remove environmental weeds and replace with local native and indigenous species.
Fencing
 Provide low or open style front fences where abutting a road or public area, to allow
private gardens to contribute to the landscape character of the public realm.
 Incorporate planting along private/public realm boundaries where possible.
 Avoid high, solid fencing that encloses and conceals the property frontage.
 Provide open style fences in flood prone areas to allow water to pass through.
Car Parking
 Design garages, carports and car parking areas to be visually concealed when viewed
from Alexandra Avenue, the Yarra River corridor and other areas of public open space.
 Avoid the use of roller doors and excessive use of non-permeable surfaces (e.g. car
parking areas, driveways and multiple crossovers) along the street frontage.
 Incorporate underground carparking within multi-dwelling developments where
practicable.
Landscaping (Public Realm)
 Protect and, where necessary, rehabilitate significant stands of vegetation, particularly
along Alexandra Avenue and the banks of the Yarra River corridor.
 Screen buildings, structures and large areas of hard surfaces with appropriately scaled
informal landscaping, suitable to the landscape character of the area.
 Limit the extent of large hard/ impervious surfaces, including driveways, paving,
footpaths and car parking areas.
 Soften retaining walls with appropriate screen plantings.
 Remove environmental weeds and replace with local native and indigenous species.
 Locate infrastructure such as powerlines and other utility services underground
wherever possible.
DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OVERLAY - SCHEDULE 3
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STONNINGTON PLANNING SCHEME
4.0
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Decision guidelines
Before deciding on an application, the responsible authority must consider whether the
proposed building or works meet the design objectives and guidelines of this schedule.
Table 1 to Schedule 3
AREA
MAXIMUM BUILDING HEIGHT
BUILT FORM OUTCOMES
DDO3-1
12 metres
All residential
land
12 metres above the applicable
flood level, where Melbourne
Water requires additional elevation
for floodway management
purposes
Development contributes to the scale
and character of the Alexandra Avenue
Boulevard, Darling Gardens and Yarra
River corridor.
DDO3-4
9 metres
All residential
land
9 metres above the applicable
flood level, where Melbourne
Water requires additional elevation
for floodway management
purposes
Development sits beneath the
predominant tree canopy height.
Development is compatible with the
scale and character of the Alexandra
Avenue Boulevard.
Development sits beneath the
predominant tree canopy height and is
not highly visible when viewed from
Alexandra Avenue, the Yarra River and
its banks, and from other publicly
accessible locations.
Table 2 to Schedule 3
AREA
MAXIMUM BUILDING HEIGHT
BUILT FORM OUTCOMES
DDO3-2
6 metres
All Public Use
(PUZ2) zoned
land
6 metres above the applicable
flood level, where Melbourne
Water requires additional elevation
for floodway management
purposes
Development respects the spacious
character and amenity of the Yarra River
corridor and its adjoining public open
spaces.
All PPRZ
(Public Parks
& Recreation)
zoned land
DDO3-3
As identified in DDO8
All land
Development does not dominate or
block views to the Melbourne High
School building and its grounds, as
viewed from Alexandra Avenue.
Development is compatible with the
scale and character of the Alexandra
Avenue Boulevard, and does not
confuse the Melbourne High School
building roofline as viewed from the
west.
Development reinforces the importance
of this gateway site.
AREA
MINIMUM BUILDING SETBACK
BUILT FORM OUTCOMES
DDO3-3
Buildings should be set back
between 3 and 6 metres from
Alexandra Avenue
Development provides the opportunity
for an improved public pedestrian
environment along Alexandra Avenue.
All land
DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OVERLAY - SCHEDULE 3
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STONNINGTON PLANNING SCHEME
5.0
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Reference documents
Review of Policies and Controls for the Yarra River Corridor: Punt Road to Burke Road
(Consultant Report) June 2005
City of Stonnington DDO3 Review (Consultant Report) January 2012
DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OVERLAY - SCHEDULE 3
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Map 1: Yarra River Corridor
STONNINGTON PLANNING SCHEME
DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OVERLAY - SCHEDULE 3
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