This version of the South East Green Wedge Background
Report and Issues Paper, Part 2 – Background Report
has been prepared for use with screen reader software.
The PDF version also available at www.dpcd.vic.gov.au is recommended for general
access.
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
Part 2 - Background Report
Final - 9 October 2008
Department of Planning and Community Development and
Cities of Kingston, Greater Dandenong, Frankston and Casey
This Report has been prepared for:
Department of Planning and Community Development and the Cities of
Kingston, Greater Dandenong, Frankston, Casey
This Report has been prepared by:
SGS Economics and Planning Pty. Ltd.
ACN 007 437 729
5th
Floor, 171 Latrobe Street,
Melbourne Victoria 3000
phone:
fax:
61 3 9606 0994
61 3 9606 0995
email: sgs@sgsepcom.au
web: www.sgsep.com.au
Table of Contents
1
I nt ro du ct i on ................................ ................................ ........ 1
1.1
Background ................................................................................................................ 1
1.2
Purpose ..................................................................................................................... 1
1.3
This Report: Part 2 of 2................................................................................................ 1
1.4
Scope and Disclaimer .................................................................................................. 2
2
Ma p pi n g a n d S it e Re v ie w ................................ ....................... 3
2.1
Introduction ............................................................................................................... 3
2.2
Observations .............................................................................................................. 4
2.3
Mapping and Site Review Summary ............................................................................... 9
3
Li te r at u re Re v ie w ................................ ............................... 13
3.1
Introduction ............................................................................................................. 13
3.2
Strategic and Statutory Planning Context ..................................................................... 13
3.3
Municipal Specific and General Topics .......................................................................... 24
3.4
Literature Review Summary ....................................................................................... 62
4
Co n su l t at io n ................................ ................................ ...... 66
4.1
Introduction ............................................................................................................. 66
4.2
Council Officer Input .................................................................................................. 66
4.3
Stakeholder Input ..................................................................................................... 75
4.4
Other Information ..................................................................................................... 97
4.5
Consultation Summary .............................................................................................102
5
D at a An a l y si s ................................ ................................ ... 10 7
5.1
Introduction ............................................................................................................107
5.2
Area by Zone ...........................................................................................................107
5.3
Industry and Employment Profile ...............................................................................108
5.4
Industry Contribution to Gross Regional Product ..........................................................110
5.5
Planning Permit Activity ............................................................................................111
5.6
Planning Scheme Amendment Activity ........................................................................113
5.7
Property Values .......................................................................................................114
5.8
Projections and Demand Side Pressures ......................................................................114
5.9
Data Analysis Summary ............................................................................................115
Fi g ur e s
Figure 24: Springvale Road Looking North West Toward Aspendale Gardens ............................... 8
Figure 25: Mentone Grammar School Sports Centre, Braeside ................................................... 8
Figure 26: Braeside Park, Braeside......................................................................................... 8
Figure 27: Braeside Park, Braeside......................................................................................... 8
i
106742724
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
Figure 28: Centre Dandenong Road, Dingley Village ................................................................. 8
Figure 29: Centre Dandenong Road, Dingley Village ................................................................. 8
Figure 30: Spring Valley Golf Club, Clayton South .................................................................... 8
Figure 31: Corner Ryans Road and Deals Road, Clayton South .................................................. 8
Figure 32: Baxter Tip, Clarinda .............................................................................................. 8
Figure 33: Regional Landfill Clayton South, Clayton South ........................................................ 8
Figure 34: Flower Growing, Clayton South .............................................................................. 8
Figure 35: Grange Road, Clayton South/Dingley Village ............................................................ 8
Figure 36: Grange Road, Clayton South/Dingley Village ............................................................ 8
Figure 37: Vacant Land, Clayton South ................................................................................... 8
Figure 38: Garden and Soil Supplies, Dingley Village ................................................................ 8
Figure 39: Holmesglen Institute of TAFE Dingley Campus, Dingley Village ................................... 8
Figure 40: Looking from Junction Road to Old Dandenong Road, Dingley Village .......................... 8
Figure 41: Drainage, Heatherton............................................................................................ 8
Figure 42: Market Gardens, Heatherton .................................................................................. 8
Figure 43: Market Gardens and Sales, Heatherton ................................................................... 8
Figure 44: Market Gardens, Heatherton .................................................................................. 8
Figure 45: Quarrying, Clarinda .............................................................................................. 8
Figure 46: Quarrying and Landfill, Heatherton ......................................................................... 8
Figure 47: Flower Sales, Heatherton....................................................................................... 8
Figure 48: Karkarook Park, Heatherton ................................................................................... 8
Figure 50: Eastern Treatment Plant, Bangholme ...................................................................... 8
Figure 51: St Leonard’s College, Bangholme ............................................................................ 8
Figure 52: National Water Sports Centre, Bangholme ............................................................... 8
Figure 53: Grazing, Bangholme ............................................................................................. 8
Figure 54: Mordialloc Creek, Bangholme ................................................................................. 8
Figure 55: Southern Obedience Dog Club, Bangholme .............................................................. 8
Figure 56: Place of Assembly (under construction), Bangholme ................................................. 8
Figure 57: Planica Springvale Slovenian Association, Bangholme ............................................... 8
Figure 59: Quarrying, Langwarrin .......................................................................................... 9
Figure 60: Department of Primary Industries, Frankston North .................................................. 9
Figure 61: The Pines Flora and Fauna Reserve, Frankston North ................................................ 9
Figure 62: Skye Primary School, Skye .................................................................................... 9
Figure 63: Victorian Canine Association Inc, KCC Park Dog Centre, Skye .................................... 9
Figure 64: Seaford Wetlands, Seaford .................................................................................... 9
Figure 65: Seaford Wetlands, Seaford .................................................................................... 9
Figure 66: DECA Training, Carrum Downs ............................................................................... 9
Figure 67: Eastlink, Seaford .................................................................................................. 9
Figure 68: Eastlink, Carrum Downs ........................................................................................ 9
Figure 69: Eastlink, Carrum Downs ........................................................................................ 9
Figure 70: Eastern Treatment Plant, Carrum Downs ................................................................. 9
Figure 72: Grazing, Cranbourne South .................................................................................... 9
Figure 73: Large Lot Residential, Cranbourne South ................................................................. 9
Figure 74: Large Lot Residential, Cranbourne South ................................................................. 9
Figure 75: Melbourne 2030 Green Wedges ............................................................................ 21
Figure 76: Land Area (Hectares) by Selected Zone Classifications ...........................................107
Figure 77: Land Area (Hectares) by Selected Zones ..............................................................108
106742724
ii
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
Figure 78: Travel Zone Matrix, South East Green Wedge Data Area, 2001 ...............................108
Figure 79: Travel Zone Matrix, South East Green Wedge Data Area, 2006 ...............................108
Figure 80: Employment by Industry, South East Green Wedge Data Area and Melbourne SD, 2006109
Figure 81: Change in Employment by Industry, South East Green Wedge Data Area, 2001-2006 109
Figure 82: Annual Percentage Change in Employment, South East Green Wedge Data Area and
Melbourne SD, 2001-2006 ..................................................................................109
Figure 83: Proportion of Jobs to Value Added Contribution, South East Green Wedge Data Area,
2006 ................................................................................................................111
Figure 84: Planning Permit Activity, South East Green Wedge, 2004-2008 ...............................111
Ta b le s
Table 1: Features and Values of the South East Green Wedge ................................................. 21
Table 2: Employment by Industry, South East Green Wedge Data Area Councils and Melbourne SD,
2001-2006 .......................................................................................................109
Table 3: Annual Percentage Change in Employment, South East Green Wedge Data Area and
Melbourne SD, 2001-2006 ..................................................................................109
Table 4: Contribution to Gross Regional and State Product, South East Green Wedge Data Area,
2006 ................................................................................................................111
Table 5: Proportion of Jobs to Value Added Contribution, South East Green Wedge Data Area, 2006111
Table 6: Planning Permit Activity by Application Type, South East Green Wedge, 2004-2008 ......111
Table 7: Total Planning Scheme Amendments, South East Green Wedge Councils, 2004 -2008...113
Table 8: Planning Scheme Amendments (Purpose of Amendment), South East Green Wedge
Councils, 2004 -2008 .........................................................................................113
Table 9: Property Value Comparisons ..................................................................................114
Table 10: Population Projections, Selected Areas, 2006-2031 .................................................115
Acknowledgement
This report contains information that was in part obtained and supplied by other parties, in
particular Department of Planning and Community Development, Department of Sustainability and
Environment, the Cities of Kingston, Greater Dandenong, Frankston and Casey and other parties as
noted in the report.
106742724
iii
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
1
Introduction
1.1
Background
SGS Economics and Planning Pty Ltd (SGS) was commissioned in March 2008 by the Department
of Planning and Community Development and the Cities of Kingston, Greater Dandenong,
Frankston and Casey to prepare base information to enable the preparation of a Green Wedge
Management Plan for the South East Green Wedge. The study brief provides the following
information on this subject.
“Action 4 of M2030 Implementation Plan 5 “Green Wedges” states that a management plan
should be written for each of the 12 designated Green Wedges that surround Melbourne.
Green Wedge Management Plans (GWMPs) will help to ensure that Green Wedges are
protected and that a sustainable future is secured for these valuable areas of land. The
State Government identifies that Local Government in partnership with the State must
develop a GWMP for each Green Wedge. A GWMP is a strategy that identifies a vision,
objectives and actions for the sustainable development of each Green Wedge. The Plan will
identify the values and features of each Green Wedge, the preferred future land use,
environmental and natural resources that should be protected, and the needs of the local
community.”
The South East Green Wedge is one of 12 green wedges which are located in the metropolitan
Melbourne area and outside the Urban Growth Boundary (UGB).
1.2
Purpose
The purpose of this report is to assemble and analyse base information on the South East Green
Wedge. This information will be used by the client group to enable the preparation of a Green
Wedge Management Plan for the area.
1.3
This Report: Part 2 of 2
This is the second of two reports that have been prepared for this project. This report - Part 2
Background Report - contains the research material that was collated for the project.
The separate Part 1 Issues Paper presents the synthesised findings and policy recommendations
for the project.
106742724
1
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
This report presents information that was obtained using four research methods:

Mapping and Site Review (see Section 2 of this report);

Literature review (see Section 3);

Consultation (see Section 4); and

Data analysis (see Section 5).
1.4
Scope and Disclaimer
This report is designed to assist the strategic planning process for the South East Green Wedge.
This document collates and summarises background information relevant to the South East Green
Wedge to the extent possible within the scope of this project. The information should not be
interpreted as being exhaustive.
This report is not a strategic plan. Whist information is synthesised as best possible for the
purposes of background reporting, proper prioritisation of issues, identification of strategic options,
evaluation of options and development of a strategy is required as part of the plan making process,
which is separate project.
106742724
2
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
2
Mapping and Site Review
2.1
Introduction
This section provides various thematic maps of the study area and the municipalities within it, and
a sample of supporting photos. The maps are:

South East Green Wedge Study Area;

Zoning Conditions;

Major Land Uses;

Aerial Photo;

Selected Infrastructure Networks;

Water and Sewer Networks;

Oil and Gas Networks;

Cadastre (Lot Subdivision);

Permissible Subdivision;

Major Overlays and Buffers;

Open Space and Proposed Chain of Parks;

Heritage Overlay;

Aboriginal Affairs Victoria Identified Sites;

Biosites;

Native Vegetation;

Ecological Vegetation Classes 1750;

Ecological Vegetation Classes 2005;

Bioregional Conservation Status;

Threatened Flora and Fauna;

Wetlands;

Urban Floodway Zone and Land Subject to Inundation Overlay;

Groundwater Basins;

Kingston Focus Map, followed by a series of photos;

Greater Dandenong Focus Map, followed by a series of photos;

Frankston Focus Map, followed by a series of photos; and

Casey Focus Map, followed by a series of photos.
Other maps presented in other sections of this report are:

Melbourne 2030 Green Wedges; and

Travel Zone Matrix maps for 2001 and 2006.
Refer to PDF of this document for these maps.
106742724
3
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
Disclaimer
Note that the information presented in this section of the report is not exhaustive. It presents
information that was able to be compiled within the scope of this project.
This information should be used as a prompt for further research and analysis on topics of interest
in the plan making process.
All mapped features (and lines on the maps) should be interpreted as being indicative, subject to
more detailed assessment.
2.2
Observations
The following table provides observations regarding the maps provided in this section of the report.
Refer to PDF of this document for these maps.
Map

South East Green Wedge
Observations

Study Area (Figure 1)
The South East Green Wedge is relatively narrow and
parts of it are in close proximity to urban development.

The northern section of the Green Wedge is located
about 20 kilometres from Melbourne’s CBD and about
10 kilometres from the demographic centre of
Melbourne.

Zoning Conditions (Figure 2)

The study area has a ‘patchwork’ of zones, with Green
Wedge and Rural Conservation Zones comprising just
over half of the study area (53.2%, see data analysis
section for more information).

Major Land Uses (Figure 3)

The study area has a diverse range of land uses
including agriculture, open space, infrastructure and
mining. Refer to the map for details.

Aerial Photo (Figure 4)

The aerial photo shows that major facilities are located
within and around the study area. This includes the
fragmented nature of land use in the north to more
expansive agricultural areas in the middle and southern
sections of the study area, apart from the Eastern
Treatment Plant and quarries.

The area is in part surrounded by major industrial
activity, in Greater Dandenong, Kingston and
Frankston. These activities would have an impact on
the amenity and environmental condition of the area.

Selected Infrastructure
Networks (Figure 5)

The first of these maps shows roads and proposed
freeways, waterways and retarding basis, sewer
networks, transmissions lines and related

Water and Sewer Networks
106742724
infrastructure. The Eastern Treatment Plant and
4
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
(Figure 6)
Moorabbin Airport are highlighted.


Oil and Gas Networks (Figure
7)
The second of these maps shows water and sewer
networks in more detail.

The third of these maps shows oil and gas pipelines in
the region.

Together, these infrastructure maps show the extensive
networks of infrastructure within and around the area.

The provision or urban infrastructure is a major role of
the South East Green Wedge.

Cadastre (Lot Subdivision)

(Figure 8)
This map shows lot subdivision patterns in the study
area.

The northern part of Kingston’s Green Wedge and the
southern part of Frankston and Casey’s South East
Green Wedge is relatively fragmented.

The central portion of the study area has relatively
large lots.

Permissible Subdivision

(Figure 9)
This map shows permissible subdivision controls that
apply to selected zones.

The 40 hectare minimum lot size provision appears to
be playing an important role in maintaining larger lot
sizes in Greater Dandenong and in parts of Frankston.

Major Overlays and Buffers

(Figure 10)
The study area performs a number of important land
use buffer roles, for uses both inside and outside the
area.

This includes buffers for the Eastern Treatment Plant
(ETP), Moorabbin Airport, landfills and some
agricultural and industry operations.

A major land use activity outside of the study area is
the Greater Dandenong Industry 2 Zone which supports
businesses that require significant buffer distances from
sensitive uses.

Shown on the map are buffers for the Eastern
Treatment Plant and the notional buffer for the
Dandenong Industry 2 zone and Moorabbin Airport
flightpath overlay.

Refer to Council Planning Schemes for more detail on
all land use buffers that apply to the area.

Open Space and Proposed

Chain of Parks (Figure 11)
This map shows open space locations and the proposed
‘chain of parks’ concept investigation area in Kingston.
This information is indicative.

The possible use of more Green Wedge land for
connected open space linkages is a key strategic
opportunity for the area.

This map also shows that there is an absence of a
similar networked open space framework plan in
Greater Dandenong and Frankston.
106742724
5
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper

Heritage Overlay (Figure 12)

The location of heritage overlays in and around the
study area is shown on this map. Some sites are
shown within Greater Dandenong and Kingston’s Green
Wedge areas.

Refer to Council Planning Schemes for more
information about these sites.

Note that there are likely to be other sites that have
heritage value but have not been identified with an
overlay. More detailed study is required to identify all
sites and determine the best way to protect them.

Aboriginal Affairs Victoria

Identified Sites (Figure 13)
The location of Aboriginal heritage sites, as best
understood at this time, is shown on this map.

This information shows three major clusters in the
study area.

Note that there may be other sites that have heritage
value but have not been identified. More detailed study
is required to identify all sites and determine the best
way to protect them.

Biosites (Figure 14)

This map shows the indicative location of sites of
biological significance.

This shows three major clusters in the area: Braeside
Park, Eastern Treatment Plant environs and the DPI
Frankston Site together with the nearby Pines Flora and
Fauna Reserve.

Refer to the Department of Sustainability and
Environment for more information about this data and
the sites.

Native Vegetation (Figure 15)

This map shows the indicative location of native
vegetation in and around the study area.

This shows that the major clusters generally align with
the biosites information (generally around Braeside
Park, Eastern Treatment Plant environs and the DPI
Frankston Site together with the nearby Pines Flora and
Fauna Reserve) and the southern portion of the South
East Green Wedge of Frankston and Casey.

The Casey cluster of native vegetation is significant in
that municipality due to the extensive clearing that has
occurred in Casey.

Refer to the Department of Sustainability and
Environment for more information about this data and
the sites.

Ecological Vegetation Classes

1750 (Figure 16)
These maps show Ecological Vegetation Classes
information in overview form, for the years 1750 and
2005.

Ecological Vegetation Classes
2005 (Figure 17)
106742724

Refer to the Department of Sustainability and
Environment for more information about this data.
6
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper

Bioregional Conservation

Status (Figure 18)
This map rates the status or vulnerability of remnant
natural features in the region.

Refer to the Department of Sustainability and
Environment for more information about this data.

Threatened Flora and Fauna

(Figure 19)
This map shows the indicative location of threatened
flora and fauna species in and around the study area.

The major clusters generally align with the biosites and
native vegetation information.

Refer to the Department of Sustainability and
Environment for more information about this data and
the sites.

Wetlands (Figure 20)

This map shows the indicative location of major
wetland sites in and around the study area.

The internationally significant RAMSAR wetland sites
are highlighted on the map.

Refer to the Department of Sustainability and
Environment for more information about this data and
the sites.

Urban Floodway Zone and

Land Subject to Inundation
Overlay (Figure 21)
This map shows major overland water flows in and
around the study area.

The study area plays an important drainage function for
the region. As shown in the map, significant wetland
and floodway areas are located inland from Port Phillip
Bay adjacent to the western boundary of the study
area.

Groundwater Basins (Figure

22)
The study area has two groundwater basins. The
Moorabbin basin applies to parts of Kingston and the
Frankston basin applies to parts of Greater Dandenong,
Frankston and Casey.

This resource provides opportunity to access water for
various purposes.

In addition to this natural resource, recycled water
from the Eastern Treatment Plant provides another
water resource opportunity for the area.

Kingston Focus Map, followed

by a series of photos (Figures
23 to 48)
A map and a series of photos are provided for each
municipality.

The purpose of the map is to show major land uses in
more detail (at a larger scale).

Greater Dandenong Focus

The purpose of the photos is to provide a sample of
Map, followed by a series of
images of activities that have established in the study
photos (Figures 49 to 57)
area. Each photo has a title that labels the activity and
/ or location.

Frankston Focus Map, followed
by a series of photos (Figures
58 to 70)
106742724
7
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper

Casey Focus Map, followed by
a series of photos (Figures 71
to 74)
The supporting photos provided in this section of the report are listed below. Refer to PDF of this
document for these photos.
Kingston Photos:

Figure 1: Springvale Road Looking North West Toward Aspendale Gardens

Figure 2: Mentone Grammar School Sports Centre, Braeside

Figure 3: Braeside Park, Braeside

Figure 4: Braeside Park, Braeside

Figure 5: Centre Dandenong Road, Dingley Village

Figure 6: Centre Dandenong Road, Dingley Village

Figure 7: Spring Valley Golf Club, Clayton South

Figure 8: Corner Ryans Road and Deals Road, Clayton South

Figure 9: Baxter Tip, Clarinda

Figure 10: Regional Landfill Clayton South, Clayton South

Figure 11: Flower Growing, Clayton South

Figure 12: Grange Road, Clayton South/Dingley Village

Figure 13: Grange Road, Clayton South/Dingley Village

Figure 14: Vacant Land, Clayton South

Figure 15: Garden and Soil Supplies, Dingley Village

Figure 16: Holmesglen Institute of TAFE Dingley Campus, Dingley Village

Figure 17: Looking from Junction Road to Old Dandenong Road, Dingley Village

Figure 18: Drainage, Heatherton

Figure 19: Market Gardens, Heatherton

Figure 20: Market Gardens and Sales, Heatherton

Figure 21: Market Gardens, Heatherton

Figure 22: Quarrying, Clarinda

Figure 23: Quarrying and Landfill, Heatherton

Figure 24: Flower Sales, Heatherton

Figure 25: Karkarook Park, Heatherton
Greater Dandenong Photos:

Figure 26: Eastern Treatment Plant, Bangholme

Figure 27: St Leonard’s College, Bangholme

Figure 28: National Water Sports Centre, Bangholme

Figure 29: Grazing, Bangholme

Figure 30: Mordialloc Creek, Bangholme

Figure 31: Southern Obedience Dog Club, Bangholme

Figure 32: Place of Assembly (under construction), Bangholme

Figure 33: Planica Springvale Slovenian Association, Bangholme
106742724
8
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
Frankston Photos:

Figure 34: Quarrying, Langwarrin

Figure 35: Department of Primary Industries, Frankston North

Figure 36: The Pines Flora and Fauna Reserve, Frankston North

Figure 37: Skye Primary School, Skye

Figure 38: Victorian Canine Association Inc, KCC Park Dog Centre, Skye

Figure 39: Seaford Wetlands, Seaford

Figure 40: Seaford Wetlands, Seaford

Figure 41: DECA Training, Carrum Downs

Figure 42: Eastlink, Seaford

Figure 43: Eastlink, Carrum Downs

Figure 44: Eastlink, Carrum Downs

Figure 45: Eastern Treatment Plant, Carrum Downs
Casey Photos:

Figure 46: Grazing, Cranbourne South

Figure 47: Large Lot Residential, Cranbourne South

Figure 48: Large Lot Residential, Cranbourne South
2.3
Mapping and Site Review Summary
Kingston
Location:

Influenced by relative proximity to Melbourne’s CBD, and being about 10 kilometres from
the demographic centre of Melbourne.

Has relatively narrow green wedge land areas, which are influenced by surrounding urban
areas including Kingston’s industrial nodes.
Land:

The green wedge area in Kingston covers 2,070.6 hectares.

Sites are generally highly fragmented in terms of subdivision patterns.

Kingston has a low proportion (20.1%) of its green wedge land zoned Green Wedge.
Major Sites and Activities:

Moorabbin Airport (flight paths generate noise impacts on activity in the area).

Braeside Park (has significant biosites, native vegetation and fauna).

Other local and regional parks.

Golf courses and other sports and recreation facilities.

Agriculture (especially horticulture / market gardens).

Mining.

Landfills and recycling facilities.

Mixed businesses (including nurseries).
106742724
9
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
Environmental and Heritage Features:

Braeside Park (has significant biosites, native vegetation and fauna).

Scattered heritage sites and vegetation clusters.

Moorabbin groundwater basin.

North-south drainage contour.
Strategic Opportunities:

Development of the open space network, in particular the proposed ‘chain of parks’
concept.

Protection and improvement of natural and cultural environment assets and potentially
integration of these assets into the open space network.

Protection of infrastructure and economic assets, including Moorabbin Airport, landfills,
quarries and agriculture.
Greater Dandenong
Location:

Located in the middle and broadest section of the South East Green Wedge.

The area is influenced by proximity to the Dandenong South industrial area, the Eastern
Treatment Plant, drainage systems and infrastructure networks.

Some activities in and around the area have buffers that limit land use potential in parts of
the area.
Land:

The green wedge area in Greater Dandenong covers 3,741.3 hectares.

Sites are generally large, with the 40 hectare minimum lot size provision playing a role in
maintain this situation.

Some fragmentation of sites has occurred in the north and west of the area.

Over half (65%) of Greater Dandenong’s green wedge land is zoned Green Wedge.
Major Sites and Activities:

Eastern Treatment Plant (and its buffers, basins and wetlands).

Infrastructure networks (such as road, power, water and sewer systems).

Drainage contours and wetlands.

Agriculture (especially grazing).

Cemetery / memorial park.

Sports and recreation facilities, including national water sports centre and golf course.

Mixed businesses (including nurseries, kennels and equestrian facilities).
Environmental and Heritage Features:

Waterways, including Patterson River, Dandenong Creek, east-west drainage contours and
wetlands.

Aboriginal heritage site clusters in the northern and southern parts of Greater Dandenong’s
Green Wedge.

Frankston groundwater basin.

Relatively expansive flat landscapes.
106742724
10
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
Strategic Opportunities:

Maintenance and enhancement of the drainage function for the region. The area has
significant drainage contours and wetlands.

Development of an integrated open space network, potentially linking to the Kingston
‘chain of parks’ and local sites of environmental, cultural and historic significance.

Protection of infrastructure and economic assets and their buffers, within the area and
external to it, including Eastern Treatment Plant, Dandenong Industrial 2 Zone and other
easements and activities.

Protection and improvement of natural and cultural environment assets.

Promotion of agriculture and where possible mining / extractive industry.
Frankston
Location:

Located in the relatively narrow and segmented southern portion of the Green Wedge
between Frankston and Cranbourne growth area.

The area has a number of segments including the wetlands associated with the Eastern
Treatment Plant, the native vegetation clusters near The Pines Flora and Fauna Park and
surrounds and broadacre agricultural land along Dandenong-Frankston Road.
Land:

The green wedge area in Frankston covers 3,495.0 hectares.

Sites are generally large, with the 40 hectare minimum lot size provision playing a role in
maintain this situation in some areas, although some pockets have a finer grain of
subdivision.

Just over half (55.7%) of Frankston’s South East Green Wedge land is zoned Green Wedge
or Rural Conservation.
Major Sites and Activities:

Eastern Treatment Plant (and its buffers, basins and wetlands).

The Pines Flora and Fauna Reserve and DPI site.

Infrastructure networks (such as road, power, water and sewer systems).

Mining / extractive industry.

Agriculture (especially grazing).

Sports and recreation facilities, including golf and other sports.

Mixed businesses including canine centre.
Environmental and Heritage Features:

Internationally significant RAMSAR wetlands.

Vegetation habitats and reserves including The Pines Flora and Fauna Reserve, DPI site,
RAMSAR wetlands and other clusters in the south.

Aboriginal heritage site clusters are found in some areas, in particular near the Eastern
Treatment Plant.

Frankston groundwater basin.

Relatively expansive flat landscapes in some areas.
106742724
11
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
Strategic Opportunities:

Maintenance and enhancement of the wetlands and native vegetation clusters in the area.

Development of an integrated open space network, potentially linking to Greater
Dandenong, Casey and local sites of environmental, cultural and historic significance.

Protection of infrastructure and economic assets and their buffers, including Eastern
Treatment Plant and other easements and activities.

Protection and improvement of natural and cultural environment assets.

Promotion of mining / extractive industry and agricultural activity.
Casey
Location:

At the interface of the South East and Westernport Green Wedges and Casey growth area.

Influenced by major roads that divide the area.
Land:

The green wedge area in Casey (within the South East Green Wedge) covers 368.1
hectares.

Sites are fragmented (with low density residential) in the southern part of this area, but
minimum 40 hectare provisions apply in the north.

The portion of Casey that is within the South East Green Wedge is primarily zoned Green
Wedge (95.2%).
Major Sites and Activities:

Agriculture (especially grazing).

Low density residential.

Mining.

Flanked by major infrastructure networks to the west.
Environmental and Heritage Features:

Native vegetation (the Casey cluster of native vegetation is significant due to the extensive
clearing that has occurred in Casey). The area has threatened flora and fauna species.
Dwarf Galaxia fish is an example.

Aboriginal heritage sites.

Frankston groundwater basin.
Strategic Opportunities:

Protection and enhancement of the native vegetation network (flora and fauna habitats) in
the area, in particular the arc link between Cranbourne Botanic Gardens and Westernport
Bay.

Protection and enhancement of Aboriginal heritage sites.

Promotion of mining / extractive industry and agriculture.
106742724
12
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
3
Literature Review
3.1
Introduction
This section presents a review of literature that relates to the study area.
The first part of the review focuses on the strategic and statutory planning history and context
relevant to the study area, focusing on:

South East Non-Urban Study (1997);

South East Non-Urban Area: Memorandum of Understanding;

Melbourne 2030: The Green Wedge Policy Basis; and

Statutory planning framework.
The second part of the review focuses on a range of other topics that are more specifically relevant
to the four councils: Kingston, Greater Dandenong, Frankston and Casey. Other general topics are
also covered in this part of the review. Refer to that sub-section for the list of documents.
Disclaimer
Note that the information presented in this section of the report is not exhaustive. It presents
information that was able to be compiled within the scope of this project.
3.2
Strategic and Statutory Planning Context
South East Non-Urban Study (1997)
This Study was undertaken by the same municipalities that have commissioned this report,
together with the then State planning department (Department of Infrastructure) 1. The purpose of
the study was to gain an understanding of the role and function of the area, identify pressures on
the area and establish a policy and planning framework to manage the area. The study area
covered the current South East Green Wedge and Green Wedge land in the Westernport
Catchment.
The major attributes and values of the area were considered from a national to local perspective as
follows.
South East Non-Urban Study Final Report, February 1997, Spiller Gibbins Swan Pty Ltd and
TBA Planners Pty Ltd, for the Cities of Frankston, Greater Dandenong, Kingston and Case and
Department of Infrastructure
1
106742724
13
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
The capabilities and constraints of the study area include:
Environmental resources

wetlands, bays
Environmental constraints

drainage limitations
Economic resources:

value of agricultural and other production and its associated investment and infrastructure

extractive materials - value of resource and production
Urban infrastructure:

water and sewerage capacity in the north but none in the south

road transport - limited capacity generally

public transport - spare capacity is available on trunk rail lines

freight transport (rail) - spare capacity is available

energy and telecommunications - no limitations to further development

land waste disposal - capacity is being exhausted in the north and there is scope for future capacity in the
Langwarrin area
National / International:

Wetland areas and international migratory bird Westernport Bay and Carrum Downs

Agriculture/horticulture - export products

Gas and oil pipeline, Gippsland to Westernport — exports

Botanic Gardens — tourism potential

Golf courses — tourism and sports events

Water Sports Centre — sports events
State:

Moorabbin Airport - transport and recreation

Agriculture/horticulture - value of production, proximity to market

Extractive industry - value of production, proximity to market

Dandenong Offensive Industry Zone (DOIZ) — industrial capability

Oil and gas imported through Port of Hastings - energy infrastructure
Metropolitan:

Braeside Park - recreation, environmental protection

Eastern Treatment Plant - waste disposal infrastructure

Bunurong Memorial Park Cemetery - important urban related use

Scoresbv Freeway extension - transport infrastructure

‘The Green Wedge’ - environmental value

SEGA growth area
South East/Bayside Urban Areas:
106742724
14
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper

Urban related uses — broad area recreational, institutional and associated uses

Alternative living opportunities/coastal and rural villages -residential diversity

Landfill sites — waste disposal infrastructure

High voltage power lines - energy infrastructure

‘The Green Wedge’ - environmental value

SEGA/Langwarrin growth areas
Source: South East Non-Urban Study Final Report, February 1997
The major policy considerations were synthesised as follows.
Urban Development
Consideration of any major increase of urban development in the study area needs to be assessed in the light
of overall metropolitan growth needs …
Land Extensive Activities
The study area provides a valuable location for a range of urban-related activities that require large sites e.g.
schools, golf courses, playing fields, social clubs. With further rapid growth occurring in the south east there is
likely to be a growing need for these activities, preferably in locations that are close to large urban populations.
Institutional Activities
Some activities such as the Moorabbin Airport and Eastern Treatment Plant, freeway and pipeline reservations
or service easements, represent considerable community investment. Their long term future should he
protected to ensure that their capacity to operate and expand to serve a growing community are not
compromised.
Economic Resources
Increasing and major economic benefit is derived from investment in intensive agriculture, extractive industries
and a range of businesses throughout the study area including industrial activities within Dandenong Offensive
Industry Zone (DOIZ). Many of these areas are expanding and will continue to increase production.
Environmental Quality
Parts of the area are now recognised of major environmental significance. Some previously degraded creeks
and waterways are being redeveloped to assist water quality objectives. Much of the area is low lying and
could serve as additional wetlands to support fauna and flora. The head of Westernport Bay is recognised
internationally as a haven for migratory birds. The Edithvale / Carrum wetlands has been nominated for similar
international recognition.
Open Space Links
106742724
15
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
Wetlands, creeks and the generally undeveloped nature of the area provides the opportunity to develop a linked
system of open space. Private open space facilities such as golf courses and playing areas could he combined
with publicly owned land to form a series of open space spines. These could he used for recreation, the visual
enhancement of the area and improvement of natural systems. Such an approach would provide much needed
formal open space for the South East Growth Area and the existing urban corridors.
Source: South East Non-Urban Study Final Report, February 1997
The study affirmed the importance of the Non-Urban area in performing the above green wedge
roles. Within this context the study found that some areas have potential for urban conversion
although this is limited.
A physical framework plan was identified based on seven study area sectors or sub-areas. The
recommended future for these areas was identified as follows.
Heatherton
Allow urban conversion based around the ‘chain of parks’. Development areas are to be limited by the flight
paths from Moorabbin Airport, buffer areas from extractive industry, waste disposal sites and freeway
reservations. Existing quarries and land fill sites are to he developed as part of the chain of parks open space
system.
Dingley Village
Retain Dingley as a discreet urban village surrounded by open space. Land fill and quarry sites to be developed
as part of the open space system.
Wetlands / Keysborough
Develop as a high quality wetland environment within the flood prone and drainage impaired areas. Limited
environmental residential development is appropriate at the edges of the wetlands environment. Urban
conversion is appropriate in the northern part of the area. Parts of the area that are not able to be
appropriately developed for urban conversion, environmental residential or wetlands should be reserved for
broad area urban related uses.
Buffer Areas
Develop for broad area urban related uses and recreational development. No urban conversion, particularly
residential development. Parts of the area could be developed as part of the wetlands area.
Scoresby Corridor - Strategic Industrial
Develop for high quality, garden style industrial estates for strategic industry provided the Scoresbv Freeway is
extended through the area. Parts of the area could he developed as part of the wetlands area. If the Scoresby
Freeway is not extended to this area, the land should be developed for broad area, urban related uses where
flooding and drainage are not constraints. Where such constraints exist, development as a wetlands
environment should he pursued.
106742724
16
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
South Central
Allow limited development of low density residential associated with a regionally linked open space system.
Broad area urban related uses are acceptable. Agricultural and horticultural activities should also he maintained
in some parts of the area. Urban conversion of small areas around Langwarrin are appropriate for sites adjacent
to existing urban areas and which are not constrained by proximity to extractive industry and land fill sites.
Westernport Catchment
Maintain as a rural area to protect the wetlands and Bay. The existing and future potential for agriculture
(particularly intensive agriculture), extractive industry and land fill should also he protected. No further rural
residential development. Existing villages should only be allowed to grow to the extent of existing zoned land
provided full urban services are provided.
Source: South East Non-Urban Study Final Report, February 1997
South East Non-Urban Area: Memorandum of Understanding
The four South East Non-Urban Area councils executed a Memorandum of Understanding to give
effect to the above study2. The main policy and related objectives are stated below.
Policy Aim
The aim of this policy is to:
Encourage sustainable land use practices and provide optimal long term planning solutions for the
use and development of land within the south east non urban area.
The boundaries of metropolitan Melbourne now encompass the whole of the south-east non-urban area. The
proximity of the non-urban area to established urban areas, combined with the physical distance between
Melbourne’s centre and fringe further add pressure to take advantage of undeveloped land closer to Melbourne.
The above, combined with the expectation of development rights among land owners within the non-urban area
have created an environment where some activities in the non-urban area are no longer economically
sustainable. The introduction of transition uses may not provide the best long-term solution to this problem.
This policy requires that any land use proposal must take into consideration:

The need to define a ‘hard’ urban edge,

Land capability,

Regional and metropolitan land use objectives,

The need for comprehensively planned solutions,

The provision of physical and social services.

Environmental implications of development.

The ‘edge’ effects of urban development on surrounding non-urban land
South East Non-Urban: Memorandum of Understanding, Between Frankston City Council,
City of Kingston, Greater Dandenong City Council, City of Casey
2
106742724
17
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
Key Performance Objectives
The key performance objectives are:

To protect quality agricultural land, and encourage sustainable farm management practices.
Melbourne’s south-east non urban area is one of Victoria’s major locations for intensive agricultural activities. A
combination of quality soils and proximity to markets has ensured its economic prosperity. It is important that
the future of this industry be driven by agricultural opportunity not short-term economic expediency. The
importance of the need to support and protect intensive agricultural activities is acknowledged.

To protect the economic and operational viability of key industries and infrastructure in the area
including extractive industries, Moorabbin Airport, the Dandenong Offensive Industry Zone
(DOIZ), the Eastern Treatment Plant (ETP).
The need to protect these industries has been recognised since metropolitan growth policy objectives were first
developed. Current metropolitan policy, Living Suburbs, also re-affirms this need to protect these assets. In
particular the need for protection relates to the impact caused by the encroachment of incompatible activities.
Thus the maintenance of appropriate buffers (both in terms of land use and distance) is an important
component of this objective.

To protect and enhance environmental values including wetlands, flora and fauna habitats,
hydraulic functions.
The non urban area contains a diverse range of environmental values, many of which are of metropolitan
significance. These values, including wetland morphologies, remnant vegetation, flora and fauna habitats, and
flood plains must be protected and wherever possible enhanced. It is recognised that the achievement of this
objective is beyond the economic recourses of the public sector and the involvement of the private sector in the
implementation of this objective is directly acknowledged.

To ensure that use and development within the non urban area does not compromise
metropolitan urban growth strategies.
This could include efficient use of land and infrastructure, the encouragement of redevelopment and urban
consolidation opportunities, and the utilisation of designated growth areas for new urban development.

To manage the edge of urban areas in a manner which is ensures that the non -urban area is
both stable and enduring.
Land on the urban fringe often exists as a ‘zone of impermanence’ where the use of land is in a state of
transition from non-urban to urban uses. This pattern creates uncertainty and instability for land owners and
the community alike, and can frequently result in urban blight along the urban/non urban interface.
The creation of a ‘hard’ edge would be an important outcome. Such edges must be clear, stable and capable of
enduring development pressure. Logical edges might include natural features (such as streams and ridgelines),
major roads or public land (parkland, etc).
106742724
18
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper

To protect the Port Phillip and Western Port Catchments.
This policy statement directly supports the goals and objectives of the ‘Port Phillip and Western Port Regional
Catchment Strategy’ (August 1997) and requires all proposals to take it into consideration.
In particular the following goals are of relevance:

To protect and improve the quality of water in our rivers and streams

To protect the diversity and extent of natural ecosystems and streams

To achieve sustainable use of’ natural resources by primary industries

To provide a diverse and sustainable living environments, recreation and tourism

To coordinate and monitor catchment and land protection activities

To protect and further develop the scenic and landscape values of the non urban area
The largely rural landscape character of the non urban area is the dominant landscape. The enhancement and
re-creation of pre-settlement landscapes including wetlands and open woodlands is also a key component of
this objective.

To provide for open space links and opportunities for recreation
The non urban area provides opportunities for the creation of significant north-south and east-west open space
links for walking, cycling, horse riding etc. The non urban area also plays an important role in providing
recreational opportunities for the south east metropolitan area. In particular broad scale sporting and
recreational uses are found in the area. Opportunities to further develop these activities is encouraged.
Planning Outcomes
The physical vision for the non-urban area is as follows:

A high quality rural landscape.

Flora and fauna habitats and networks.

Public open spaces and open space linkages.

Defined urban boundaries.

Within any rural setting create an urban form which is of a high design standard and low visual impact.
Planning Opportunities
There are some activities which are recognised as positively contributing to the character and function of the
non urban area. The following uses are supported within the non urban area:

Agriculture, horticulture, extractive industries, land fill operations

Creation and enhancement of environmental features, including wetland systems

Public open space facilities including parks, sports fields, bicycle networks, etc

Public utilities and major infrastructure facilities such as retarding basins and effluent treatment works
106742724
19
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper

Low density institutional uses eg. schools, clubs, churches
There may be opportunities for other activities which might also be compatible with the key performance
objectives for the non urban area. These opportunities must be first identified through more detailed strategic
planning for individual precincts within the non urban area
Such opportunities must complement and enhance the quality, character and environment of the non urban
area, as well as demonstrate environmentally sustainable design and land use practices.
Source: South East Non-Urban: Memorandum of Understanding, Between Frankston City Council, City of
Kingston, Greater Dandenong City Council, City of Casey
Melbourne 2030: The Green Wedge Policy Basis
The main thrust of Melbourne 2030 is to establish a more compact city, which is defined by a series
of high density and multi-purpose activity centres (within Melbourne and regional Victoria) that are
‘tied together’ by an effective public transport network.
An important implementation element of Melbourne 2030 is the Urban Growth Boundary, which
clearly defines the urban area from non-urban areas, the latter called green wedges.
Green wedges have had a long history in the planning of metropolitan Melbourne. In the early
strategic planning of Melbourne, nine green wedges were established as non-urban zones for open
space or parkland between Melbourne’s main transport corridors. These areas were to provide for a
range of non-urban uses including recreation, landscape protection, resource utilisation, farming,
flora and fauna and conservation.3
Melbourne 2030 has reinforced the significance of green wedges with the conceptual framework
becoming more broadly defined as those areas “outside the urban growth boundary in a broad arc
around metropolitan Melbourne.”4 Within this context, green wedge policy now incorporates the
Western Plains, the Yarra Valley, Westernport, and the Mornington Peninsula as well as the areas
immediately adjacent to the metropolitan area. The green wedges as presented in Melbourne 2030
are shown in Figure 2.
Land use and development in green wedges is managed by a combination of tools with the
principal ones being:

Application of zoning provisions; and

Development of Green Wedge Management Plans.
3
Green Wedges Coalition, A Charter to Save the Green Wedges
4
Melbourne 2030, Department of Infrastructure (2002)
106742724
20
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
Figure 49: Melbourne 2030 Green Wedges
Refer to PDF of this document for this map.
The table below sets out preliminary features of the South East Green Wedge as stated in
Melbourne 2030.
Table 1: Features and Values of the South East Green Wedge
Feature
Value
Internationally recognised wetlands, such as Seaford-Edithvale
Environmental
Feature
Value
Eastern Treatment Plant and related odour buffers
Economic, environmental
Feature
Value
Areas with potential for waste-water recycling
Economic, environmental
Feature
Value
Sand resources and metropolitan landfills, such as Dingley /
Economic
Heatherton and Langwarrin
Feature
Value
Areas of landscape and environmental significance
Social, environmental
Feature
Value
Designated odour and safety buffers near Dandenong South
Economic, environmental, social
industrial area
Feature
Value
Moorabbin airport and related flight paths
Economic, social
Feature
Value
Locations with productive agricultural potential
Economic
Source: Melbourne 2030
Zoning Framework
Green wedge objectives were implemented via the introduction of the Urban Growth Boundary in
2002 and subsequently reinforced through the implementation of various planning provisions
through several State Government amendments.
The existing zoning framework in the South East Green Wedge is shown in the mapping section
above. The three primary green wedge zones are Green Wedge Zone, Green Wedge A Zone and
Rural Conservation Zone.
106742724
21
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
The evolution of zones was generally as follows (from 2003):

Rural Zone became the Green Wedge Zone;

Environmental Conservation Zone became the Rural Conservation Zone;

Rural Living Zone became the Green Wedge A Zone; and

Rural Zone continued in regional areas, but was later changed to Farming Zone after the
Rural Zones review.
The Victorian Planning Provisions describe the three main green wedge zones as follows.
Green Wedge Zone:

To recognise, protect and conserve green wedge land for its agricultural, environmental,
historic, landscape, recreational and tourism opportunities, and mineral and stone
resources.

To encourage use and development that is consistent with sustainable land management
practices.

To encourage sustainable farming activities and provide opportunity for a variety of
productive agricultural uses.

To protect, conserve and enhance the cultural heritage significance and the character of
open rural and scenic non-urban landscapes.

To protect and enhance the biodiversity of the area.
Green Wedge A Zone:

To protect, conserve and enhance the biodiversity, natural resources, scenic landscapes
and heritage values of the area.

To ensure that use and development promotes sustainable land management practices and
infrastructure provision.

To protect, conserve and enhance the cultural heritage significance and the character of
rural and scenic non-urban landscapes.

To recognise and protect the amenity of existing rural living areas.
Rural Conservation Zone:

To protect and enhance the natural environment and natural processes for their historic,
archaeological and scientific interest, landscape, faunal habitat and cultural values.

To protect and enhance natural resources and the biodiversity of the area.

To encourage development and use of land which is consistent with sustainable land
management and land capability practices, and which takes into account the conservation
values and environmental sensitivity of the locality.

To provide for agricultural use consistent with the conservation of environmental and
landscape values of the area.

To conserve and enhance the cultural significance and character of open rural and scenic
non urban landscapes.
Green wedge provisions focus on enabling agriculture, rural industries, recreation and
environmental activities in green wedge areas. Various accommodation, commercial, industrial and
institutional uses are prohibited as stand-alone uses or enabled to a limited or capped extent if
ancillary to a core green wedge activity.
106742724
22
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
To protect the integrity of the green wedges, additional subdivision requirements were
implemented in green wedges including a minimum lot size of 40 hectares unless an alternative is
specified in a schedule to a zone.
Green wedge policy is also implemented through the development of Green Wedge Management
Plans. These plans provide area specific guidance on the management of green wedges at the
local area level, within the overarching Melbourne 2030 policy and relevant zoning framework.
106742724
23
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
3.3
Municipal Specific and General Topics
This section presents a review of literature that relates to the study area municipalities specifically
and other more general topics.
The following documents are reviewed for the purpose of this report.

City of Kingston’s Northern Non Urban Area Framework Plan (2007 Draft), City of Kingston

City of Kingston – Heatherton/ Clayton South/ Dingley Non Urban Area Strategic Review
(2002), City of Kingston (prepared by GHD et al)

Kingston Planning Scheme Three Year Review (October 2007), City of Kingston

Kingston Stormwater Quality Management Plan (October 2000), City of Kingston,
Environmental Protection Authority and Melbourne Water

Economic Development Strategy (2005), City of Greater Dandenong

Environmental Strategy (2005) , City of Greater Dandenong

Municipal Drainage Strategy (2003), City of Greater Dandenong

State of the Environment Report (2004), City of Greater Dandenong

Heritage Study 2002-2007 for the City of Greater Dandenong, City of Greater Dandenong

Melbourne 2030 Submission (2003), City of Greater Dandenong

Greater Dandenong Planning Scheme Amendment C87 Explanatory Report, City of Greater
Dandenong

Stage 2 - Frankston City (East) Heritage Study (1997), City of Frankston (Prepared by
Graeme Butler & Associates, 1997)

Environmental Strategy (1998) , City of Frankston

Issues Report Frankston Planning Scheme Review. February (2008), City of Frankston
(Prepared by Planisphere)

Frankston Vegetation Study (2006), City of Frankston (prepared by Ecology Australia)

Langwarrin and Skye Strategic Review and Framework Plan (1999), City of Frankston
(prepared by GHD)

Frankston Planning Scheme Amendment C3. Report of the Panel (2001), City of Frankston.
Panel comprised of Margaret Pitt and Lester Townsend

Casey and Cardinia Regional Agricultural Audit and Action Framework. Final Report –
(February 2004), City of Casey and Shire of Cardinia

City of Casey Conservation Strategy (2002), City of Casey Environmental Services

City Of Casey Greenhouse Strategy Local Action Plan (2002), City of Casey (prepared by
Engineering & Environmental Services Department)

City of Casey Biodiversity Enhancement Strategy (2003), City of Casey (prepared by
Ecology Australia)

Casey C21A vision for our future, City of Casey

Documentation relating to the location of Dwarf Galaxia in the South East Green Wedge,
City of Casey

Maintaining Melbourne’s Green Wedges: Planning policy and the future of Melbourne’s
green belt (December 2002), Michael Buxton and Robin Goodman

Green Wedge Research Report (November 2006), Municipal Association of Victoria,
106742724
24
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper

Melbourne’s Rivers and Creeks (2004), Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment
Management Authority, Melbourne Water and State Government of Victoria

Melbourne 2030 – Implementation Plan 5: Green Wedges (October 2002), Department of
Infrastructure,

Port Phillip and Western Port Regional Catchment Strategy 2004 – 2009: Summary
(December 2004), Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority

Summary of Characteristics, Features and Green Wedge Issues for South East Green
Wedge and Associated Municipalities of Kingston, Greater Dandenong, Casey, Frankston.
Unknown author

Sustainable and Secure Food Systems for Victoria (April 2008), Victorian Eco-Innovation
Lab, University of Melbourne
Note that the information presented in this section of the report is not exhaustive. It presents
information that was able to be compiled within the scope of this project.
106742724
25
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
KINGSTON:
Title
Author
Purpose
Findings
Recommendations
Implications for the SEGW
City of Kingston’s
City of Kingston
The purpose is to



Some areas have
Kingston's Northern Non
The Kingston Northern Non
Northern Non
provide a physical
recently undergone rapid
Urban Area Framework
Urban Area Framework Plan
Urban Area
framework outlining
change to become valued
Plan (now adopted by
contains proposals which
Framework Plan
Council’s land use
recreational resources.
Council) contains proposals
are not consistent with
(2008)
direction for non-urban
Areas with remaining life
to move the UGB in some
State Government policy on
areas. It includes a

expectancy as current
places to
the Urban Growth Boundary
long term vision to
uses have the potential
Kingston/Heatherton Road,
manage remaining
to become valued
which would remove 3 of
extractive activities
recreational resources
the precincts (4, 5, 6)
to move the UGB in some
and provide a
once current land uses
identified in the plan from
places to accommodate
have been completed.
the South East Green
urban development in parts
Wholesale plant and
Wedge.
of the South East Green
sequential approach to
remaining land filling,


nursery and garden
objectives for land
supply activities in the
‘branding’ of selected
following
study area are suitably
precincts as designated
increases in parkland,
rehabilitation.
located away from
recreational and open
recreational facilities and
space areas is promoted.
open space following
This includes
rehabilitation of long term
Wedge.

The Plan promotes
The area covers 615
and therefore are in
hectares of primarily
areas well suited for
implementation of the
existing uses such as waste
private owned, non
commercial nursery
Sandbelt Chain of Parks
management and extractive
Project.
industry land once their
Development of previously
lifespan has been
urban land north of
Kingston/Heatherton

Linkages between and
The Kingston Plan proposes
as well as providing
residential interfaces,
related activities.

Some areas that

Road in the suburbs of
continue to be used for
extractive industrial and
Heatherton, Clarinda
landfill operations remain
waste management land
and Clayton South.
well buffered from
uses as parkland following
recreational uses are
Current uses are
sensitive uses.
suitable rehabilitation.
encouraged on non urban
The creation of a nursery
land in this area.
predominantly waste
106742724
and Green Wedge.

26

Recreational spaces,

completed.

Parkland, open space and
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
management, with
including golf courses,
precinct to assist in
other uses including
are valuable in providing
protecting substantial plant
recreational, nurseries,
buffers between
and equipment investment
land filling, extractive
residential areas and
by nursery operators in the
industry and a golf
waste industries, as well
study area. Water
course. There are few
as acting as vegetation
availability for traders will
residential dwellings
corridors.
need to be addressed to
within the study area,
ensure continued viability
however established
of businesses.
areas are located

Well buffered areas within
immediately adjacent
the study area may
to the area. The report
continue to be used for
is divided into seven
waste management
precincts within the
purposes through the
three suburbs.
creation of a resource
recovery precinct.

Some areas currently
providing valuable
recreational areas do not
require significant land use
change.
Title
Author
Purpose
Findings
Recommendations
Implications for the SEGW
City of Kingston –
City of Kingston
The purpose of this



Heatherton/
(prepared by
report is to form the
area include metropolitan
the future of the study
and promotes protection of
Clayton South/
GHD et al)
first stage of a Local
growth, Moorabbin
area were developed.
feasible existing uses in the
Dingley Non Urban
Structure Planning
Airport, extractive
Central principles included
green wedge study area.
Area Strategic
process for the study
industry and the desire
creating a place of
This includes limits on
Review (2002)
area. It includes an
to maintain agriculture in
distinction, implementing
residential development.
106742724
27
Influences on the study

A set of principles to guide
This document supports
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
overview of relevant
close proximity to local
sustainability, creating a
policies, an evaluation
markets. Influences also
new landscape and
the study area were used to
of current land use and
include required buffers
building a chain of parks.
formulate a Local Structure
built form, the role and
for existing land uses.
Supporting principles were
Plan for the non-urban area
function of the area,



The principles developed for
State Government policy
to protect the airport,
by which the area is
assumptions about the
favours protection of
support agriculture,
regulated.
area based on key
agriculture and proximity
safeguard extractive
findings and
to markets of stone
industry and landfill,
resources.
secure transport options,
Key non-urban activities
limit residential
face uncertain futures,
development and provide
eg. the depletion of
policy guidance.
recommendations for
planning principles in

the area.
resources, completion of

Management principles
landfills and declining
include proactive place
productivity/competitiven
management and
ess of agricultural
consideration of
industries.
development proposal
impacts.
Title
Author
Purpose
Findings
Recommendations
Implications for the SEGW
Kingston Planning
City of Kingston
The report aims to



Melbourne 2030 is
Kingston’s Planning
Any reference and policy
Scheme Three Year
inform changes to the
considered the most
Scheme should be
related to green wedges in
Review (October
Kingston Planning
significant policy
reviewed in light of
Melbourne 2030 is likely to
2007)
Scheme based on a
requiring consideration in
Melbourne 2030 and its
be influential given
review of the planning
Kingston’s Planning
significance.
Kingston’s weighting of
scheme in accordance
with the requirements
106742724
Scheme.

Out-of-centre development
the strategy.
A need exists to
should be discouraged
of the Planning and
undertake structure
through preference to in-
land in the green wedge is
Environment Act 1987
plans for key activity
centre and edge-of-centre
to support its use for
and relevant Practice
centres in Kingston.
locations for new
recreational and open
28


Kingston’s policy towards
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
and Advisory Notes.

Findings and

development.
space purposes rather
The Sandbelt Open Space
than development ones.
Components reviewed
recommendations were
include State policy
also made for the
Policy and South East Non
impacts,
Kingston Planning
Urban Area Policy should
implementation,
Scheme under the
be reviewed in light of
application of zones,
headings of residential
investigations in the non
consistency and
land use, retail and
urban area through a
formatting.
commercial land use,
separate amendment.
industrial land use,
foreshore, environment,
wetlands and waterways,
non urban areas, open
space and transport,
movement and access.
Title
Author
Purpose
Findings
Recommendations
Implications for the SEGW
Kingston
City of
The report indicates



Stormwater Quality
Kingston,
the development and
waters are most at risk
balance of prevention and
assist Kingston’s objectives
Management Plan
Environmental
directions required to
from litter, nutrients,
control in its strategy, with
for parklands by improving
(October 2000)
Protection
improve the quality of
toxicants and sediments
prevention measures
the water quality in its
Authority and
Kingston’s stormwater.
from sewer overflows
including education,
waterways.
Melbourne
This is in light of
and leaks, industrial
planning controls, adoption
Water
reducing
areas, shopping centres,
of water sensitive urban
promote cleaner activities
environmental damage
service stations, major
design and changes to
and practices in the green
and improving the
roads, building and
work practices that
wedge in order to improve
quality of Kingston’s
construction and urban
contribute to stormwater
water quality.
receiving waters.
traffic.
pollution. Control
Many of these risks
measures include gross
require State
pollutant traps, wetland
Government leadership
construction and structural

106742724
29
Kingston’s receiving
Council should seek a

These measures would
These measures may
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
and involvement to
controls for floatables and
support local government
oil separation.
responses due to their


Council should set an
broader, metropolitan
example of good
scope.
stormwater practices when
Council needs to have a
undertaking activities that
better understanding of
may adversely impact
threats from industrial
stormwater quality.
areas and service

stations.
Council needs to work with
the Environmental
Protection Authority (EPA)
and South East Water to
reduce pollution risks from
sewer overflows and pipe
leaks.

Council needs to improve
its understanding of
stormwater quality issues
and improve community
awareness, understanding
and support.
106742724
30
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
GREATER DANDENONG:
Title
Author
Purpose
Findings
Recommendations
Implications for the SEGW
Economic
City of Greater
This strategy
The growth and prosperity
Sustainable economic
There is pressure within the
Development
Dandenong
addresses Council’s
of Greater Dandenong and
prosperity in the City of
City of Greater Dandenong to
vision for economic
the surrounding MSE region
Greater Dandenong will be
attract new businesses and to
prosperity within
will ultimately be
achieved through the
assist in the growth of existing
Greater Dandenong for
constrained by the
following goals:
businesses which puts
the first quartile of the
availability of land for future

Actively seek to have
pressure on land supply and
21st century, with
development. A further
business invest and
release programs within the
reference to the
1040 Ha has been ear-
locate in Greater
SEGW.
objectives and actions
marked for release, however
Dandenong
that specifically need
a good portion of this is
to occur over the next
considered unusable due to
10 years to make the
natural drainage
vision become a
requirements, resulting in a
reality.
net 600 Ha of usable land
to help grow exports and
for development purposes.
replace imports
Strategy (2005)



Assist with the retention
Natural drainage requirements
and growth of existing
limit the amount of usable land
businesses
to be released. Thus placing
Work with local industry
additional pressure on SEGW.
Advocate with
Government to ensure
that necessary
infrastructure is in place
to support the
development of business

Use available resources
as a means of attracting
the most appropriate
businesses into Greater
Dandenong
106742724
31
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper

Promote Greater
Dandenong to become
the preferred investment
choice for business
location and employment
Title
Author
Purpose
Recommendations
Implications for the SEGW
Environmental
City of Greater
This Environmental
Four key strategic directions
Council has committed to
Strategy (2005)
Dandenong
Strategy puts forward
form the basis of the
incorporating more
Council’s long term
Environmental Strategy
environmental principles in
Vision for the
through which priorities are to
town planning e.g. tree
environment with
be achieved:
preservation and energy
detail on the future

efficiency.
Increase awareness of
direction of
environmental issues and
environmental activity
promote opportunities for
Council’s roles, responsibility
improvement
and liability for environmental
Council’s workplans and
issues in new developments
programs reflect well
will be identified. Following
considered positive
training town planning staff
environmental outcomes
will be more aware of
wherever possible
environmental issues in new
Lead change amongst the
developments that are
community and
proposed for in and around the
colleagues
SEGW.
in the City of Greater
Dandenong until 2014.



Evaluate, monitor and
review environmental
The feasibility of local
conditions and impacts of
environmental laws are going
environmental initiatives
to be investigated.
to create effective
programs
106742724
32
Wetlands within the SEGW are
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
to be developed in accordance
with the Storm Water and
Open Space Strategies.
Indigenous reserves in the
SEGW are to be maintained.
Indigenous trees will be
planted in reserves and streets
and significant trees protected.
A Green Wedge Environmental
Plan is to be prepared in 2008.
Locally extinct flora is to be reintroduced.
Title
Author
Purpose
Findings
Recommendations
Implications for the SEGW
Municipal Drainage
City of Greater
The Strategy
The process of urbanisation
Council adopt “Best Practice”
Development within the
Strategy (2003)
Dandenong
addresses issues
replaces the absorbent soil
storm water quality
Keysborough South and
relating to storm water
surfaces with impervious
management techniques and
Dandenong South areas will
the management of
roofs and pavements which
criteria.
place pressure on the drainage
stormwater assets and
lead to an increase in the
includes a number of
volume of storm water
Funding be provided in the
City of Greater Dandenong and
recommendations to
runoff.
City Improvement Program to
hence will require increased
carry out the backlog of
funding and maintenance.
enable Council to put
106742724
network within the SEGW and
in place policies and
Many of the open drains are
actions to ensure that
ill defined and can no longer
the management of
cater for the development
For the undeveloped
mitigation measures will need
storm water within the
which is occurring in the
catchments - master plans,
to be implemented to reduce
33
repairs and cleaning.
Due to urbanisation flood
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
municipality is
rural area of the
identifying possible sites for
effectively and
municipality. Indiscriminate
overland flow paths and
efficiently carried out.
filling of the land in this area
detention systems, be
has also severely reduced
prepared and incorporated
the capacity of some drains.
into future subdivision
development.
Over 40% of the drainage
lines inspected were in some
Council should encourage the
way affected by partial
use of water sensitive design
blockages due to tree root
techniques to integrate water
penetration, siltation,
features into the urban design
obstruction or physical
and to enhance the social and
damage due to incorrect
environmental amenity of the
connections or pipe
urban landscape.
deterioration.
Overlays be prepared for
Extensive future
inclusion into the Greater
development in
Dandenong Planning Scheme.
Keysborough South and
Dandenong South will
require further increases in
funding levels for operation
and maintenance of the
drainage network.
High and minimum flood
risk areas have been
identified mainly in
Dandenong North
106742724
34
overflow of drains
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
Council requires
subdivisional layouts to
provide overland flow paths
and flood mitigation
measures.
Title
Author
Purpose
Findings
Recommendations
Implications for the SEGW
State of the
City of Greater
This report is based
Eumemmerring Creek is a
Environmental and Town
Due to pollution from industrial
Environment
Dandenong
upon information
rural-urban catchment.
Planning teams working
and urban activities the water
collected by the council
Water quality is moderate
together to improve flora and
quality of Eumemmerring and
and State Government
and major wetlands have
faunal communities within the
Dandenong Creeks is poor.
authorities and
been built.
Greater Dandenong Green
These waterways require tailor
Wedge.
made programs to protect
Report (2004)
indicates the condition
of the environment and
Dandenong Creek is the
water quality and threatened
the pressures upon it
major catchment for the
Open Space Strategy
within Greater
area. Water quality is very
reviewed in consideration of
Dandenong.
poor due to urbanisation. A
linkages of areas of open
Wetland habitats need to be
key issue is protecting
space (linking corridors of
protected to conserve
threatened flora and fauna.
significant flora and fauna
endangered bird species in the
communities through
SEGW.
Melbourne Water Retarding
extensive networks of street
Basin in Dandenong South.
trees).
The Dwarf Galaxia
Road, footpath and bicycle
(Galaxiella pusilla) fish is a
path infrastructure to support
threatened species within
business, community and
the Dandenong Creek.
tourism to be managed,
maintained and expanded
Endangered birds are
106742724
35
every year.
species within them.
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
predominantly associated
with wetland habitats.
Commercial buildings also
account for 80% of
Dandenong’s
greenhouse emissions
(heating, ventilation, air
conditioning and
lighting account for 84% of
this (AGO, 1999).
Title
Author
Purpose
Findings
Recommendations
Implications for the SEGW
Heritage Study
City of Greater
The Heritage Study
Heritage buildings and trees
Manage all Council-owned
Historic indigenous settlements
2002-2007 for the
Dandenong
provides heritage
lined streets in suburbs
heritage places to protect
and heritage assets need to be
City of Greater
goals, objectives and
flanking the SEGW.
their cultural heritage values
protected within the SEGW.
Dandenong
prioritises actions
for the future.
between 2002 and
Indigenous settlements and
2007.
use of Dandenong Creek
Manage the quality of future
Future development within the
City and the SEGW will need to
and the former Carrum
development.
be respectful of heritage issues
Swamp.
and buildings.
Integrate heritage into a
municipal tourism strategy.
Title
Author
Purpose
Findings
Recommendations
Implications for the SEGW
Melbourne 2030
City of Greater
This Submission
The SEGW has significantly
The Implementation Plan
The proposed Implementation
Submission (2003)
Dandenong
discusses the impacts
different characteristics to
must take a strategic (rather
Plan is not in accordance with
of Melbourne 2030’s
all the other proposed green
than statutory) approach to
the attributes and issues of the
implementation plans
wedges, which in turn differ
orderly planning.
SEGW.
and policies for activity
between themselves.
centres, urban growth
The SEGW largely comprises
The proposed zones are
There are some limited
106742724
36
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
boundary and green
degraded farmland that is
inappropriate to achieve the
development opportunities in
wedges.
not sustainable in its
objectives of both Melbourne
the SEGW which provide
present condition over a 30
2030 and the Planning
environmental enhancement.
year timeframe.
Scheme and therefore should
Alternative mechanisms for
not be applied in Greater
There is key infrastructure
Dandenong.
such as highways and roads
the purpose of protecting
within the SEGW that may be
sensitive land uses could be
Existing and committed
better utilised under a different
considered. In the case of
infrastructure within the
plan.
the City of Greater
SEGW should be recognised
Dandenong, a recent
and should not be
The LPPF is proposed as the
Planning Scheme
underutilised by overly
best means of achieving the
Amendment (C5) is such an
restrictive statutory controls.
objectives of Green Wedge
alternative.
policy.
Failing to recognise the
In determining Action Plans
benefit of limited development
for the SEGW, it is
opportunities which provide
important to
environmental enhancement
acknowledgment the
is a fundamental flaw of the
infrastructure that already
Implementation Plan that
exists and the economic and
needs to be addressed if the
development implications of
Plan is to be sustainable.
underutilising this
infrastructure.
The implementation plan
ignores the long history of
The Green Wedge
planning in the SEGW.
Implementation Plan is
106742724
37
statutory in its nature and
The existing LPPF is the best
thereby fails to plan
tool to implement the
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
strategically for the areas.
objectives of the Green
The proposed legislation will
Wedge within Greater
not remedy the situation in
Dandenong and should be
the SEGW and will rather
recognised as such and as a
have the opposite and
model for other parts of the
debilitating effect on the
SEGW.
ability of the wedge to
perform the function to
which Melbourne 2030
aspires.
The proposed zones (Green
Wedge Zone and Rural
Conservation Zone) are
considered too restrictive
and inappropriate to the
strategic future of the area
described in Greater
Dandenong’s Green Wedge
Local Planning Policy.
Title
Author
Purpose
Findings
Recommendations
Implications for the SEGW
Greater Dandenong
City of Greater
The amendment
The amendment rezones
To rezone non-urban land for
Expansion of the industrial
Planning Scheme
Dandenong
affects three areas
land within the Keysborough
industrial purposes along with
area relieves short term
Amendment C87
referred to as: the
and Lyndhurst sites from
supporting flood management
industrial demand pressures
Explanatory Report
‘Keysborough site’, the
Farming Zone to Industrial 1
purposes.
but may generate longer term
‘Lyndhurst site’ and
Zone and to Urban Floodway
the ‘Thompsons Road
Zone
retarding basin’. The
Keysborough and
106742724
38
expansion pressures.
The amendment addresses
Applies a Public Acquisition
environmental effects through
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
Lyndhurst sites are
Overlay (PAO6) in favour of
the including the NVPP and
within the UGB and the
Melbourne Water for
managing overland water
Farming Zone whilst
drainage purposes on the
flows. Both these matters have
the Thompsons site is
Taylors Road and
significant flow on effect for
within the SEGW
Thompsons Road retarding
biodiversity and land quality
basins.
within and outside the site.
The proposed structure plan
The application of the Public
also incorporates existing
Acquisition Overlays to land
native vegetation into open
required for retarding basins
space areas. It is likely that
will facilitate the cost
the overall change of land use
effective and timely
from rural to industry will
provision of drainage
result in some negative effect
infrastructure and works to
on some environmental assets.
service the development.
106742724
39
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
FRANKSTON:
Title
Author
Purpose
Findings
Recommendations
Implications for the SEGW
Stage 2 -
City of
The purpose of this
The National Trust of
Encourage the retention of
Protect the Langwarrin Flora
Frankston City
Frankston
study is:
Australia (Vic) keeps a
existing mature rural
and Flora Reserve.
(East) Heritage
(Prepared by
register of significant trees
vegetation, trees and
Study (1997)
Graeme Butler
To identify,
which have been identified
windbreaks in new growth
Contain new development
& Associates,
evaluate and
as of botanical or historical
areas.
within rural buffers.
1997)
document post-
interest to the State.
contact places of

Ballam Park: English
Protect the character of rural
Consult the Heritage Council of
cultural
oak, Carob and olive
roadsides by implementation
Victoria over any proposed
significance in the
trees
of the Regional Roadside
development of sites of
29 Bright Crescent, Mt.
Management Plan.
Regional or State importance

study area.

Eliza: rough-bark

To make
recommendations

for the
in the interim.
manna gum
Contain new development
Cruden Farm: Macedon
within rural buffers
oak
Continue to identify, list and
conservation and
document areas, gardens,
management of
The National Trust of
trees and buildings of
identified places of
Australia (Vic) keeps a
historical or other special
cultural
register of Significant
significance, reviewing
significance.
Regional Landscapes which
heritage assets on a nominally
have been identified as
five year basis.
either natural or cultural
significance:

106742724
40
Protect places identified in this
Langwarrin Flora and
study as of Regional, State or
Fauna Reserve
National significance in the

Frankston Reservoir
Frankston Planning Scheme.

Mulberry Hill, Baxter
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
Consult the Heritage Council
of Victoria over any proposed
development of sites of
Regional or State importance
in the interim
Develop tree pruning policy
and liaise with service
providers to ensure against
tree damage in service
reticulation (i.e. effects of
overhead lines).
Title
Author
Purpose
Findings
Recommendations
Implications for the SEGW
Environmental
City of
This Strategy is
Refer to recommendations.
The following objectives were
A number of targets are
Strategy (1998)
Frankston
Frankston City
made in the Strategy:
applicable to the SEGW:
Council’s key strategic

Apply integrated
document to guide
catchment management
planning decisions and
solutions to sustain our
operational processes
land and water resources.
towards environmental

sustainability.
All regionally significant
covenanted.
Promote sustainable land
programs.
Develop an accurate and
detailed database of
41
species.

conservation sites to be
through educational
106742724
Increase number of
Adopt sustainable land
management practices

cover.

and animals.
use planning.

Increase environmentally
significant vegetation
Halt and reverse the
invasion of pest plants



Prohibit/limit feral animals
in sensitive areas.
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
Frankston’s biological
resources.

Maximise the
retention/rehabilitation of
indigenous vegetation
remnants throughout the
city.

Integrate the protection
of Frankston’s Flora and
Fauna into planning and
works processes.

Promote Frankston’s
biological diversity
through community
support and education
programs.
Title
Author
Purpose
Findings
Recommendations
Implications for the SEGW
Issues Report
City of
The Frankston Planning
Key Issues raised were:
The Planning Scheme should
The SEGW will benefit from the
Frankston Planning
Frankston
Scheme Review

Dealing with climate
set goals to improve natural
setting of goals for improving
Scheme Review.
(Prepared by
addresses the following
change.
ecosystems, sustainable
natural ecosystems within the
February (2008)
Planisphere)
questions:
Setting goals to
housing, a jobs/housing
Planning Scheme.
promote environmental
balance and public transport.

• What is working well?
• What could work
better?
Development pressure on the
The location and
Clarify Frankston’s housing
SEGW may be reduced or
• What future threats
character of new
needs, and introduce policies
increased following the
and opportunities does
housing.
on what forms of residential
clarification of new housing
The balance between
development should be
demand and location.
performance based and
encouraged and where this
prescriptive controls.
should be located.
Frankston face?
All aspects of Council’s
106742724
sustainability.

42

South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
town planning function
are reviewed as part of

Retention of heritage
buildings and sites.
the Project.
The Scheme should include
heritage sites and buildings.
Title
Author
Purpose
Findings
Recommendations
Implications for the SEGW
Frankston
City of
The main objectives of
22 rare or threatened plant
Update Cl.21.11 Natural
Seaford Wetlands has been
Vegetation Study
Frankston
this study are:
species (DSE 2005) have
environment and cultural
identified as a nationally
(2006)
(prepared by
significant site
been recorded for the
heritage in the Municipal
Ecology
To develop a current
Frankston municipality in
Strategic Statement to refer
Australia)
vegetation inventory
the Data Review Area.
to this study and its findings.
that will provide
The following sites within the
SEGW have been classified as
detailed information
Take steps to overcome
of very high ecological
about ecological
potential confusion between
significance and therefore
communities found in
differing maps of sites of
should not be cleared unless
the municipality,
botanical and zoological
exceptional circumstances
including their relative
significance in the MSS (Cl.
apply:
condition and
21.11) and Schedule 1 to the

Oliphant Wetland
significance.
Environmental Significance

Belvedere Bushland
Overlay.
To review and
incorporate the current
Identify opportunities and
legislation that pertains
suitable precincts in which to
to the management of
initiate and/or sponsor the
native vegetation in
preparation of native
Frankston City, to be
vegetation precinct plans.

DPI Frankston North

The Pines Flora and Flora
Reserve

Peninsula Country Golf
Club

Boggy Creek Langwarrin
used in assessing and

Little Boggy Creek Reserve
managing public and

Burdetts Langwarrin
private land,
particularly in regard
to improving relevant
106742724
Reserve
43
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
provisions in the
Frankston Planning
Scheme.
Title
Author
Purpose
Findings
Recommendations
Implications for the SEGW
Langwarrin and
City of
This report broadly
Refer to recommendations.
Key objectives and principles
The study area (known as the
Skye Strategic
Frankston
establishes the overall
were developed for the
non-urban area) can be
Review and
(prepared by
land use framework for
Framework Plan:
developed for low density
Framework Plan
GHD)
the non-urban sector
 To provide for the land
residential development and
(1999)
bounded to the north
uses that are compatible
mineral exploration along with
by Thompson Road, to
with the intent of green
rehabilitation of sites for
space.
community recreation.
the east by Dandenong
Hastings Road, south
 Allow for new low density
by Langwarrin and to
residential development up
the west by McLelland
to the western side of
Valley Road. The
purpose of the review
existing ridge line.
 Promote agricultural,
is to provide a sound
horticultural and rural
background for the
activities that are
preparation of a
compatible with local
detailed local structure
natural resources.
plan.
 Capitalise on existing
service infrastructure.
 Sites of ecological
significance be recognised,
protected and enhanced.
 To promote the ongoing
operation of extractive
industry areas in a
sensitive manner.
106742724
44
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
Title
Author
Purpose
There were a number of
Recommendations
Implications for the SEGW
Frankston Planning
City of
This Panel Report
practical issues with the
Based on the specific concerns
Future development of the
Scheme
Frankston.
outlines the decision
form and structure of
set out in the report, the
SEGW needs to be:
Amendment C3.
Panel
made by the Panel with
Amendment C3:
Panel reached the conclusion

Aligned to Melbourne 2030
Report of the Panel
comprised of
regards to the
Encouragement of
that Amendment C3 not be

Based on strategic
(2001)
Margaret Pitt
Langwarrin and Skye
development in green
supported.
and Lester
Strategic Review and
Townsend.
Framework Plan.

wedge.


Lack of understanding

extractive industry and
resources.
Lack of support for
Blanket control raises
expectations.
The amendment is
premature.
45
Protects the area’s
assets.
unrealistic

pressure.

of stone and landfill
agriculture.
106742724
objectives and not owner

Consistent with State and
Local planning policies.
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
CASEY:
Title
Author
Purpose
Findings
Recommendations
Implications for the SEGW
Casey and Cardinia
City of Casey
Provide information
69% of the regions farmers
Communicate with the
Vegetable farming is
Regional
and Shire of
pertaining to the
estimate that all or most of
farming community to ensure
increasingly becoming
Agricultural
Cardinia
regional agricultural
their farm inputs are
that they understand the full
restricted within the SEGW due
production capabilities.
to land use restrictions.
Audit and Action
sourced from within the
implications of the State
Framework.
region indicating that there
Governments Urban Growth
Final Report –
is a significant economic
Boundary (UGB).
(February 2004)
flow on effect from the farm
sector.
The eight major challenges for
primary producers in the
Liaise with Frankston and
region were identified
Mornington Peninsula Councils
throughout the audit process
Green Wedges and the
to ensure a ‘Regional’
as the price of land, the ‘right
Urban Growth Boundary do
approach to farm water
to farm’, availability of water,
not help vegetable farmers
issues.
sustainability and land
to be competitive. Councils
management, roads and
need to be able to make
transport, costs versus returns
provision for the land to be
price squeeze, the
for something other than for
profile/perception of farming
vegetable growing.
and business administration
and legislative issues.
Growers in Keysborough are
restricted onto inadequate
parcels of land and have
nowhere to expand. They
are unable to increase the
size of their businesses and
are therefore becoming
unviable. The UGB and
106742724
46
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
SEGW restricts the
development opportunities
of farmers land and
therefore restricts the ability
of farmers to sell their land
and set up new farms
Title
Author
Purpose
Findings
Recommendations
Implications for the SEGW
City of Casey
City of Casey
The Conservation
Main regional open space
The Strategy sets out a
The management of green
Conservation
Environmental
Strategy focuses on
areas within Casey are:
number of objectives that are
wedge land will have to be
Strategy (2002)
Services
reviewing the existing

Lysterfield Park
applicable to the management
consistent with the objectives
strategy, incorporating

Cardinia Creek Parklands
of the SEGW:
of the Conservation Strategy.
an effective action plan

Former Narre Warren
 To identify, protect and
for the delivery of
Landfill / Kurll Park (yet
preserve sites of significant
Significant flora and fauna
projects and initiatives
to be developed)
vegetation and habitats for
habitats within the regional
native flora and fauna.
open spaces will have to be
in line with the

Corporate Plan and
Royal Botanic Gardens,
Cranbourne
protected.
Casey C21, ‘A vision

Wilson Botanic Park
the municipality with
for the future’.

Police Paddocks /
indigenous plants for the
Water pollution needs to be
Churchill National Park
creation of vegetation
managed within the waterways
Western Port Bay –
corridors and to overcome
and drainage reserves to
Foreshore (highly
expected environmental
protect diverse ecological
sensitive and access
problems.
values.

currently limited)


47
 To plan and develop an
Potentially the CSR site
urban area that is sensitive
Environmentally sensitive
in Hampton Park
to the natural environment
practices need to be
The major drainage
and cultural heritage.
introduced for extractive
reserves (include Hallam
106742724
 To revegetate and enhance
 To maintain a healthy
Valley and Hampton Park
system of waterways that
East)
protects the diverse
industries.
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper

Proposed Casey Fields
ecological values of the

Cranbourne Regional
waterways.
Park
 To design the future urban
form to reduce the demand
on energy and
infrastructure resources
and consider environmental
aspects/ issues.
 To protect and expand
open space networks and
increase the area of
continuous parkland for
recreational, landscape,
conservation and
environmental purposes.
 To maintain and manage
high quality sustainable
agricultural land while
maintaining a balance
between economic and
environmental values.
 To encourage an
environmentally conscious
extractive industry in the
City.
Title
Author
Purpose
Findings
Recommendations
Implications for the SEGW
City Of Casey
City of Casey
The City of Casey’s
Refer to recommendations.
The goal of the City of Casey
The SEGW and other open
Greenhouse
(prepared by
Greenhouse Strategy
Greenhouse Strategy is to
space networks in the City of
Strategy
Engineering &
provides a framework
contribute to the stabilisation
Casey will be focus areas for
106742724
48
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
Local Action Plan
Environmental
for action to reduce
of greenhouse gas
planting of trees and
(2002)
Services
greenhouse gas
concentrations in the
revegetation for the purposes
Department)
emissions. The
atmosphere at a level that
of carbon capture.
Greenhouse Strategy is
would prevent dangerous
to be an evolving
interference with the climate
Endangered flora and fauna
strategy, taking into
system through:
species are to be protected
account emerging and
• Reducing net greenhouse
developing
emissions attributable to
technologies and the
the City of Casey Council
strengthening of
activities by 20% from
greenhouse science
1995 levels.
and projections.
• Reducing community
emissions by 10%.
• Fostering knowledge and
understanding within the
City of Casey community of
greenhouse issues.
• Assessing potential impacts
of climate change on the
City of Casey and the
surrounding region and
preparing strategies to
minimise or adapt to
impacts.
Title
Author
Purpose
Findings
Recommendations
Implications for the SEGW
City of Casey
City of Casey
The Strategy provides
The Royal Botanical Gardens
Key recommendations given
Indigenous vegetation and
Biodiversity
(prepared by
a Casey-wide mapping
at Cranbourne have been
for the protection and
wildlife are to be protected.
Enhancement
Ecology
and management
recognised as a site of State
management of biodiversity
Strategy (2003)
Australia)
strategy for biological
zoological significance.
are:
106742724
49
Efforts to manage threats to
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
diversity. This includes
Eight records of the State
an inventory of
significant Swamp Skink
of remnant indigenous
remnant terrestrial
have been recorded there.
vegetation and wildlife
native flora and fauna,
 Preventing the direct loss
habitat through regulation.
There should be a strategic
This site used to support a
communities, their
population of the State
small and/or fragmented
condition and threats
significant New Holland
communities and
as well as the
Mouse in the late 1970s,
populations of flora and
The indigenous fauna and flora
preparation of
however this population is
fauna.
in the Royal Botanical Gardens
management
now extinct. There is a
guidelines and
population of the nationally
adequately funded
prescriptions to
significant Southern Brown
management of important
facilitate the long-term
Bandicoot at this site, as
and ongoing processes
conservation of these
well as Black Wallaby Sugar
threatening ecosystems
sites.
Glider and Koala and the
 Effective, well targeted and
and species.
 Coordinating the
management of remnants
of native vegetation by
government agencies,
community groups, various
land managers and
individuals across all land
tenures.
 Providing real financial
incentives to landholders to
manage land for
biodiversity conservation.
 Strategic approach to
revegetation in targeted
106742724
targeted and funded.
including significant
Australasian Bittern.
 Strategic management of
ecosystems must be well
50
approach for the revegetation
of targeted areas.
needs to be protected and
managed.
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
areas.
Title
Author
Purpose
Findings
Recommendations
Implications for the SEGW
Casey C21
City of Casey
The Strategy purpose
Casey is one of the fastest
The following
Protect, preserve and restore
A vision for our
is to outline the City’s
growing municipalities in
recommendations and
native vegetation, including
future
vision and a set of
Australia with a predicted
objectives were identified:
that in or near the Royal
actions to achieve the
population of 300,000
 Identify, protect and
Botanic Gardens in Cranbourne
vision as well as to
people.
provide a framework to
and along the Cranbourne,
vegetation and habitats for
South Gippsland and
Pakenham railway lines.
facilitate the delivery
The ecosystems of Western
native flora and fauna,
of the action plans.
Port are particularly
including remnant local
important for migratory
indigenous vegetation, with
Efforts to improve the health
This summary focuses
birds and are protected
special reference to
of Casey’s catchments needs
on environmental
under international treaties.
endangered flora and
to be managed in a holistic
fauna.
manner.
issues and objectives.
The City of Casey,
and quality of habitat
Construction and rehabilitation
that are recognised to be of
across Casey through
of landfills is costly and
state, national and
managed regeneration to
should be minimised.
international
enhance biodiversity,
significance:
landscapes and vegetation
Landfills and agricultural
/ habitat corridors and to
activity requires careful
overcome expected
management.
environment of Western
Port (international
significance).
environmental problems.
 Acknowledge that roadside
 Cardinia Creek Parklands,
vegetation is valuable,
Cardinia Valley environs
protect and enhance its
and remnant vegetation
in the north east of the
municipality (national
51
 Increase both the extent
has some natural places
 The coastal and marine
106742724
preserve sites of significant
quality.
 Restoring threatened plant
communities or depleted
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
significance).
 Barnbam Swamp
(national significance).
 Grassland patches and
environmental significance
is to improve the viability
along the Cranbourne/
of these assets.
 Work with Catchment and
Pakenham railway lines
Land Protection Boards and
(national and state
other government agencies
significance).
to implement a broad
 A’Beckett Road bushland
based, holistic program of
and Eumemmerring
actions to improve the
Creek and other
health of Casey’s
remnants (state
catchments.
significance).
 Royal Botanic Gardens,
Cranbourne (state
significance).
 Police Paddocks, Churchill
National Park and
Lysterfield Lake Park in
 Protect in stream riparian
zones along waterways
from degradation.
 Ensure effective
coordinated waste
management.
 Work with landowners of
the north west of the
rural residential and
municipality (state and
farming properties to
regional significance).
improve their land
 The boundary between
the Port Phillip and
Western Port Catchments
and the floodplains of the
Casey Valley,
52
to all areas of identified
threatened species sites
South Gippsland and
106742724
vegetation types.
 Development in proximity
management knowledge,
experience and practices.
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
Eumemmerring, Troups
and Ti-Tree Creeks.
Construction and
rehabilitation of landfills is
costly and should be
minimised.
Agricultural land requires
careful management to
ensure sustainable long
term use and productivity –
Title
Author
Purpose
Findings
Recommendations
Implications for the SEGW
Documentation
City of Casey
Location map of where
Dwarf Galaxia are located in
Protection of this rare species
A vulnerable species which is
relating to the
the Dwarf Galaxias are
the South East Green
and its habitat is a priority.
present in the South East
location of Dwarf
located.
Wedge area of the City of
Galaxia in the
Casey, bounded by
South East Green
Cranbourne – Frankston
Wedge
Road, Western Port Highway
and Ballarto Road.
106742724
53
Green Wedge study area.
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
GENERAL:
Title
Author
Purpose
Findings
Recommendations
Implications for the SEGW
Maintaining
Michael Buxton
This report details


The State Government
Greater commitment and
Melbourne’s Green
and Robin
findings of a
Governments and some
must play a strong role in
certainty is required in order
Wedges: Planning
Goodman
systematic
local councils have not
the preservation of green
for green wedges to function
policy and the
investigation into the
been diligent in
wedges.
to a high standard.
future of
non urban areas of
protecting green wedge
Melbourne’s green
metropolitan
belt (December
Melbourne. Specific
2002)

A clear delineation is
land.
required between urban
Policy must be
and non urban areas for
objectives were to
consistently and firmly
certainty and reductions in
provide a summary of
adhered to for
land speculation.
the current state of
effectiveness.


Green wedges require
planning policy in
protection to allow
these areas, outline
Melbourne to continue its
the development
liveability and receive the
pressures in these
continued benefits of a
areas through
productive and diverse
documentation and
hinterland, while helping to
analysis of major
limit uncontrolled growth.
rezonings of green
wedge land, and to
better inform policy
development and
implementation with
regard to management
and growth of
Melbourne’s urban
form.
106742724
Successive State
54
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
Title
Author
Purpose
Findings
Recommendations
Implications for the SEGW
Green Wedge
Municipal
To identify and explore


Clarify the scope, process,
A significant amount of work is
Research Report
Association of
issues raised by
green wedges face
role and status of Green
required to properly
(November 2006)
Victoria
councils in response to
numerous challenges in
Wedge Management Plans
understand green wedges and
the Municipal
managing these areas.
and the likely resources
how they can be best used and
managed.
Association of
These pressures limit
required to develop and
Victoria’s (MAV) green
achievement of policy
implement these plans.
wedge survey of
objectives for green
councils in 2005,
wedge areas.
including

Councils responsible for

Responsible councils
It is important to have an
opportunities between
understanding of uses
councils.
surrounding green wedges
Develop greater clarity to
when evaluating their condition
and potential.
have shown continuing
response to issues
support and commitment
assist and guide decision
raised.
to green wedges through
making on discretionary
various programs and
uses, existing development
policies.
and provision for the needs
The importance of green
wedges needs to be

55
of existing uses.

Review the role, location
articulated to the wider
and management of green
community.
wedge and growth area
Councils are constrained
buffer areas so that they
by resources and
may contribute to the
statutory controls
achievement of green
applying across the
wedge objectives.
green wedges.


Provide knowledge sharing
recommendations in

106742724


Address the adequacy and
There are concerns over
effectiveness of existing
the nature and scale of
Green Wedge Zone
use and development in
provisions and use
green wedge areas. This
definitions to manage
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
includes operation and
requirements of existing
residential encroachment.

green wedge land uses.
Improve data collection on
permit activity in green
wedge areas to identify
streamlining opportunities.

Clarify how rural economic
and social issues in green
wedge and rural areas will
be addressed.

Clarify the circumstances
in which ‘industrial’ uses
will be able to locate in
green wedge areas.

Identify opportunities to
encourage improved
property management
through education,
financial incentives,
partnerships and
knowledge sharing.

Seek ongoing funding
support for policy
development.

Raise awareness about the
value of green wedges
through community
education and information
campaigns.
106742724
56
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
Title
Author
Purpose
Findings
Recommendations
Implications for the SEGW
Melbourne’s Rivers
Port Phillip and
This report aims to


Improvement works for
Significant effort is required to
and Creeks (2004)
Westernport
demonstrate how
operating area, 28% of
individual waterways are
improve the state of
Catchment
water management
rivers and creeks are in
recommended to improve
Melbourne’s rivers and creeks.
Management
bodies are working to
good or excellent
water quality. These works
Authority,
achieve their goal of
condition, and 25% are
included fencing,
Issues relate to changes to
Melbourne
ensuring that
in moderate conditions.
replanting, weed removal,
land use and water flows,
Water and State
Melbourne’s natural
Forty seven per cent are
bank stabilisation,
pollution run off, loss of
Government of
waterways are
in poor or very poor
implementation of
vegetation and habitats, weed
Victoria
healthy.
condition due to poor
environmental
infestation, erosion and litter.
water quality and
management systems,
changes to land use and
habitat reinstatement,
water flow.
erosion control and litter
Generally, the condition
control.


In Melbourne Water’s
of rivers and creeks is
worse closer to the city
due to run off, loss of
vegetation and litter.
Title
Author
Purpose
Findings
Recommendations
Implications for the SEGW
Melbourne 2030 –
Department of
The purpose of

Green wedges fulfil a
The Strategy provides for:
Melbourne 2030 sets a
Implementation
Infrastructure
Implementation Plans
range of roles including

Application of the Urban
statutory and strategic
Plan 5: Green
is to build on
providing opportunities
Growth Boundary (UGB).
planning framework for green
Wedges (October
Melbourne 2030,
for agricultural uses,
Introduction of new
wedges.
2002)
including providing
preserving landscapes,
planning measures for
further detail on
preserving renewable
green wedges.
Local area details are to be
initiatives. This is
and non renewable
Legislation to protect green
determined in subsequent and
designed to assist,
resources, safeguarding
wedges.
more detailed planning
guide and inform local
sites for infrastructure,
Drafting of individual
processes.
106742724
57



South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
government, planning
enabling industries to
action plans for each green
professionals,
operate close to markets
wedge.
Implementation measures to
developers and the
and enabling the
Management of residential
achieve green wedge
community.
development of open
development in green
objectives (beyond land use
wedges.
planning) are also to be
Maintenance of access to
identified.

space networks.

Green wedges can bring
significant economic,
environmental and social
benefits.

Greater consistency is
required at local
government level, with
clearer policies,
frameworks and
information assisting in
this objective.

Actions are required to
improve protection of
green wedges through
tougher planning
controls, legislative
change and improved onground action.

Active involvement by
State and local
governments is required
in land management,
vegetation restoration,
water quality
106742724
58

land for special purposes.
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
management and weed
and animal pest control.
Title
Author
Purpose
Findings
Recommendations
Implications for the SEGW
Port Phillip and
Port Phillip and
The Regional


Ninety seven priority
Catchment management issues
Western Port
Westernport
Catchment Strategy
pressures on the region’s
actions for healthier
include urban development
Regional
Catchment
describes catchment
catchments include
catchments and bays have
and human activity, high per
Catchment
Management
assets and their
population, high per
been identified and agreed
capita water consumption,
Strategy 2004 –
Authority
interrelations. It
capita water
upon. These are in the
changing land use,
2009: Summary
indicates actions to
consumption, changing
format of setting goals,
inappropriate land
(December 2004)
manage and use these
land use, inappropriate
objectives, targets and
management practices, species
assets in a sustainable
land management
actions.
and habitat loss, pests, climate
and integrated way,
practices, species and
while setting goals and
habitat loss, pests,
priorities for the
climate change, salinity
future.
Some of the main
change, salinity and pollution.
and pollution.

A vision for the region
and regional goals,
objectives and
quantifiable targets have
been set for the four
types of catchment
assets – water
resources, land,
biodiversity and people.
Title
Author
Purpose
Findings
Recommendations
Implications for the SEGW
Summary of
Unknown author
This report outlines


Future opportunities and
SEGW assets and values
Characteristics,
values, characteristics
Wedge protects a
plans for green wedge
include rural, infrastructure ,
Features and Green
and important factors
number of important
areas in the four
extractive industry, tourism,
Wedge Issues for
in green wedge areas
environmental, economic
municipalities are given.
recreational factors that
106742724
59
The South East Green
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
South East Green
with particular
and social values and
Wedge and
reference to the South
assets in the local and
plans include rehabilitation
Associated
East Green Wedge and
broader region.
of old quarry sites and the
Municipalities of
its four municipal
These assets and values
extension of open spaces
Kingston, Greater
areas.

 Future opportunities and
include rural,
in Kingston, tourism
Dandenong, Casey,
infrastructure , extractive
development in Greater
Frankston.
industry, and
Dandenong, and potential
tourism/recreational
agricultural, recreational,
factors that contribute to
institutional and industrial
the community.
(extractive) sites in
Opportunities exist within
Frankston.

contribute to the community.
these areas for
agricultural/recreational
expansion and tourism
development.
Title
Author
Purpose
Findings
Recommendations
Implications for the SEGW
Sustainable and
Victorian Eco-
Documents the state of
The report suggests that the
Response strategies are
Green wedge locations could
Secure Food
Innovation Lab,
play in Victoria’s food
chain of food production is
presented under the themes
perform a role in
Systems for
University of
production, distribution
likely to change in the
emerging technologies, new
accommodating anticipated
Victoria (April
Melbourne
and consumption
future as a result of various
production strategies, new
trends towards localisation and
sectors. The report
pressures and trends. This
distribution systems and
diversification in food
identifies challenges
may include greater
changing consumer choices.
production. Whilst this is in
facing the food system,
diversification in the sector,
theory possible for green
in terms of the impacts
in part away from long term
wedge land generally, sites or
it has on the
trends of increasing scale
land in themselves must be
environment and the
and globalisation, to include
recognised as one part of the
risks it faces from
greater local production in
chain of food production. The
economic, social and
more varied formats. This
various other factors that
environmental
could include growth in
comprise the ‘system’,
2008)
106742724
60
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
pressures (including
localisation and urban
together with land availability,
climate change).
agriculture for example.
will determine outcomes and
activity.
106742724
61
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
3.4
Literature Review Summary
This section contains a summary of literature that was able to be reviewed in the scope of this
project. Refer to the actual documents, and any others of relevance, for more information.
Kingston
The major themes in literature relating to Kingston’s South East Green Wedge areas are as follows.

The green wedge areas in Kingston accommodate diverse land uses including quarries and
landfills amongst agriculture, recreation facilities and infrastructure assets.

A key strategic direction is to move the UGB in part to accommodate urban development in
parts of the South East Green Wedge. This position of Council is inconsistent with State
Government policy.

Another key strategic direction is to ultimately utilise more land – including rehabilitated
quarry, landfill and other sites - in an extended open space network. This includes
provision of a network of parkland and recreational facilities, generally described by the
‘chain of parks’ concept plan.

A significant issue in Kingston is the condition of waterways and drainage systems.
Kingston’s receiving waters are at risk from pollution from various sources including litter,
sewer overflows and leaks and industrial and commercial discharge. Solutions include (but
are not limited to) development of improved stormwater management systems, which
could comprise adoption of water sensitive urban design, development of gross pollutant
traps and wetland construction.
Greater Dandenong
The major themes in literature relating to Greater Dandenong’s South East Green Wedge areas are
as follows.

There is pressure within Greater Dandenong to attract new businesses, in particular
industrial development, which puts pressure on land supply release within the South East
Green Wedge. The availability of infrastructure to support further development is a factor
in driving this demand.

Stormwater pollution (in particular from industrial areas) is adversely affecting waterways
and drainage systems – including Eumemmerring and Dandenong Creeks.

The City’s waterways and drainage systems are in parts poorly defined and may not be
able to adequately cater for future needs. Development within the Keysborough South and
Dandenong South areas is placing pressure on the drainage network in the Green Wedge.

The preservation of native flora and fauna is a challenge. The Dwarf Galaxia fish is a
threatened species within the Dandenong Creek and endangered birds are predominantly
found in wetland habitats.

Future development in Greater Dandenong is to incorporate more environmental and
heritage protection principles.

Heritage buildings trees and Aboriginal cultural heritage sites are located in and around the
South East Green Wedge. Preservation of heritage assets is a key strategic direction.
106742724
62
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper

Farmland in Greater Dandenong is not considered to be of strategic significance to the
State and is in parts degraded.

However, protection of landscape values is considered important but this may not be best
achieved with an agricultural use.

The South East Green Wedge has important infrastructure assets and buffer roles.
Frankston
The major themes in literature relating to Frankston’s South East Green Wedge areas are as
follows.

Frankston has a number of sites of environmental and historic significance.

This includes significant trees and landscapes (of natural or cultural significance).
Vegetation protection is an important strategy in Frankston. This includes retention of
existing mature rural vegetation, trees and windbreaks and the character of rural
roadsides.

The Seaford Wetlands has been identified as a nationally significant site.

Other sites that been classified as of very high ecological significance are Oliphant Wetland,
Belvedere Bushland Reserve, DPI Frankston North, The Pines Flora and Flora Reserve,
Peninsula Country Golf Club, Boggy Creek Langwarrin, Little Boggy Creek Reserve and
Burdetts Langwarrin, Langwarrin Flora and Fauna Reserve, Frankston Reservoir and
Mulberry Hill in Baxter.

There is constant pressure and speculation regarding the use of green wedge land. Various
concepts are proposals have emerged over time including residential development.

Frankston has strategic extractive industry sites and operations. These sites should be
protected and ultimately rehabilitated for community recreation.

Agricultural, horticultural and rural activities that are compatible with local natural
resources should be promoted.
Casey
The major themes in literature relating to Casey’s South East Green Wedge areas are as follows.

Casey’s portion of South East Green Wedge is considered to be of value as a habitat
corridor that links Cranbourne Botanic Gardens to Westernport Bay. This arc can play a
habitat function and a role in helping to revegetate the municipality, which has been
extensively cleared.

Dwarf Galaxia are reportedly located in the South East Green Wedge area of Casey.

Sites that have native flora and fauna assets relevant to the South East Green Wedge
include the Botanic Gardens in Cranbourne and corridors along the Cranbourne and South
Gippsland railway lines. Casey has a policy and strategy to identify, protect, preserve and
enhance sites of environmental, heritage and waterway significance. This includes a plan
to improve vegetation and habitats for native flora and fauna.

Whilst Casey has strategic agricultural land, the portion of it that is within the South East
Green Wedge is not considered to be of high agricultural value.

The City of Casey’s Greenhouse Strategy provides a framework for action to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions. In this context, green wedge land and other open space
networks will be focus areas for revegetation for the purposes of carbon capture.
106742724
63
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
General
General themes in literature relating to the South East Green Wedge are as follows.

Greater commitment and certainty is required in order for green wedges to function to a
high standard.

The various agencies responsible for the management of green wedges have not been
equally diligent in delivering outcomes.

A significant amount of work is required to properly understand green wedges and how
they can be best used and managed.

A regional issue is the health of Melbourne’s waterways. These are in poor condition in
some areas due to a number of factors. Significant effort is required to improve the state
of Melbourne’s rivers and creeks and wetlands.

Green wedge locations could perform a role in accommodating anticipated trends towards
localisation and diversification in food production. Whilst this is in theory possible for green
wedge land generally, sites or land in themselves must be recognised as one part of the
chain of food production. The various other factors that comprise the ‘system’, together
with land availability, will determine outcomes and activity.
Important features of the South East Green Wedge, as identified in previous studies, are as
follows:

Environmental: wetlands, rivers and creeks, landscapes, native vegetation, native fauna.

Economic: extractive industry (sand and other resources), agriculture (horticulture and
grazing), other non-urban businesses

Urban infrastructure: water and sewerage systems, road transport, energy and
telecommunications, landfills, Moorabbin Airport, regional cemetery

Land use buffers: for Eastern Treatment Plant, industry, agriculture, quarries, landfills

Recreation: parks, golf courses, water sports centre, sports fields

Heritage: Aboriginal cultural heritage, post-contact heritage sites and features

Rural living: farms, hobby farms and low density and environmental residential
opportunities
Of international and national significance is the RAMSAR wetlands area and international migratory
bird habitat in and around Carrum Downs, Seaford and Edithvale.
The now outdated South East Non Urban Study notionally identified the following direction for
various precincts:

Heatherton - Allow urban conversion around the ‘chain of parks’ but avoid flight paths and
buffer areas for quarries and landfills.

Dingley Village - Retain Dingley as a discreet urban village surrounded by open space.

Wetlands / Keysborough – Generally develop the area as a high quality wetland
environment but allow some low density residential and urban expansion in appropriate
locations.

Buffer Areas – Protect buffers from encroachment.

Scoresby Corridor – Allow expansion of quality garden style industrial development in
appropriate locations.
106742724
64
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper

Other areas - Allow limited development of low density residential associated with a
regionally linked open space system. Agricultural and horticultural activities should also he
maintained in some parts of the area.
Previous strategic work identified a need to protect agricultural land and encourage sustainable
farm management practices. Recent information suggests that this objective has lost some
support due to changes in agriculture and land management in the South East green Wedge.
106742724
65
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
4
Consultation
4.1
Introduction
This section presents a summary of findings from consultation processes undertaken for this
report, these being:

Workshops with council officers in Kingston, Greater Dandenong, Frankston and Casey;

Direct consultation with 21 organisations that have an interest in the area; and

Direct consultation with two councils in other parts of Melbourne that are also preparing Green
Wedge Management Plans.
This section also presents a summary of other consultation processes undertaken for other projects
that relate to the study area, these being:

South East Non Urban Study (1997) report on submissions; and

Submissions provided to the Department of Sustainability and Environment regarding the
Urban Growth Boundary (UGB).
Disclaimer
Note that the information presented in this section of the report is not necessarily exhaustive and
represents a summary of views as provided by other parties. SGS offers no guarantee as to the
accuracy of the views and / or information offered by other parties.
4.2
Council Officer Input
Kingston Officer Input
Important features of the Green

Wedge
Compromised land - Many areas of the Green
Wedge are compromised and are not
considered to be of high value in relation to
broader Green Wedge objectives. This is
especially evident in the northern areas of
Kingston (Heatherton Road Precincts and
areas north of Clayton Road). Council would
prefer to explore the northern areas for urban
uses as they have been compromised by sand
extraction activity and general neglect.

Agricultural viability - Agriculture is not
considered to be a viable use due to declining
terms of trade, declines in market gardening,
flower growing and horticulture.
106742724
66
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper

Major roads - The Green Wedge contains
major roads and the proposed Dingley
extension alignment.

Water and drainage - There are opportunities
for water re-use and to improve sustainability.
This is hampered by uncertainty over land use
expectations, landfill sites and sand extraction
activities. This has created environmental
issues associated with runoff, water quality
and discharge.

Chain of parks – Parks Victoria could acquire
land in the north-west for open space
however there is uncertainty over timelines
and priorities.

Infrastructure – New road reservations and
traffic congestion define parts of the Green
Wedge.

Areas of high environmental value – The
Grange and Braeside Park have high
environmental quality.

Airport flight paths – An overlay exists to
protect flights paths for Moorabbin Airport
although the existing golf courses fulfil this
role to some extent.

Interface issues – Residential development in
Clarinda backs onto the Green Wedge,
presenting issues of odours from landfill sites
and dust from quarries.

Southern areas of the Green Wedge – These
areas contain a freeway reservation and the
Waterways Estate, which includes a wetlands
development.
Pressures (demand) on the Green
Wedge

Landfill – There are proposals for future
landfill and waste and recycling operations in
the area. For example: 6 Councils own a
large landfill site on Clayton Road; an
application has been submitted for a concrete
recycling station; and other opportunities for
106742724
67
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
recycling and transfer stations have been
raised.

Speculation - Constant speculation over the
future of the Green Wedge, particularly on the
urban interface, makes long term planning
and land management difficult.

Employment - Land could be used for a higher
and better use. Enquiries for industrial land
are generally referred to Greater Dandenong
due to land shortages in Kingston.

Open Space – The regional population can
make use of further open space, potentially
on former extractive industry sites.

Unlawful uses – Some businesses do not
comply with planning scheme provisions
which creates pressure on enforcement.

Recreation and entertainment - Uses that
seek out Green Wedge land include go-karting
and paintball.

Agriculture challenges – Fragmented land
ownership provides limited capacity for crop
rotation and economies of scale in agriculture.

Enforcement processes – Present ongoing
challenges.
Management Solutions

Open space and recreation - The Green
Wedge provides a unique opportunity to
provide land for recreation and open space at
relatively lower land cost.

Rates - Rate rebates could be considered for
land owners to better manage land.

Water - Recycled water distribution could be
used to active sites for agricultural use.

Chain of parks - Land acquisition is needed by
Parks Victoria to deliver the parks. Council
own some areas where there are gaps in land
106742724
68
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
ownership.

Land use - Alternative uses for agricultural
land include playing fields, cemeteries, Chain
of Parks, carbon sinks (tree planting, carbon
trading), paintballing, go-kart tracks and
related urban support uses.
Greater Dandenong Officer Input
Important features of the Green

Wedge
Agriculture – key activities include animal
grazing and herb farming however agricultural
activity has been impacted by the drought.

Recreation – Key facilities are golf courses
and related uses.

Other land uses – Other uses in the green
wedge include cemeteries and landfill sites

Existing uses – The green wedge has been
impacted from poorly managed hobby farms
especially from introduced vegetation. There
are also a range of existing uses such as
places of assembly which have sought to
expand.

Aboriginal cultural heritage – The green
wedge contains historical river red gums and
various scar trees. The broader region was
previously used as a productive area before
the region was drained.

Water courses – Many waterways converge in
the green wedge and the area contains
natural and constructed wetlands.

Infrastructure – The green wedge contains a
range of infrastructure items which support
adjoining urban areas including the Eastern
Treatment Plant, large gas and oil pipelines
and the Eastlink corridor.
106742724
69
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
Pressures (demand) on the Green

Wedge
Urban development – Green wedge land could
be used to support industrial development.
Proximity to industry has impacted on the
quality of green wedge land.

Agriculture – Hobby farms have been a
feature of the green wedge and could
continue to play a role.

Recreation and housing – Land has been
developed for golf courses with accompanying
residential development in some instances.

Cultural heritage – Aboriginal cultural heritage
legislation which is external to planning
legislation has impacted on how the green
wedge is used.

Enforcement - Ad hoc and illegal uses are an
ongoing concern for Council particularly uses
with existing use rights but which cannot
expand. This has created VCAT uncertainties.
This has been exacerbated by absentee
landowners.

Climate change – the green wedge could
present opportunities for the establishment of
carbon sinks.

Land speculation – Land banking for future
rezoning is a key issue in the green wedge as
owners leave land unmaintained and open to
infestation.

Land degradation and contamination – Mining
activity, landfill and cattle feedlots have
caused soil contamination and land
degradation in some instances.

Flooding – Parts of the green wedge are
subject to inundation and this is a constraint
on development opportunities.

Other uses – Animal boarding is an
established use in the green wedge and is
106742724
70
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
expected to continue.
Management Solutions

Lot sizes - Lot size management is a key issue
for current uses but also for preserving the
opportunity for future uses by retaining larger
lot sizes.

Tailoring of green wedge provisions – A
schedule to the Green Wedge Zone exists to
permit 6 hectare subdivisions in some areas
which are appropriate for hobby farms and
small agriculture operators.

Enforcement – Many uses within the planning
scheme could be better defined and legislation
which is supportive of enforcement is required
from the State Government. Existing use
rights could also be better articulated.
Frankston Officer Input
Important features of the Green

Wedge
Agriculture – Hobby farms are an accepted
form of agriculture in the green wedge.

Infrastructure – The green wedge contains a
variety of declared main roads and highways
and is likely to play a role in infrastructure
provision relating to development of the Port
of Hastings. The Eastern Treatment Plant is
also a major infrastructure item in the green
wedge.

Vegetation and wetlands – The green wedge
supports a range of high quality vegetation
areas particularly river red gums and flora and
fauna reserves. The Seaford Wetlands,
Kananook Creek, and Patterson River are key
features of the green wedge.

Mining – There are approximately 6 key sites
in the Frankston green wedge area which are
used for low grade rock extraction for the
building and construction industry. These
106742724
71
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
areas are usually accompanied by settling
ponds.

Residential - Rural residential development is
the main form of residential development in
the green wedge.

Recreation – The major facilities in the
Frankston green wedge areas are golf courses
and sports reserves.

Fragmented land ownership – This is a major
hindrance to agriculture in the green wedge
as business cannot expand and sufficient land
is unavailable for crop rotation.

Water quality – poor water quality is an issue
particularly from quarries and the eastern
contour drain. The green wedge formed part
of a previous floodplain however the
catchment has since become fragmented with
development occurring within and in close
proximity to the green wedge. Filtration issues
are evident particularly from Patterson River
and the groundwater aquifers.
Pressures (demand) on the Green

Wedge
Agriculture – Impacted by proximity to
residential uses. Crop rotation has been
impacted by fragmented land ownership.

Retail nurseries - There has been demand for
additional retail nurseries.

Subdivision – There has been growing
pressure for rezoning of land, particularly for
smaller lot subdivisions.

Urban development - Proposals have been
made for nursing homes, retirement villages,
and petrol stations. Schools and hospitals
which have existing use rights are also looking
to expand.

Recreation - Sporting clubs are looking to
establish in the green wedge.
106742724
72
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper

Infrastructure - Road widening and new road
alignments continue to be a key demand for
green wedge land.

Landfill – This is an established use in the
green wedge and will continue to create
demands for green wedge land.

Land speculation – Many areas are owned by
land speculators looking to benefit from
rezoning of green wedge land to higher order
uses. This has contributed to poor property
maintenance and contributed to land
ownership fragmentation.

Climate change – An opportunity could arise
to establish carbon sinks in the green wedge.

Recycled water – Class A water is available in
some areas of the green wedge.
Management Solutions

Incentives - Subsidies for agricultural uses
could be considered.

Collaboration – Programs to engender shared
management of land via collaboration
between property owners should be
considered.

Class A water – This could be used to facilitate
outcomes.

Environmental resources – Extensions to
parks is an important future role of the area.

Land reclamation and rehabilitation –
Reclaiming and rehabilitating old quarries and
landfills is a key management issue.
106742724
73
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
Casey Officer Input
Important features of the Green

Wedge
Infrastructure – Key proposals which relate to
the green wedge include the Cranbourne
Frankston Road duplication, Westernport
Highway duplication and railway links to the
Port of Hastings, main road declaration of Hall
Road and road works to Pearcedale Road.

Natural Resources – Cranbourne Botanic
Gardens is home to a species of Bandicoot, a
discovery has also been made of Dwarf
Galaxia in an area of Casey’s green wedge
area.

Revegetation - The Revegetation Strategy
proposes two wildlife corridors (east and
south to Quail Island). High quality vegetation
exists to the south of Cranbourne-Frankston
Road and the City is looking to increase
vegetation coverage from 6% to 30%.

Drainage – The area is characterised by
undulating farmlands with some wooded
areas. There is very little formal drainage in
with some areas subject to inundation. Water
catchments exist to the north-west and south
west.

Development in close proximity – Settlers Run
comprises a golf course and is adjacent to the
Maintop Farm residential development. This is
located adjacent to the green wedge.

Planning - Currently the area experiences low
activity however C21 expects large scale
residential development to occur in close
proximity to the green wedge. Major farming
activity is expected in the Westernport green
wedge.

Eastern Irrigation Scheme – This was a key
development for the region and provided
water security and created significant land
value uplift for the region
106742724
74
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
Pressures (demand) on the Green

Wedge
Agriculture – Poultry farming is located in
north-east corner of the green wedge
together with a small dairy operation. Grazing
activity exists to the north of DandenongFrankston Road.

Planning – Casey’s green wedge is close to
the urban growth boundary which creates a
range of urban/rural interface issues.

Agriculture – Activity is compromised by small
lot sizes.

Climate change – Opportunities may arise for
parts of the green wedge to be used as a
carbon sink.
Management Solutions

Habitat and vegetation corridor - To reserve
land linking Cranbourne Botanic Gardens via
the Casey South East Green Wedge to
Westernport Bay as a vegetation and habitat
corridor.

Habitat Protection – Protect the endangered
Dwarf Galaxia.
4.3
Stakeholder Input
The following organisations have been surveyed for this project (listed in no particular order).

Southern Rural Water;

Institute of Quarrying;

Friends of the Pines Flora and Fauna Reserve and Frankston North Community Group, Inc.;

Heatherton Christian College (HCC);

Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) (Documentation provided);

Christ Church Dingley Village;

Eastern Treatment Plant;

Department of Primary Industries (DPI);

Construction Material Processors Association;

Dingley Village Community Association;

Defenders of the South East Green Wedge;

Green Wedges Coalition;

Environmental Protection Authority (EPA);
106742724
75
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper

Aboriginal Affairs Victoria (AAV);

Bangholme Rural Land Holders Association;

Parks Victoria;

Sustainability Victoria;

Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) (Biodiversity Group);

Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) (Public Land Division);

Heritage Victoria; and

Port Phillip and Western Port Catchment Management Authority (PPWPCMA).
Organisation:
Southern Rural Water
What interest does your organisation
Southern Rural Water (SRW) manages existing
have in the study area?
water and irrigation license holders. Key
stakeholders include groundwater users, domestic
and stock users and commercial irrigators.
SRW’s role is to protect water use through
licenses, volume allocations and conditions and to
also monitor groundwater management areas and
water supply protection areas.
What do you think are the important
Waterways are a vital attribute of the green
attributes of the study area?
wedge. Underground water in particular can be
affected by dams and freeway alignments through
soil condensing and compaction. This affects the
operation of underground aquifers.
What do you think are the issues
There has been a notable increase in the amount
affecting the study area?
of bores being drilled to protect and support
domestic gardens which are subject to water
restrictions. The development of farm dams has
also affected passing flows.
What should State Government and /
SRW would benefit from the creation of an
or relevant Councils and / or other
interagency committee which represents and
agencies be doing to better manage
coordinates the broad range of interests in water
the study area?
allocation and management.
Additional information:
Maps of the Groundwater Protection Areas and
Water Supply Management Areas are provided
(see mapping section of this report).
Organisation:
Institute of Quarrying
What interest does your organisation
Mining and quarrying operations.
have in the study area?
What do you think are the important
The area holds the required resources and is close
attributes of the study area?
to markets in the southern region. The region also
106742724
76
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
has access to transport infrastructure and
materials which enables the cost effective
servicing of a local market.
What do you think are the issues
Planning approvals and quarry leases which are
affecting the study area?
required together with the distribution of
resources.
Future issues include operational approvals, local
opposition to industry and mining activity and
urban encroachment.
Maintenance of buffers to housing and industry
will also continue to be important together with
environmental sensitivity.
Sand resources in Kingston have essentially been
exhausted whilst Greater Dandenong and
Frankston have operations remaining.
What should State Government and /
It is important the mining and resources
or relevant Councils and / or other
industries are recognised as being of State
agencies be doing to better manage
significance and goes beyond delivering local
the study area?
benefits.
Organisation:
Friends of the Pines Flora and Fauna Reserve
and Frankston North Community Group, Inc.
What interest does your organisation
Management of remaining natural and
have in the study area?
recreational open areas within Frankston City. A
particular concern is about the disappearance of
green wedge and conservation land in the area.
What do you think are the important
The region contains some of the last remaining
attributes of the study area?
publicly owned natural green areas. These areas
are important to water catchments, biodiversity,
education and recreation. They are also highly
accessible.
What do you think are the issues
A key issue is incremental intrusions into green
affecting the study area?
wedge land, despite legislative protection. In
many instances, urban uses in the green wedge
have been justified on the basis that there are
limited lots remaining. This should instead provide
justification for further conservation.
The Pines Flora and Fauna Reserve, contains rare
and endangered flora and fauna and will be under
direct threat from the proposed Frankston Bypass.
106742724
77
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
What should State Government and /
The State should commit to maintaining
or relevant Councils and / or other
biodiversity.
agencies be doing to better manage
the study area?
Greater stringency against development in green
wedge areas could be provided together with
greater vision and accountability. Proposals such
as the Frankston Bypass should be reassessed
with greater regard given to climate change and
biodiversity loss.
Increased powers should be granted to the
Department of Sustainability and Environment
and Parks Victoria to protect lands under their
jurisdiction.
Additional information:
The South East Transport Authority (SEITA) is
conducting studies for the Frankston Bypass EES,
which includes research by BIOSIS into flora and
fauna at the Reserve.
Ian Faithful, resident and PhD student, has 15
years of data on flora and fauna in the Reserve.
Parks Victoria and Frankston City Council may
also have information.
Organisation:
Heatherton Christian College (HCC)
What interest does your organisation
HCC is now located in the South East Green
have in the study area?
Wedge following a rezoning in 2004.
What do you think are the important
No comment provided.
attributes of the study area?
What do you think are the issues
No comment provided.
affecting the study area?
What should State Government and /
No comment provided.
or relevant Councils and / or other
agencies be doing to better manage
the study area?
Additional information:
No comment provided.
Additional comments:
The rezoning of HCC into the green wedge has
effectively halted the any further development of
the school. The process to rezone the land back to
its previous zone has so far cost the school a
large sum of money.
The school was not aware about the rezoning of
the site in 2004. Authorities should have foreseen
106742724
78
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
the impacts of the rezoning on schools and their
expansion potential.
Organisation:
Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF)
What interest does your organisation
VFF is interested in protecting productive
have in the study area?
agricultural land from urban encroachment.
What do you think are the important
No comment provided.
attributes of the study area?
What do you think are the issues
Land fragmentation, higher property values and
affecting the study area?
limited support for agriculture hinder ongoing and
new agricultural activities.
What should State Government and /
Compensation and specialised measures should
or relevant Councils and / or other
be provided for farmers that are using green
agencies be doing to better manage
wedge areas for agriculture. This should include
the study area?
rate relief to mitigate higher land costs and to
assist in weed management to improve the
commercial viability of farming.
More flexibility is required for farmers to be able
to use existing infrastructure for complementary
activities.
Development should also be contained away from
agricultural areas.
Additional comments:
There is great concern that farming is gradually
being driven from the green wedge area in favour
of urban development. This is resulting in market
failure through the loss of some of Victoria’s most
productive soils and most reliable rainfall
locations.
Failure to protect productive farming lands in
close proximity to urban areas could be
detrimental given higher population growth and
climate change considerations.
Organisation:
Christ Church Dingley Village
What interest does your organisation
The church is located in the green wedge. There
have in the study area?
are amenity concerns for the church from dust
generated by local landfill sites, quarries and
concrete crushers.
The provisions of the Green Wedge Zone impact
on the capacity to expand the facility and
106742724
79
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
therefore its ongoing operation.
What do you think are the important
High quality access to local beaches, shopping
attributes of the study area?
centres and parks. There is also a strong sense of
community in Dingley Village.
What do you think are the issues
The green wedge is not being used for purposes
affecting the study area?
true to its purpose. There is a perception that
landfill operations and quarries are not
sufficiently ‘green’ uses.
There are also ongoing concerns about dust from
local landfill sites, quarries and concrete crusher
operations.
What should State Government and /
The green wedge should be able to offer a
or relevant Councils and / or other
broader range of uses, specifically recreational
agencies be doing to better manage
areas, and not generate significant tracts of
the study area?
unused land.
Additional information:
There are people in the area that would like to
see it rezoned who may be able to provide more
information.
Additional comments:
The Green Wedge Zone limits expansion potential
for the church.
The Zone is very restrictive for churches
especially in relation to the number of assemblies
which can occur on the land.
Organisation:
Eastern Treatment Plant
What interest does your organisation
The Eastern Treatment Plant is operated by
have in the study area?
Melbourne Water. The key role of the facility is
the treatment of sewerage and its externalities
(including odour and sludge drying pans). The
Eastern Treatment Plant is responsible for the
management of 1,100 hectares of land and
treatment plant.
What do you think are the important
The Patterson River is located to the north and
attributes of the study area?
west, and wetlands are located on the western
and southern boundaries. There are significant
holding basins located on site which provide a
large local wetland and is home for a variety of
bird species.
What do you think are the issues
There are proposals for a larger tertiary treatment
affecting the study area?
plant within the environs of the existing treatment
plant. The plant generates its own power supply
however augmentation of lines may be required to
106742724
80
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
upgrade capacity or alternative fuels may be
required.
What should State Government and /
The Government could play a role in the future
or relevant Councils and / or other
expansion of the plant however the key
agencies be doing to better manage
stakeholders are likely to be power distribution
the study area?
companies.
Organisation:
Department of Primary Industries (DPI)
What interest does your organisation
DPI is supportive of agricultural uses and the
have in the study area?
extractive industries within Melbourne’s green
wedges. In particular, the extractive industry sites
have rehabilitation plans which require
implementation and monitoring.
DPI is also interested in continued agricultural
activity in the green wedges.
What do you think are the important
The green wedges support an extensive variety of
attributes of the study area?
land uses from commercial farming to part time
and ‘lifestyle’ farming. High value intensive
agriculture can also support strong communities.
What do you think are the issues
A key issue is ensuring that flexibility remains in
affecting the study area?
relation to the accommodation of land use types
which can enable land managers to adapt to
market conditions.
What should State Government and /
A key role of Government is to ensure that
or relevant Councils and / or other
interface issues are properly managed so that
agencies be doing to better manage
land managers can operate an efficient and
the study area?
sustainable business.
Improved certainty needs to be provided to
enable land managers to make medium to long
term decisions without the risk of legislative
changes.
Recognition should also be given to infrastructure
requirements of non urban uses. Judgements
about long term use of the green wedge should be
evidence based.
Planning in the green wedges should reinforce the
need for all land managers and lifestyle farmers to
learn and apply best practice in land and animal
management.
Additional information:
DPI is undertaking a research project on
Melbourne’s green wedges.
106742724
81
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
Organisation:
Construction Material Processors Association
What interest does your organisation
The CMPA represents a broad spectrum of those
have in the study area?
involved in construction material processing,
including businesses working in the extraction, hard
rock, gravel, sand, masonry, clay, lime, soil,
gypsum and recycling industries. While members
are located throughout Victoria, six members have
sites within the South East Green Wedge.
What do you think are the important
There are considerable sand reserves that can
attributes of the study area?
service the metropolitan concrete sand market with
minimal transport impacts located in Clayton and
Springvale. There is also material most suited to
sub-base works and fine sand located in the
Cranbourne area.
What do you think are the issues
No comment provided.
affecting the study area?
What should State Government and /
No comment provided. (Directed to businesses
or relevant Councils and / or other
located in the area)
agencies be doing to better manage
the study area?
Additional information:
Publication: Department of Primary Industries,
Melbourne Supply Area – Extractive Industry
Interest Areas Review.
Organisation:
Dingley Village Community Association
What interest does your organisation
The northern tip of the study area is considered part
have in the study area?
of Dingley Village’s local neighbourhood. The rural
surroundings which encompass Dingley Village are a
major attraction for people who decide to settle in
Dingley Village. Dingley Village residents are
concerned by constant attacks on the SEGW which
buffers them from the rest of the metropolitan area.
What do you think are the important
There is a large expanse of open space which could
attributes of the study area?
potentially be brought back to pristine condition.
Natural remnants of Australian bushland in Kingston
are important features.
What do you think are the issues
The constant assault on the Green Wedge by
affecting the study area?
developers, including a string of losses of green
wedge land are a major concern. These losses
include the Kingston Lodge Estate, petrol stations, JV
Marine, and concrete crushers. There may be
operations (such as landfills and concrete crushing)
that do not have appropriate permits.
106742724
82
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
What should State Government and /
Better consultation between all levels of government
or relevant Councils and / or other
and the community is required.
agencies be doing to better manage
the study area?
Community groups gave requested that Kingston
Council sponsor local seminars to discuss matters of
mutual interest, including the green wedge.
This group is supportive of the development of a
Green Wedge Management Plan by Kingston. This
should be prepared with community groups
especially those from Clayton South, Heatherton,
Dingley Village and Keysborough.
Additional information:
South East Non Urban Study (SENUS), ‘Review of
Issues on the Urban Fringe’ (1996) and numerous
Planning Panel and Kingston Council reports.
Organisation:
Defenders of the South East Green Wedge
What interest does your organisation
The Defenders of the South East Green Wedge is a
have in the study area?
consortium of conservation and community groups
dedicated to the protection of the SEGW. The group
was formed about seven years ago in response to
the erosion of rural land by residential and industrial
development.
What do you think are the important
The study area contains productive agricultural and
attributes of the study area?
market garden lands close to large population
centres, quality conservation areas such as the
Seaford Wetlands, existing and potential recreation
and conservation areas and the Eastern Treatment
Plant which acts as a valued habitat for waterbirds.
The SEGW also provides a break between the
bayside corridor and other urban areas, buffers for
sand extraction, landfill and the Eastern Treatment
Plant and has the potential for future utilisation for
carbon offsets.
What do you think are the issues
A number of issues are significant. These include:
affecting the study area?

Land speculators and developers pushing up land
prices and increasing pressure for rezoning.

Degradation of land due to unviability of
agriculture (due to high land costs) or through
neglect by speculators.

Councils who are apathetic towards the SEGW.

The growing need for locally produced food
which can be addressed by market gardens in
the SEGW.

106742724
Un-rehabilitated quarry sites in Kingston which
83
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
require solutions.

Regulations which allow urban uses, such as for
a composting operation in the Eastern Treatment
Plant, on land zoned Public Use (PUZ).

The rezoning of land for urban uses which is
creating precedents to encourage further
rezonings.

Moorabbin Airport’s exemption from state
planning regulations which has resulted in loss of
open space for commercial development.

Kingswood Golf Course’s (Dingley Village)
exclusion from the Green Wedge.

The gradual loss of the Green Wedge which
means protection of remaining areas is crucial.
What should State Government and /
A Green Wedge Management Plan is required, as
or relevant Councils and / or other
well as tightening of loopholes in the planning
agencies be doing to better manage
scheme that allow inappropriate development.
the study area?
Other recommendations include:

Implementation of the Sandbelt Open Space
Project.

Amendments to planning schemes to facilitate
certainty in the Green Wedge.

Rezoning of Special Use Zone 2 (SUZ2) land to
Green Wedge Zone (GWZ) to remove interim
uses that contravene the purposes of the Green
Wedge.

Education campaigns on the benefits of the
green wedge and locally produced food.

Prohibition of the construction of dwellings on
lots below the minimum subdivision size.

Financial incentives for legitimate farmers and
conservation landholders, including differential
rates.

Encouragement of water basins and woodland
plantations.

Establishment of a South East Green Wedge
Community Liaison Committee.

Discontinue plans for the Frankston Bypass.

Implementation of environmental
recommendations, including expansion of the
Ramsar Wetlands area.
Authorities should take planning strategies seriously
if they want to protect green wedges. There is a
need for tightened development controls and the
eradication of loopholes. A strong belief in the green
106742724
84
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
wedge needs to be established.
Additional information:
Select documents include:

South East Non Urban Area Study.

The framework plan that underpinned the
abandoned Frankston Planning Scheme
Amendment C3.

Mordialloc Creek Environment Strategy and
Opportunities Report 1992.

Sandbelt Open Space Project Report 1994.

Concrete Crusher Panel Reports (Delta and Alex
Fraser Concrete Crusher applications).

Draft Northern Non Urban Area Framework Plan
(Kingston).

Draft Non Urban Area Strategic Plan (Kingston0.

Lyndhurst Land Capability Study (Greater
Dandenong).
Organisation:
Green Wedges Coalition
What interest does your organisation
The Green Wedges Coalition aims to protect green
have in the study area?
wedges from inappropriate development, including
the erosion of rural land by residential and industrial
development. The Green Wedges Coalition was
formed in 2002 following an alliance of the
Defenders of the South East Green Wedge with other
metropolitan green wedge groups. Many groups
have seen similar threats and challenges to those in
the SEGW, which has experienced gradual erosion.
The Green Wedges Coalition successfully lobbied the
State Government for legislative and planning
provisions to establish the urban growth boundary
and other protective measures for green wedges.
Their actions have been largely successful, with only
two urban developments approved since protection
measures were implemented in 2002-2003.
What do you think are the important
A number of attributes are significant. These include:
attributes of the study area?

The break between urban uses that the SEGW
provides.

Its productive agricultural, horticultural and
market garden lands close to large population
centres and markets; a particularly important
attribute for future sustainability.

Quality conservation areas such as Ramsar
Wetlands and a number of reserves and
woodlands which are important environmental
106742724
85
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
assets.

Existing and potential recreation areas such as
open space and golf courses. This is an
important attribute to local communities, as well
as a potential solution for the unmet need for
sports facilities.

A number of areas which provide habitat for
water birds (such as the Eastern Treatment
Plant) and valuable water catchments and
wetlands.

Its use as a buffer for sand extraction and landfill
operations and other infrastructure.

The potential for carbon offsets and local
nurseries to encourage locally grown seedlings.
What do you think are the issues
Community consultation has generally indicated that
affecting the study area?
a majority of people support green wedges and their
protection, however this has not been systematically
surveyed or documented in the SEGW.
Residents at two successive community
consultations in Clarinda have asserted that they
would like parks, recreation facilities and land
rehabilitation to be delivered, including the Kingston
Chain of Parks.
Residents have tolerated sand mining and landfills
but are resistant towards further factories or
concrete crushing facilities being established in the
area.
Residents in Dingley Village and Aspendale Gardens
have also strongly supported keeping urban
activities out of the green wedge.
Land speculation is driving prices up, making
circumstances harder for legitimate farmers, while
land is deteriorating from neglect while speculators
and developers lobby for rezoning.
The councils of SEGW do not have a clear view on
the future of the area.
The importance of locally grown food will increase in
the future, with existing market gardens ideally
suited to service this need.
106742724
86
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
Unfortunate precedents have been set with regard to
urban uses being enabled on green wedge land,
providing opportunities for similar uses in the future.
Land rehabilitation is required on some sites, while
others have seen dwellings constructed on small
blocks below minimum subdivision sizes.
The exemption of Moorabbin Airport from state
planning regulations has seen commercial
development on previously open space, despite its
inclusion in the SEGW.
Kingswood Golf Course should be included in the
SEGW, consistent with other similarly located golf
courses on the urban fringe.
What should State Government and /
A Green Wedge Management Plan is required, as
or relevant Councils and / or other
well as the tightening of loopholes in planning
agencies be doing to better manage
schemes that allow inappropriate development.
the study area?
Other recommendations include:

Requiring compliance with Melbourne 2030
Green Wedge protection provisions.

Establishment of a Green Wedges and Open
Space Authority (eg. Growth Areas Authority) to
assess applications and supervise Green Wedge
activities.

Implementation of the Sandbelt Open Space
Project.

Amendments to planning schemes to facilitate
certainty in Green Wedges.

Rezoning of Special Use Zone 2 (SUZ2) land to
Green Wedge Zone (GWZ) to prevent interim
uses that contravene the purposes of the Green
Wedge.

Restoration of creeks and drains as part of the
Living Links Project.

Education campaigns on the benefits of the
green wedge and locally produced food.

Prohibition of construction of dwellings on lots
below the minimum subdivision size.

Financial incentives for legitimate farmers and
conservation landholders, including differential
rates.

Encouragement of water basins and woodland
plantations.
106742724
87
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper

Establishment of a South East Green Wedge
Community Liaison Committee.

Discontinue plans for the Frankston Bypass.

Implementation of environmental
recommendations, including expansion of the
Ramsar Wetlands area.
Additional information:
Green Wedges Coalition documents such as the
Green Wedges Charter, Green Wedges Coalition
constituent membership list and Green Wedges
Coalition policy summary in response to request
from PPWCMA may be of use.
Other relevant literature includes the South East Non
Urban Area Study, the framework plan that
underpinned the abandoned Frankston Planning
Scheme Amendment C3, Mordialloc Creek
Environment Strategy and Opportunities Report
1992, Sandbelt Open Space Project Report 1994,
Concrete Crusher Panel Reports (Delta and Alex
Fraser Concrete Crusher applications), Draft
Northern Non Urban Area Framework Plan
(Kingston), Draft Non Urban Area Strategic Plan
(Kingston), Lyndhurst Land Capability Study
(Greater Dandenong) and the Post Implementation
Review of the Green Wedge Provisions (by Michael
Buxton).
Organisation:
Environmental Protection Authority (EPA)
What interest does your organisation
The EPA is interested in environmental protection,
have in the study area?
particularly to ensure that green wedge plans,
policies and council decisions take adequate account
of environmental issues. The primary considerations
of the EPA in the SEGW relate to potential odour,
dust and noise impacts. All of the industries in the
study area have nominated buffer distances around
them (except the airport) however they do not wish
to see existing broad acre land uses to the north
change to more sensitive land uses.
What do you think are the important
Located within the study area is the Eastern
attributes of the study area?
Treatment Plant (ETP), which is critical State
infrastructure, Moorabbin Airport and local flight
circuits, landfills, sand extraction quarries,
Gathercole’s Abattoir and industrial zone buffers.
Many of these uses, particularly the ETP and Airport,
require buffers around them to protect both the
106742724
88
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
infrastructure itself and the amenity and
environment of other surrounding land users.
What do you think are the issues
Issues in the study area include maintaining suitable
affecting the study area?
separation and buffers between sensitive land uses
and zones and land uses that could cause amenity
and / or environmental impacts (including threshold
distances in Clause 52.10 of Planning Schemes and
EPA specific buffers).
Land uses that require buffers include abattoirs,
industrial areas, agricultural uses, contaminated
sites and waste water areas.
The EPA is satisfied with any zoning or individual
developments in the study area so long as they are
compatible with existing land uses. This means that
sensitive land uses with houses and other urban
functions (such as hospitals and schools) are
generally ruled out. However, while industrial
development may be an option, the range of
industries may be limited as some industries may
not be able to coexist with neighbours who produce
odours such as ETP, tips and quarries.
What should State Government and /
To better manage the area, the State Government
or relevant Councils and / or other
and Councils must ensure that developments within
agencies be doing to better manage
the study area do not compromise the buffer
the study area?
distances around existing or potential facilities (eg.
new tips or quarries) by allowing sensitive or
incompatible land use intrusion. Managing these
buffers is the key challenge for Councils in their
strategic planning processes.
Organisation:
Aboriginal Affairs Victoria (AAV)
What interest does your organisation
AAV is interested in the protection and preservation
have in the study area?
of Aboriginal Cultural Heritage.
What do you think are the important
Numerous sites exist within the study area including
attributes of the study area?
artefact scatters, scar trees and shell middens. There
is potential to find further sites on land which has
not been assessed for Aboriginal cultural heritage
values.
What do you think are the issues
Any further development or works could potentially
affecting the study area?
harm Aboriginal cultural heritage values.
What should State Government and /
To assist in management of the study area it would
or relevant Councils and / or other
be advisable to engage a suitably qualified cultural
agencies be doing to better manage
heritage advisor to complete a desktop assessment
106742724
89
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
the study area?
to develop a greater understanding of the SEGW and
its cultural heritage values.
Additional information:
AAV has records on previous archaeological surveys
that have been undertaken as well as registered
Aboriginal sites within the study area.
Organisation:
Bangholme Rural Land Holders Association
What interest does your organisation
The Bangholme Rural Land Holders Association
have in the study area?
represents land owners in the City of Greater
Dandenong section of the SEGW. They are
concerned with issues such as the degradation of
living amenity in the SEGW, illicit development and
large scale land sales destroying the viability of
conventional agriculture, and increasing costs as a
result of rate hikes from illicit development.
What do you think are the important
The SEGW provides an urban break and identity for
attributes of the study area?
townships within it, such as Dingley Village. By
limiting development in the SEGW, local
circumferential travel is much faster.
Green wedge land in Cardinia (outside of the SEGW)
has some of the most productive per hectare land in
Victoria, with one property in Cardinia turning over
$1 million dollars per hectare.
What do you think are the issues
While provisions are in place to deter illicit residential
affecting the study area?
and industrial activities in green wedges, such
activities continue. Poor drafting has also meant
some inappropriate ‘agricultural’ uses such as
intensive animal husbandry contribute to amenity
losses. There is also no transparent or consistent
enforcement of regulations in SEGW, with some
councils appearing to work against such regulations.
Inhibiting rural activities occurs through
encroachment of urban uses and land locking of
viable agricultural land.
What should State Government and /
Ambiguities in uses such as intensive animal
or relevant Councils and / or other
husbandry, and in wording of legislation, should be
agencies be doing to better manage
corrected to prevent loopholes.
the study area?
Permitted green wedge uses should also be
reconsidered given many permitted uses are usually
only found in offensive zones.
Greater enforcement on and communication between
106742724
90
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
government bodies is required, particularly from
DPCD.
Additional information:
Lyndhurst Capability Study, for City of Greater
Dandenong 2003.
Organisation:
Parks Victoria
What interest does your organisation
Parks Victoria manages three parks within the SEGW
have in the study area?
– Karkarook, Braeside and The Pines Flora and
Fauna Reserve, and has an interest in the ‘Chain of
Parks’ concept. It also has responsibility for strategic
planning of the Metropolitan Trail Network, with both
existing and proposed trails located in the SEGW.
What do you think are the important
There are significant environmental values (The
attributes of the study area?
Pines Flora and Fauna Reserve) and recreational
opportunities (Karkarook and Braeside Parks) within
the study area.
What do you think are the issues
Parks and reserves need to be considered important
affecting the study area?
as areas for environmental protection.
The Frankston Bypass also intends to bisect The
Pines Flora and Fauna Reserve.
What should State Government and /
No comment provided.
or relevant Councils and / or other
agencies be doing to better manage
the study area?
Additional information:
The Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment
Management Authority ‘Dandenong Living Links’
project aims to develop a master plan for a network
of environmental and social linkages across the
Dandenong catchment (including the SEGW).
The ‘Sandbelt Open Space Project Development Plan’
and ‘Linking People and Spaces’ documents authored
by Parks Victoria would also be relevant, in addition
to park management plans and development plans
detailing objectives on land managed by Parks
Victoria.
Organisation:
Sustainability Victoria
What interest does your organisation
The Department of Sustainability Victoria is
have in the study area?
interested in the Victorian Government’s Towards
Zero Waste (TZW) Strategy to improve resource
recovery and promote waste avoidance. In
particular, this relates to targets to improve the
106742724
91
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
current resource recovery rate of 60% in Victoria to
targets set by individual sector, with viability of the
Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste streams
for concrete and brick recycling crucial to
achievement of the strategy.
What do you think are the important
Melbourne is generally well served by C&D recycling
attributes of the study area?
infrastructure however the imminent closer of the
Alex Fraser facility in Clayton is anticipated to have a
significant adverse impact on resource recovery in
Victoria, unless alternative facilities can be sited and
commissioned in the south east. A location is
needed here due to the large transport costs
associated with the heavy nature of waste concrete
and brick, with additional costs impacting on overall
viability of these materials to compete with virgin
quarried product should activities be transferred to
the western suburbs. Ensuring the long term viability
of resource recovery reduces the need for additional
landfill space, with sites in Kingston potentially
attractive for C&D activities.
What do you think are the issues
No comment provided.
affecting the study area?
What should State Government and /
No comment provided.
or relevant Councils and / or other
agencies be doing to better manage
the study area?
Organisation:
Department of Sustainability and Environment
(DSE) (Biodiversity Group)
What interest does your organisation
DSE leads the Victorian Government’s efforts to
have in the study area?
sustainably manage biodiversity and ecosystem
conservation. Victoria is a signatory to several
national agreements and strategies on sustainable
development and biodiversity conservation, including
the Intergovernmental Agreement on the
Environment, National Strategy for Ecologically
Sustainable Development, and the National Strategy
for the Conservation of Australia’s Biological
Diversity.
Commitment to biodiversity, sustainability and these
strategies is reflected in Victorian legislation,
particularly the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988
which is administered by DSE.
106742724
92
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
What do you think are the important
The Ramsar listed Edithvale Seaford Wetlands which
attributes of the study area?
support a wide range of flora and fauna, including
threatened species is important. There is also a
range of parks, green spaces and Biosites (sites of
biological significance) including The Pines Flora and
Fauna Reserve, Braeside Park, Lyndhurst Gum
Swamp, Edithvale-Carrum Seaford Wetlands and
some golf courses. Ecological Vegetation Classes
classification can provide information on the type
and location of native vegetation patches within the
SEGW – a number of these within the SEGW such as
Swamp Scrub, Plains Grassy Woodland and Swampy
Riparian Woodland are endangered. In addition, a
range of native and threatened fauna and flora
reside in the SEGW, some of which are listed on
international agreements to protect the habitats of
listed species. Habitat corridors to facilitate the
movement of species and roadside vegetation
representative of previous vegetation are also
important.
What do you think are the issues
Issues include the impact of weeds and pests on
affecting the study area?
native flora and fauna, the encroachment of urban
uses into environmental areas, alteration to
hydrology and the changes to flora and fauna,
fragmentation and isolation of vegetation patches
and the impact of this on flora and fauna, clearing
and urban development, poor land use practices and
the subsequent impact on soil, erosion and
ineffective storm water management, salinity,
climate change, dual use of environmental areas for
passive recreation which can have impacts on the
resource, and major road construction and
increasing traffic.
What should State Government and /
Stakeholders should think bigger picture, that is,
or relevant Councils and / or other
think on a landscape scale and try to manage the
agencies be doing to better manage
ecological assets as linkages, not in isolation and not
the study area?
so they become isolated from each other. Ecological
assets should be seen as a benefit and opportunity,
not a constraint, as these areas can be used to ‘sell’
areas to the public as good places to be and live,
work and rest. Management and consideration of
native fauna within the area should be factored into
decisions, particularly in terms of movement of
animals (for example, so that kangaroo populations
do not become boxed in).
106742724
93
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
Additional information:
Maps for biodiversity assets (such as EVC maps,
previous records of threatened flora and fauna,
location of wetlands and rivers and creeks).
Frankston City Council may have ecological studies
such as roadside vegetation plans and environmental
assessments (to identify high value areas) of their
municipality from the Frankston Bypass.
Organisation:
Department of Sustainability and Environment
(DSE) (Public Land Division)
What interest does your organisation
Interested in the creation of the Sandbelt Parkland,
have in the study area?
particularly given it is a major policy objective of
DSE and Melbourne 2030. This initiative is a long
term objective given quarry activity on land
identified for a new metropolitan park.
What do you think are the important
The future parkland provision envisaged in the north
attributes of the study area?
of the study area, with the Chain of Parks project
referring to Karkarook Park, the future Sandbelt Park
and Braeside Park. The SEGW provides residents and
visitors with a place to escape the urban
environment, future parkland provision in the
municipalities in which it is located and plays an
important role in accommodating the recreation
needs of these communities.
What do you think are the issues
Land use in the area provides long term objectives
affecting the study area?
with respect to the development of parks and green
space due to existing uses. The quality of the land in
respect of environmental and recreational values is
also poor, and a growing population is applying
further pressure.
What should State Government and /
Joint government (local and state) efforts must be
or relevant Councils and / or other
pursued to rehabilitate land, waterways and
agencies be doing to better manage
biodiversity corridors. This joint effort should extend
the study area?
to continued development of the parkland network in
the study area due to the municipalities diminishing
provision of open space as their populations grow.
Additional information:
Sandbelt Parkland Open Space Project 1994.
Organisation:
Heritage Victoria
What interest does your organisation
Ensuring that places of post-contact cultural heritage
have in the study area?
value (such as buildings, structures, trees,
landscapes, historical archaeological sites and other
places) are identified, assessed, documented,
protected and managed either through the
106742724
94
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
requirements of the Heritage Act 1995 (for places of
State significance or historical archaeological sites)
or through planning schemes (for places that are
significant at a local level).
What do you think are the important
Places of post-contact cultural heritage value.
attributes of the study area?
What do you think are the issues
A critical matter is to ensure that places of cultural
affecting the study area?
heritage significance have been identified and
documented and that the appropriate planning tools
(for example, overlays) have been applied. The
Green Wedge A Zone (GWAZ) contains important
objectives including to protect, conserve, recognise
and enhance opportunities and areas of cultural
heritage significance. There are also decision
guidelines which acknowledge cultural heritage,
however they are often not in themselves sufficient
to ensure that heritage places are protected. This
could occur where a Council might require a
development proposal be amended to minimise
adverse impact upon a building, tree or feature of
importance, but there is nothing to prevent removal
of that building unless an appropriate planning tool
has been applied. This emphasises the need to
ensure that heritage studies have been completed
and implemented, however budgets are not always
sufficient to ensure inclusion and / or protection of
all significant places. Councils should have a clearer
view of the adequacy of their existing heritage
studies and whether there are any gaps in either the
identification and assessment of significant places, or
their protection.
What should State Government and /
Councils should ensure that all post-contact cultural
or relevant Councils and / or other
heritage places have been identified, assessed and
agencies be doing to better manage
documented, and that all significant places have
the study area?
been afforded protection in the relevant planning
scheme by application of an appropriate tool,
including a Heritage Overlay, Environmental
Significance Overlay and Significant Landscape
Overlay. The State Government might provide
financial assistance to Councils to assist in strategic
work such as surveys and implementation.
Additional information:
Heritage studies have been undertaken by the
relevant municipalities. Details of these studies may
be obtained from:
http://www.heritage.vic.gov.au/page.asp?ID=378 or
respective councils.
106742724
95
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
Organisation:
Port Phillip and Western Port Catchment
Management Authority (PPWPCMA)
What interest does your organisation
The PPWPCMA is responsible for assessing the
have in the study area?
condition of the region’s land, water and biodiversity
resources and influencing and facilitating public and
private investments in their conservation.
Maintaining the maximum possible number of future
options for the open space currently protected in the
SEGW is a critical conservation strategy and
opportunity for a growing city.
What do you think are the important
While environments in the SEGW are highly
attributes of the study area?
modified, the restoration potential of some remains
high. For example, the public benefits of restoring
some of the Dandenong Valley wetlands in the SEGW
potentially outweighs the value of that land’s current
private use.
What do you think are the issues
Pressure for urban development aided by the
affecting the study area?
declining condition of retired, disused and often
neglected agricultural land.
What should State Government and /
More than for any other Green Wedge, the location
or relevant Councils and / or other
of this green wedge offers two values that need to
agencies be doing to better manage
be optimised: the amenity values it offers over a
the study area?
million Melbournians who live around it in the form
of open space, semi-rural landscape and a potential
parkland of world significance managed along
‘biosphere’ principles; and the use of this wedge’s
open land areas to ameliorate the water and air
quality impacts of the surrounding metropolis.
The PPWCMA has published and continues to develop
a number of strategies to maintain Green Wedge
land in private ownership while securing better
public benefits from the land. These revolve around
one-off payments to landholders to secure
conservation covenants on land titles and an ongoing
program that offers contract payments to
landholders to maintain and enhance public
environmental benefits on their land.
Additional information:
Chapter 3 from the PPWCMA’s submission to the
Land Biodiversity Green Paper.
106742724
96
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
4.4
Other Information
Hume City Council and Wyndham City Council were also surveyed to gain further insight into
comparative green wedge issues.
Hume City Council
Hume is in the process of preparing a Green Wedge Management Plan for the Hume green
wedge and is undertaking the project in three phases. Phase 1 has been completed.
What do you think are the important
The Hume Green Wedge has minimal agricultural
attributes of the study area?
opportunities due to climate conditions, soil types,
and water supply issues in the western region.
What do you think are the issues
There are a significant number of land owners
affecting the study area?
including those opposed to Green Wedge policy. It
was a challenge to work within a policy framework
which does not address key issues in Hume green
wedge area.
There is a need to identify what policy changes can
be put in place to make agriculture a sustainable land
use in the green wedge given the economies of scale
which can be achieved in regional areas.
Land speculation and land management issues are
apparent given proximity to urban areas.
Process being undertaken to prepare
Phase 1: Consultation
the Green Wedge Management Plan?
 Ensure consistency with practice note for GWMPs
 Identified ‘community held values’
 Developed vision with land owners, community
members, stakeholders
 Issues around some people not willing to
participate in the process.
Phase 2: Key findings from stage 1
 Identified value clusters based on Melbourne 2030
comments
 A very diverse green wedge including rural living
areas, large lots and differences in the landscape
 Divided the green wedge into precincts
 Challenges: no steering committee, opposing
views - township residents who wanted protection,
others who thought the green wedge was of
minimal significance
Phase 3: Preparation of strategies and
implementation measures
106742724
97
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
 The GWMP is likely to be precinct based instead of
a single management plan.
What implementation measures have
The Green Wedge Management Plan has not yet been
been undertaken?
completed.
Implications for the South East Green
There are competing views and future directions in
Wedge:
relation to green wedge policy and there are different
levels of information and policy directions across
Councils.
It was challenging to meet the expectations of the
community and opinions were influenced by drought
hardship issues. In some instances there is
conflicting lifestyles associated with the demands of
farming activities compared with rural living.
Wyndham City Council
Wyndham is part of two green wedges: the Werribee South Green Wedge and the Western
Plains South Green Wedge. The Werribee South GWMP has not been adopted but has been
through a Panel hearing process and is a ‘seriously entertained’ document. The Western Plains
South GWMP has not yet commenced.
What do you think are the important
Werribee South Green Wedge:
attributes of the study area?
This green wedge is defined in terms of its uses and
boundaries. The key areas include coastal wetlands,
Point Cook RAAF base, small rural residential area,
intensive agricultural uses, Western Treatment Plant.
Intensive agriculture uses are totally irrigation
dependent and there are concerns over drought
impacts. There is a need for recycled water from the
Western Treatment Plant.
Point Cook buffer zone is provided by low density
residential uses, farming uses, and the Werribee
Tourism Precinct.
Western Plains South Green Wedge:
This green wedge is characterised by natural
grassland, poor soil types and rural residential
activity. Farming in this green wedge is essentially
unviable.
The green wedge could be undermined by land
speculation in the western region based on the Smart
Growth Committee recommendations for future
106742724
98
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
urban land in the north-north west corridor. Some of
this land is currently in the green wedge
The Eddington report proposes a new rail alignment
through sections of this green wedge. This could lead
to more land speculation around the rail corridor.
What do you think are the issues
Werribee South Green Wedge:
affecting the study area?
There are competing uses including rural living area,
farming, and tourism opportunities. The extent of
conflicting uses includes non urban uses (tourism)
objecting to genuine farming uses.
There are also areas of high quality indigenous
vegetation however these are generally in public
ownership.
A planning scheme amendment is underway which
proposes the removal of excision provisions including
the right to excise a vacant lot, and changes to the
‘right to farm’ provisions
Western Plains South Green Wedge:
This green wedge contains indigenous vegetation
including heathland, woodland, grasslands. Amenity
issues not as vital however areas containing high
quality indigenous vegetation are in private
ownership.
Process being undertaken to prepare
Werribee South Green Wedge:
the Green Wedge Management Plan?
Initially the project began as a study of Werribee
South Agriculture precinct. The project was
commenced before Melbourne 2030 was published
and was driven by a Steering Committee.
The Steering Committee could have been assisted by
broader representation than agricultural producers
however this reflected the initial scope of the study
at the time. The area however supports
intergenerational farmers which assisted the project
through established networks.
Western Plains South Green Wedge:
The process for preparing a Green Wedge
Management Plan has not yet commenced. This
green wedge will attract very divergent views
particularly from absentee land owners, developers,
and rural living residents.
106742724
99
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
It is expected that native grasslands will need to be
of greater consideration in this green wedge.
What implementation measures have
Werribee South Green Wedge:
been undertaken?
This GWMP is a ‘seriously entertained’ planning
document having been through the Planning Panel
process with some minor changes to be finalised.
Other actions include the education of Council staff
and improved recognition of the rights of farmers.
Western Plains South Green Wedge:
The process for preparing a Green Wedge
Management Plan has not yet commenced.
Implications for the South East Green
The South East Green Wedge is enveloped by the
Wedge:
urban area and this has affected the quality of land
especially to the north in Kingston. This green wedge
plays an important support role for the adjoining
urban area particularly recreation, major parks
(Braeside Park), schools, sporting and social clubs,
places of worship and animal boarding facilities.
Many uses in the south east green wedge could not
be readily provided in the urban areas due to land
area requirements or use attributes.
South East Non Urban Study – Report on Submissions
The South East Non Urban Study (1997) provides a report on submissions received in response to
the Overview and Options Paper which was released for community comment. A summary of
findings from that process are provided below to add value to the above consultation base.
Kingston
Many areas do not achieve the intended objective of a nonurban area due to non-viable agriculture, the proximity of
landfill sites, the presence of major infrastructure items such
as Moorabbin Airport, and the location of mining activity
throughout the area. Drainage infrastructure in the northern
areas of the green wedge is in short supply.
Greater Dandenong
There was a strong intention to restore ecological areas and
floodplains in the Keysborough area and to integrate these
areas with the Dandenong Valley Regional Open Space
network. This was also seen as critical to restoring water
quality in the area. Other low lying areas in Keysborough
should be redeveloped into constructed wetlands.
106742724
100
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
The viability of agriculture is doubtful and this is not assisted
by the absence of funding support to promote viability of this
activity in the green wedge. Viability pressures have caused
overuse of the land and polluted water entering Port Phillip
Bay.
A range of uses are not affected by urban encroachment
including places of assembly and sports fields. Intensive
agriculture and dog kennels are affected by encroachment of
urban activity.
Frankston
Areas within the centre of the non-urban area should be
converted to urban development and open space as the
environmental and agriculture value is limited. The area is
also in close proximity to major urban infrastructure.
There are concerns for aboriginal and heritage sites in the
area and analysis of sites should be undertaken prior to
examining rezoning options. Landfill sites and water
contamination is a key concern in the vicinity of Skye.
Large lot development could be examined in the green wedge
which retains green wedge character and provides public open
space, whilst rural related uses should be accommodated on
smaller acreage. The Sandhurst Golf Course development has
been cited as a poor example of green wedge development as
well as justifying more urban development.
Casey
Urban development should occur in the vicinity of Cranbourne
and contribute to regional open space links. Subdivisions of
various sizes are proposed in the various submissions.
Westernport catchment has significant environmental values.
Summary of Submissions in Relation to the Urban Growth Boundary
SGS examined submissions to the draft Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) which were forwarded to
the then Department of Sustainability and Environment. A summary of the themes derived from
the submissions pertaining to the South East Green Wedge are provided as follows.
Divergent opinions in relation to green wedge policy – The submissions were from a broad
range of stakeholders including developers, land owners, quarry operators, agricultural land
managers and local green wedge action groups. These stakeholders presented a broad range of
views of where the UGB should be located including notification of key sites and associated
restrictions.
106742724
101
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
History of planning policy in the South East Green Wedge – The submissions generally
exhibited strong local knowledge particularly in relation to long standing planning policy directions
such as the ‘Chain of Parks’, various planning scheme amendments undertaken or underway, key
existing uses, and recent developments and proposals.
Compromised integrity of the northern areas of the green wedge – The green wedge area in
the vicinity of Heatherton Road in the City of Kingston was generally considered to be of low
environmental value characterised by non-viable agricultural areas, extractive industry, landfill,
and poor land management driven by land speculation.
Articulation of environmental values – Many submissions highlighted key sites of
environmental significance including Karkarook Park, remnant vegetation areas, major reserves
and key features, agricultural viability in certain areas, and landscape values.
Major inhibitors to viable agriculture in the green wedge – The key considerations were poor
availability of land, small lot sizes and fragmented ownership, minimal opportunities for expansion,
increasing insurance costs, and changing market demands and competition.
The role of Moorabbin Airport – The surrounding golf courses fulfil the buffer zone role for the
airport. It is a Commonwealth owned facility which was the subject of a master plan in 1999. The
airport is expected to accommodate increased commercial, industrial, retail, and factory /
warehouses in the future as part of the implementation of the master plan.
Areas with significant drainage issues – The area of remnant vegetation along Potts Road
fulfils an important stormwater retention and treatment function. Mordialloc Creek passes through
the green wedge and is part of a broader water catchment area. There is a significant ephemeral
wetlands precinct south of Hutton Road which also forms part of a flood retarding basin. Large
constructed wetlands also exist in Karkarook Park.
4.5
Consultation Summary
Lack of a Shared Vision amongst Stakeholders
The main stakeholder groups that have an interest in the South East Green Wedge do not, on the
whole, have a shared vision for its future. The main stakeholders are landholders, business
operators (agricultural, mining and other), State Government, Kingston, Greater Dandenong,
Frankston and Casey Councils, residents and environmental groups.
Despite the divergence in view, most stakeholders do have a shared view regarding some aspects
of the South East Green Wedge, these being:

Protect important environmental features;

Support the concept of developing an enhanced open space and recreation network in the
area; and

Protect major infrastructure assets and buffers.
106742724
102
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
However, beyond that, there is significant diversity in opinion regarding the appropriate future use
of land. Some groups would promote one or a combination of activities such as urban
development (housing and industry), agriculture, mining and landfill activities.
Divergence in Opinion is Greatest in Relation to the Northern Parts of the Area
Generally, the northern or Kingston part of the South East Green Wedge has the greatest diversity
in stakeholder opinion regarding future planning direction, whereas the southern parts have more
of a shared view.
Outside of key environmental, parkland and infrastructure matters, there is little overlap in opinion
regarding the future role of Kingston’s Green Wedge amongst stakeholders. Opinion ranges from
promoting open space, agriculture, mining, landfills and urban development in various forms.
The major deviation from green wedge policy with respect to the Greater Dandenong portion of the
South East Green Wedge relates to the potential to convert land to industrial activity, in parts of
the area.
There is more of a shared view amongst stakeholders regarding the Frankston and Casey South
East Green Wedge areas. Stakeholder views are generally in line with green wedge principles.
The Kingston ‘Hot Spot’
Contention regarding Kingston’s Green Wedge relates to a number of factors, as follows:

Only a relatively small portion of Kingston green wedge land is zoned Green Wedge (about
one-fifth, as shown later in this report);

Land is generally fragmented by road networks and subdivision patterns;

Some sites are degraded due to mining and landfill operations and poor land management
practices;

Some waterways are likewise degraded due to such operations and urban activity; and

Importantly, the area is located about 20 kilometres from Melbourne’s CBD, and about 10
kilometres from the demographic centre of Melbourne.
There are at least two major opportunities for ‘green wedge’ oriented development in Kingston.
First, consolidation and further development of the open space network, generally described by the
‘Chain or Parks’ plan. The area offers significant opportunity for development of the open space
and recreation network to service adjacent areas and the south-east sub-region of Melbourne with
regional scale facilities. Second, consolidation and further development of agricultural activity.
This relates to the historic role of the area for market gardening based on relatively high quality
soils for crop growing and proximity to urban markets.
The Kingston issue relates to the implicit pressure and speculation generated from its green wedge
being located about 10 kilometres from the demographic centre of Melbourne and the accessibility
this location provides to services, jobs and existing infrastructure. The potential role the area has
in metropolitan development can be rated as high, and arguably higher than many (if not all) of
Melbourne’s designated growth areas.
106742724
103
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
Leaving aside the potential development of open space networks and recreation facilities in the
area (which is generally a shared view amongst stakeholders) the tension in Kingston is generated
by the potential future use of land for urban development versus an agricultural or related use.
Whilst agriculture is a potential future use for the area, the industry’s capacity is compromised in
this location (see discussion below for more information). This tension will continue to build in the
future as Melbourne’s population grows.
The lack of clear direction and investment in Kingston in any one particular strategic direction is
resulting in a slow failure of the area as green wedge land.
The Greater Dandenong ‘Hot Spot’
The emerging issue here is the trade-off between the potential to expand one of the State’s
premier industrial nodes versus maintenance of land for green wedge purposes, in particular
agriculture. It is likely that pressure will build over time to rezone parts of Greater Dandenong’s
green wedge for industrial uses, as Dandenong South industrial estates become exhausted in the
future. The Dandenong South industrial node is one of the State’s most significant industrial
concentrations.
It will be important to maintain ‘large lots’ in areas that could be converted to industry in the future
should a green wedge use, such as agriculture, prove unviable in the future.
Agricultural Value
There is diversity in opinion regarding the value of South East Green Wedge land for agriculture.
As a general rule, an agricultural location near urban areas is sub-optimal, due to the potential for
land use conflict (which can result in limitations being imposed on agricultural operations), weed
and animal pest control issues and difficulty in accumulating and expanding land holdings,
especially where land speculation and subdivision activity is high. This is generally the case in the
northern part of the South East Green Wedge despite it having relatively high quality soils.
Constrains on farming activity in green wedge areas may be compounded by land use zones that
are more restrictive than generic farming zone provisions; the latter may have fewer facility
investment restrictions.
The counter view is that non-urban land in the area is in part used successfully for agriculture and
this should be maintained and protected. In additional to this, non-urban land in proximity to
population centres is considered to be a strategic resource which can be used for novel forms of
farming such as community and urban farming.
For conventional farming, areas in Greater Dandenong and Frankston have reasonable prospects
due to having relatively good buffers from sensitive land uses and relatively low subdivision and
speculation activity.
106742724
104
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
Shared View: Protect Environmental and Heritage Assets and Develop the Open Space
Network
A clear strategy that has broad support is development of the open space network in the South
East Green Wedge. This can take the form of linking existing opens space and environmental
assets with new networks and assets. This could form a truly integrated system that supports
broader public access and use of the South East Green Wedge and maintains and improves
environmental systems and cultural heritage.
Arguably, a major weakness of the South East Green Wedge is relatively poor public access to
parts of the area and through the area. An enhanced open space network could be used to link
and enhance major environmental features and cultural heritage sites, and deliver new sports and
recreation facilities.
A number of organisations have developed plans to this end including those titled Sandbelt Open
Space project, Living Links project, Linking People and Spaces, Chain of Parks (referring to
Karkarook Park, the future Sandbelt Park and Braeside Park), Metropolitan Trail Network and
others.
The Casey portion of the South East Green Wedge has been identified as a potential wildlife
corridor linking Cranbourne Botanic Gardens to Westernport Bay. Furthermore, various cultural
heritage sites and native vegetation clusters have been identified which could be integrated into a
wider public access network.
A major project is to develop a plan that brings this information together and delivers outcomes on
the ground.
Natural Environment and Cultural Heritage Values and Features
Stakeholders identified a range of natural environment and cultural heritage values and features,
as follows:

Parks – such as Karkarook Park, Braeside Park, The Pines Flora and Fauna Reserve;

Remnant vegetation – including swamp scrub, plains grassy woodland and swampy riparian
woodland;

Aboriginal cultural heritage sites - including Aboriginal artefact scatters, scar trees and shell
middens;

European cultural heritage sites;

Watercourses – including Patterson River, Mordialloc Creek, Dandenong Creek, drains;

Wetlands (home for a variety of bird species) – including RAMSAR listed wetlands at
Edithvale-Carrum-Seaford, Lyndhurst Gum Swamp;

Floodplains – including near Keysborough;

Groundwater reserves;

Mineral resources – including sand reserves;

Native fauna habitats and movement networks – including Dwarf Galaxia habitats; and

Non-urban landscape values and views.
106742724
105
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
Environmental Degradation
Whilst the South East Green Wedge has significant environmental assets, aspects of the natural
environment are degraded. Identified issues are:

Weed and pest impacts on native flora and fauna and agriculture;

Pollution to watercourses from urban activities, landfills and quarries;

Fragmentation and isolation of native vegetation and hydrology; and

Soil erosion and salinity.
Shared View: Protect Infrastructure Assets and Buffers
Another clear strategy that has broad support is protection of regionally significant infrastructure
assets, networks and their buffers (where these apply). Major assets include the Eastern
Treatment Plant (ETP), Moorabbin Airport, major transport networks including Eastlink, reticulated
infrastructure systems and landfills.
Accessing recycled water from the Eastern Treatment Plant for agricultural and environmental
purposes is an opportunity for the area.
The protection of such assets, and applicable buffers, is a key strategic role of the area. Land use
conflicts generated by sensitive uses moving into buffer areas must be avoided.
Other Industries and Buffers
Other industries and buffers apply to the South East Green Wedge, such as sand extraction
quarries, broiler farms, abattoirs and related uses. Such uses have impacts on surrounding areas
in terms of noise, dust and odour impacts and hence require buffers around them to protect both
the operations and the amenity of surrounding land.
Stakeholders offer a diversity of opinion on the value of such activity to the South East Green
Wedge, from general support to opposition.
Land use conflicts are perhaps most acute with quarries and landfills that generate dust, noise and
odour pollution impacts on surrounding areas.
Regulations
Some stakeholders cited a need to amend land use controls to better achieve green wedge
outcomes. This includes a call to review of provisions for zoning, lot sizes, dwelling and agricultural
uses.
106742724
106
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
5
Data Analysis
5.1
Introduction
This section provides an economic and property market assessment of the study area. The section
reviews:

Land area zoning profile data;

The economy of the South East Green Wedge and changes that have taken place in the five
years to 2006 using employment by industry data;

The study area’s contribution to Gross Regional Product;

Planning permit activity data;

Planning scheme amendment activity data;

Property values data; and

Projections and demand side pressures on the South East Green Wedge.
Disclaimer
Note that the information presented in this section of the report is not exhaustive. It presents
information that was able to be compiled within the scope of this project.
5.2
Area by Zone
The following figure shows data on land use zoning conditions in the South East Green Wedge.
This shows that the South East Green Wedge comprises 9,675 hectares of land of which just over
half (53.2%) is zoned either Green Wedge or Rural Conservation.
Figure 50: Land Area (Hectares) by Selected Zone Classifications
Refer to PDF of this document for this figure.
All four municipalities have a Green Wedge Zone but only Frankston has the Rural Conservation
Zone.
Kingston has a low proportion (20.1%) of its green wedge land zoned Green Wedge. Frankston
has just over half (55.7%) of its South East Green Wedge area zoned Green Wedge or Rural
Conservation. Over half (65%) of Greater Dandenong’s green wedge land is zoned Green Wedge.
The portion of Casey that is within the South East Green Wedge is primarily zoned Green Wedge
(95.2%).
In total, the South East Green Wedge has 35 land use zones.
106742724
107
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
The following figure shows data on the top eleven zones ranked by land area. A zone is shown if it
comprises at least 5% of any municipality.
This indicates that the South East Green Wedge has a ‘patchwork’ of zones, including significant
public and special use zones primarily for infrastructure assets and park, recreation and
conservation zones for open space.
Figure 51: Land Area (Hectares) by Selected Zones
Refer to PDF of this document for this figure.
5.3
Industry and Employment Profile
Employment by industry analysis has been undertaken for a data area that best fits the South East
Green Wedge using travel zone journey to work data from the 2001 Census and 2006 Census. The
travel zones for the 2001 and 2006 data periods are shown in the following two figures.
Figure 52: Travel Zone Matrix, South East Green Wedge Data Area, 2001
Figure 53: Travel Zone Matrix, South East Green Wedge Data Area, 2006
Refer to PDF of this document for these maps.
The employment profile and change analysis for the South East Green Wedge data area is
presented in the table below and subsequent charts for the periods 2001 and 2006.
The following
points are drawn from the analysis.

Industry in Surrounding Areas: The highest stock of jobs in the data area is in
Manufacturing. The next most significant employment sector is Wholesale Trade. Most of this
‘industrial’ activity would relate to the urban area surrounding the South East Green Wedge but
captured in the data area. This surrounding area has an impact on the actual Green Wedge in
terms of visual impact, traffic flows, water runoff, noise and air quality conditions.

Growth and Decline: The following list ranks sectors in terms of per annum employment
change in the data area between 2001 and 2006. Highlighted are the sectors deemed most
relevant to a green wedge setting.
Public Administration and Safety
Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services
Other Services
Accommodation and Food Services
Education and Training
Transport, Postal and Warehousing
106742724
108
27.2%
8.0%
4.9%
3.7%
2.6%
2.4%
pa
pa
pa
pa
pa
pa
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
Mining
Health Care and Social Assistance
Construction
Financial and Insurance Services
Total
Property, Business and Communication Services
Wholesale Trade
Manufacturing
Retail Trade
Arts and Recreation Services
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing

2.3%
2.2%
1.4%
1.0%
-1.0%
-1.1%
-1.4%
-2.0%
-8.3%
-9.6%
-11.3%
pa
pa
pa
pa
pa
pa
pa
pa
pa
pa
pa
Decline of Agriculture: Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing employment declined in the data
area over the five years to 2006 and this was consistent to varying degrees in all the relevant
LGAs and across the Melbourne SD. The Kingston data area experienced the greatest decline
in Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing (-19.1% p.a.).

Growth in Utilities: Employment growth in Electricity, Gas, Water and Waste Services was
significant in the data area in the 2001 to 2006 period (at 8.0% p.a.). This industry has also
grown strongly in Melbourne SD as a whole (at 11.5% p.a.), consistent with metropolitan
growth and urbanisation. This industry had a data area employment share of 0.5% in 2001
and 0.8% in 2006.

Growth in Mining: The mining industry experienced positive growth in employment in the
data area (+2.3% p.a.) with this growth generally being concentrated in the Cities of Kingston
and Frankston where sand mining still occurs. This industry however accounts for a small
share of total employment in these LGA data areas.
Table 2: Employment by Industry, South East Green Wedge Data Area Councils
and Melbourne SD, 2001-2006
Figure 54: Employment by Industry, South East Green Wedge Data Area and
Melbourne SD, 2006
Figure 55: Change in Employment by Industry, South East Green Wedge Data
Area, 2001-2006
Table 3: Annual Percentage Change in Employment, South East Green Wedge
Data Area and Melbourne SD, 2001-2006
Figure 56: Annual Percentage Change in Employment, South East Green Wedge
Data Area and Melbourne SD, 2001-2006
Refer to PDF of this document for these tables and figures.
106742724
109
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
5.4
Industry Contribution to Gross Regional Product
The economic contribution of the South East Green Wedge to the broader economies of the
Melbourne SD and Victoria is presented in the following tables and chart. The findings from the
analysis are as follows.
Small Contribution of Green Wedge Data Area to GRP: The data area makes a total
contribution of $2,838 million to the economy. This represents a 2.1% contribution to the
Melbourne regional economy and a 1.5% contribution to the State economy. This is a relatively
minor contribution, and is mainly related to the contribution of surrounding urban areas that are
captured in the data, as follows.

In the data area, Manufacturing provides the greatest contribution to gross product. This could
be expected given that this is a key export sector in the regional economy and provides a
significant contribution to value added production in Melbourne and Victoria.

Property and Business Services provides a lower share of employment in the data area (5.4%)
although its industry contribution is higher (6.8%). This is typical of knowledge economy
industries which are high value adding relative to inputs required.

The industries of Wholesale Trade, Construction and Retail Trade in the data area provide a
mid-range contribution to the regional and State economies. This is broadly consistent with
consumption based industries.
Ranked Contributors: The list of ranked contributors to value of output from the data area in
2006 is as follows. Highlighted are the sectors deemed most relevant to a green wedge setting.
Manufacturing
Wholesale trade
Construction
Elec., gas, & water supply
Property & business services
Transport & storage
Retail trade
Education
Health & community services
Mining
Finance & insurance
Personal & other services
Agric., forestry & fishing
Communication services
Cultural & recreation services
Accomm., cafes & restaurants
Govt admin. & defence
Total
106742724
$1,080.5
$444.2
$209.9
$203.8
$191.5
$126.0
$117.6
$87.3
$87.1
$52.9
$48.8
$44.5
$34.6
$33.9
$32.0
$20.8
$20.0
$2,835.4
110
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
Infrastructure as a key industry: The utilities sector (Electricity, Gas & Water Supply) provides
the highest contribution from activities deemed to be core Green Wedge activity. Green wedges
play an important role as locations for infrastructure which supports adjoining urban areas. This is
of importance in the South East Green Wedge given its proximity to the urban footprint.
The minor role of Mining: Whilst the mining industry is a feature of the South East Green
Wedge, its overall contribution to the mining economy is minor in absolute terms (1.1%).
Agriculture is a small contributor: Agriculture and related activities produce a lower level of
output than mining from the South East Green Wedge data area. Agriculture in this area accounts
for a relatively small 0.6% of State agricultural and related product.
Table 4: Contribution to Gross Regional and State Product, South East Green
Wedge Data Area, 2006
Table 5: Proportion of Jobs to Value Added Contribution, South East Green
Wedge Data Area, 2006
Figure 57: Proportion of Jobs to Value Added Contribution, South East Green
Wedge Data Area, 2006
Refer to PDF of this document for these tables and figures.
5.5
Planning Permit Activity
SGS has been provided with Planning Permit Activity data from each of the four councils in the
study area. This data has been extracted for the South East Green Wedge for each municipality for
the period since 2004 to the most recently provided data. A standardised set of classifications
have been created for this purpose, as shown below.
Table 6: Planning Permit Activity by Application Type, South East Green Wedge,
2004-2008
Figure 58: Planning Permit Activity, South East Green Wedge, 2004-2008
Refer to PDF of this document for these tables and figures.
106742724
111
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
The analysis indicates the following.
Applications in the South East Green Wedge: Since 2004, the highest proportion of
applications relating to the South East Green Wedge has been for Buildings and Works (20.6%),
Subdivision (15.0%), and Vegetation Removal (9.1%). The high proportion of Buildings and Works
applications could be a reflection of the planning permit requirements of the Green Wedge Zone
pertaining to the uses in the Green Wedge. Subdivision activity also appears to be occurring in the
Green Wedge and invariably this triggers the need for a planning permit. The trends however vary
across the South East Green Wedge LGAs.
Location of Activity: The majority of planning permit activity has occurred in Kingston. Kingston
recorded 148 permit applications in the data period, which represents 52% of South East Green
Wedge activity. The corresponding figures for the other LGAs are: Greater Dandenong 61 permit
applications at 21%; Frankston 75 permit applications at 26% and Casey 3 permit applications.
Kingston has attracted a high proportion of applications relating to Vegetation Removal (14.2%),
Buildings and Works (11.5%) and Refuse Station (10.8%). The areas of the Green Wedge forming
part of Kingston have experienced significant change with landfill sites, mining activity and
vegetation removal, altering the character of the Green Wedge.
Greater Dandenong has its greatest share of applications in the South East Green Wedge relating
to Buildings and Works (54.1%), Dwelling (9.8%), and Place of Assembly (6.6%). In absolute
terms however, Buildings and Works has accounted for approximately half of all applications in the
South East Green Wedge since 2004.
Frankston had a high proportion of applications relating to Subdivision (40%), Buildings and
Works (12%) and Storage (12%). With a total of 75 applications however, 30 were related to
Subdivision with a significantly smaller number of applications relating to other purposes.
Casey has a greater share of Green Wedge land relating to the Western Port Green Wedge
compared with the South East Green Wedge. Land relating to the South East Green Wedge in
Casey generally encompasses areas south of Bollarto Road, east of Western Port Highway and west
of Pearcedale Road. In the period since 2004, Casey has had 3 applications relating to the South
East Green Wedge: two relating to Storage and one relating to Infrastructure.
106742724
112
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
5.6
Planning Scheme Amendment Activity
Planning Scheme Amendment data has been reviewed for each of the four councils in the study
area. This data has been extracted for the South East Green Wedge area by DPCD for each
municipality for the period since to 2004. A range of categories have been created to assess the
type and content of each Amendment as it relates to the South East Green Wedge. The data is
shown in the tables below.
Total Amendments: Since 2004, the South East Green Wedge has been the subject of twentytwo (22) local planning scheme amendments. In this period, Kingston has accounted for 50% of all
local planning scheme amendments relating to the South East Green Wedge. The South East Green
Wedge areas pertaining to Kingston have been modified and now include a range of uses including
agricultural activities, major landfill sites, locations of mining activity, golf courses, parks and
infrastructure assets and alignments.
Table 7: Total Planning Scheme Amendments, South East Green Wedge
Councils, 2004 -2008
Refer to PDF of this document for this table.
In relation to the above table, State Government VC Amendments have not been included in the
proportional calculations as the contents of these amendments relates to all relevant planning
schemes containing green wedges and associated planning provisions. The context of these
amendments is therefore broader than the South East Green Wedge.
Purpose of Amendments: Any given local planning scheme amendment may introduce a
combination of planning mechanisms and tools to implement strategic planning directions. This
may include the introduction of a local planning policy, a Schedule and alterations to planning
scheme maps.
The creation / alterations of Schedules were a key part of the amendments together with changes
to local planning policies and Municipal Strategic Statements. Land rezoning and new overlays also
played a role in implementing local strategic directions for the South East Green Wedge.
Table 8: Planning Scheme Amendments (Purpose of Amendment), South East
Green Wedge Councils, 2004 -2008
Refer to PDF of this document for this table.
106742724
113
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
5.7
Property Values
The following table shows typical property prices for green wedge land versus benchmark
broadacre industrial and residential land in outer south east Melbourne.
Land values vary within the Green Wedge, starting at around $350,000 per hectare in Greater
Dandenong and Frankston and reaching about $759,000 per hectare in Kingston. This indicates
that despite a green wedge zoning, principles of land value or distance decay from the central city
still apply to such land.
Table 9: Property Value Comparisons
Refer to PDF of this document for this table.
Land value data has been indicatively estimated for greenfield urban areas in Greater Dandenong
and Casey. The urban land values for broadacre land varies from around $600,000 per hectare to
about $2 million per hectare, depending on location and use.
This preliminary data suggests that:

Green Wedge land in Greater Dandenong and Frankston is about 67% to 77% below urban
prices; and

Green Wedge land in Kingston is about 27% to 50% below urban prices.
5.8
Projections and Demand Side Pressures
Population projections as provided by the 2004 State Government Victoria in Future data is shown
in the table below. This indicates that the population of the four municipalities subject to this study
is expected to increase from about 601,000 in 2006 to approximately 742,000 in 2031,
representing about 141,000 additional people in this sub-region of Melbourne. It should be noted
that at the time of writing the State Government is revising these figures and preliminary
information suggests an upward revision is likely.
This additional population will increase demand on housing and related population driven activities
and services in the region, including:

Increased demand for shops, commercial businesses, recreation, open space, schools, places of
worship and infrastructure development.
All of this additional demand can be expected to place pressure on the South East Green Wedge to
some extent, possibly through:

Direct use of Green Wedge land (eg. open space and infrastructure use);

Indirect generation of activity (eg. increased mining for construction and farming for food
production); and
106742724
114
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper

Speculative property activity.
Using the population change figure as a rough guide, additional pressure can be expected to
increase in the order of 23% over the selected timeframe.
From a retail or commercial perspective, the major pressure is likely to be driven by large format
retailers and garden or trade supply type activities that seek out large sites close to catchment
areas.
Table 10: Population Projections, Selected Areas, 2006-2031
Refer to PDF of this document for this table.
Another major source of land demand pressure in south east Melbourne is industrial development.
SGS has previously prepared projections for the wider south east region of Melbourne, which
relates to 10 municipalities in the south east region.
This indicates that between a 2001 and 2031 data period, industrial activity is likely to utilise a net
increase of more than 2,000 hectares of industrial land. This will invariably place land use pressure
on the South East Green Wedge’s boundaries and internal land use controls.
5.9
Data Analysis Summary
Land Use
The South East Green Wedge comprises 9,675 hectares of land and has 35 land use zones. Just
over half (53.2%) is zoned either Green Wedge or Rural Conservation.
The South East Green Wedge has a ‘patchwork’ of zones, including significant public and special
use zones (primarily for infrastructure assets) and park, recreation and conservation zones (for
various forms of open space).
All four municipalities have a Green Wedge Zone but only Frankston has the Rural Conservation
Zone.
Kingston has a low proportion (20.1%) of its green wedge land zoned Green Wedge. Frankston
has just over half (55.7%) of green wedge land zoned Green Wedge or Rural Conservation. Over
half (65%) of Greater Dandenong’s green wedge land is zoned Green Wedge. The portion of Casey
that is within the South East Green Wedge is primarily zoned Green Wedge (95.2%).
Economy
106742724
115
South East Green Wedge
Background Report and Issues Paper
The South East Green Wedge is in part framed by industrial activity, which has an impact on the
area in terms of visual amenity, traffic flows, water runoff, noise and air quality conditions.
The three industry sectors that are likely to be most directly relevant to Green Wedge land are
utilities (ie. Electricity, Gas and Water Supply), mining and agriculture.
Of these sectors, the most significant is utilities, being worth $203.8m and growing at 8.0% p.a.
Mining is worth about $52.9m and is growing at about 2.3% p.a. Agriculture is worth about
$34.6m and is in significant decline, contracting by about -11.3% p.a.
Land Use Activity and Property Market
Planning permit and planning scheme amendment activity in the South East Green Wedge has
focused in Kingston. Kingston was responsible for about 52% of permits and 50% of amendments
in a sample data period (2004 to part 2008).
Land values vary within the Green Wedge, starting at around $350,000 per hectare in Greater
Dandenong and Frankston and reaching about $759,000 per hectare in Kingston. This indicates
that despite a green wedge zoning, principles of land value distance decay from the central city still
apply to such land.
Preliminary property data shows that Green Wedge land in Greater Dandenong and Frankston is
about 67% to 77% below urban prices; and Green Wedge land in Kingston is about 27% to 50%
below urban prices.
Future Pressures
Projections suggest that the population of the four municipalities subject to this study is expected
to increase from about 601,000 in 2006 to approximately 742,000 in 2031, representing about
141,000 additional people in this sub-region of Melbourne. Using this as a rough guide, land use
pressure can be expected to increase in the order of 23% over the this timeframe.
This additional population will increase demand on housing and related population driven activities
and services in the region, including increased demand for shops, commercial businesses,
recreation, open space, schools, places of worship and infrastructure development.
From a retail or commercial perspective, the major pressure is likely to be driven by large format
retailers and garden or trade supply type activities that seek out large sites close to catchment
areas. Another major source of land demand pressure in south east Melbourne is industrial
development.
106742724
116