MAROONDAH PLANNING SCHEME
21.13
PROTECTION OF JUMPING CREEK HEADWATER CATCHMENT
19/01/2006
VC37
21.13-1
19/01/2006
VC37
21.13-2
Strategic significance
Maroondah’s ridgelines and valleys form part of the drainage basin for two major
metropolitan watercourses - The Yarra River and The Dandenong Creek. In a physical
sense, these larger drainage basins are (in part) fed by a series of small tributaries which
originate as a headwater in Maroondah and flow into adjoining municipalities. The most
notable of these headwaters is Jumping Creek, which rises in a steep, densely vegetated
drainage valley in the north of the municipality and join the Yarra River at Warrandyte.
This headwater is located in a sensitive environmental area that has been developed with
low density settlement predominantly over the last 30 years.
Overview
19/01/2006
VC37
The protection of the Jumping Creek headwater catchment from dwelling overdevelopment
and land clearing has local, regional and metropolitan importance.
In terms of the local environment, the Jumping Creek catchment is the most natural stream
environment in the municipality and exhibits one of the few remaining intact stream side
(riparian) habitats to be found in Maroondah. Higher density subdivision, uncontrolled
residential development and clearance of native understorey and canopy vegetation would
have a dramatic impact on the character of this area.
At present the relationship between existing development and environmental protection in
the Jumping Creek headwater catchment is finely balanced, however it is considered that
any form of development above the current density will have a significant negative impact.
Sensitive ecological and hydrological process would be irrevocably modified if urban
development occurred at higher or even conventional residential densities in this area. As
Jumping Creek flows from Maroondah, through Manningham City Council, any problems
caused by overdevelopment in the headwater will impact on other areas. This is particularly
relevant in terms of the volume of stormwater which may enter the headwater as a result of
increased impervious paving, additional roof area and the associated clearing of canopy and
understorey vegetation.
The long term problems of unsustainable development in a drainage catchment have an
obvious appearance. Gully erosion, loss of valuable topsoil, downstream silting and loss of
biodiversity are well documented problems arising from urban development in sensitive
environmental areas.
At its highest level, the effective management of urban development and vegetation
protection in the Jumping Creek headwater catchment has metropolitan significance.
Maroondah recognises that it has a significant responsibility to ensure that sustainable
development practices are followed in this low density residential environment, to prevent
problems for the Yarra River. Jumping Creek is a significant tributary of the Yarra River
and any overdevelopment will have obvious and long term implications for the this part of
the drainage basin.
21.13-3
Objectives, strategies and implementation
19/01/2006
VC37
Objectives
 To promote the benefits of controlled and sustainable residential development in the
Jumping Creek headwater catchment.
 To minimise any form of degradation of the catchment or watercourse of both Jumping
Creek and the Yarra River.
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MAROONDAH PLANNING SCHEME
 To maintain existing levels of visual and aesthetic amenity for existing residents who
live in the catchment and for surrounding property owners with views of the catchment
area.
Strategies
Strategies to achieve these objectives are:
 Develop and implement environmental management techniques to prevent degradation
of the drainage catchment and watercourse.
 Limit the site density of new housing development to a level which is reflective of the
surrounding housing pattern and respectful of environmental constraints.
 Ensure that new housing is developed on sites and in a manner where there will be
minimal loss of canopy vegetation and biologically significant native understorey.
 Implement controls which ensure that the design and siting of single dwelling
construction and extensions require planning approval.
 Limit the amount of impervious, hard surface construction on sites within the
catchment, to minimise the volume of stormwater entering the creek headwater.
 Significantly minimise the building construction practice of “cut and fill” to prevent
increased stormwater runoff and the associated impact of gully erosion, loss of top soil
and vegetation destruction.
 Ensure that the visual amenity of the catchment is not compromised by dwelling design,
building bulk or construction materials.
 Minimise the fragmentation of current land holdings below the existing subdivision
pattern and density.
 Preserve existing communities of indigenous flora and fauna and encourage the reestablishment of indigenous species on both public and private land.
 Prevent the removal of any canopy tree (except if standard removal requirements are
met) from vacant land in the Jumping Creek headwater catchment where the Design and
Development Overlay, Significant Landscape Overlay or Vegetation Protection Overlay
applies.
 Protect sites of natural and biological significance from inappropriate urban
development pressures.
 Enhance the natural features of the catchment environment through innovate planning
techniques.
 Identify land with drainage and flood constraints and ensure development responds to
these constraints.
Implementation
These strategies will be implemented by:
Local policy and exercise of discretion
 Ensuring all development is in accordance with the Canopy Vegetation Policy, Clause
22.01 and the Waterways Protection Policy, Clause 22.02.
 Ensuring all residential development is in accordance with the Residential Areas
Development Policy, Clause 22.03.
 Ensuring all use and development is in accordance with the Non Urban Areas Policy,
Clause 22.04.
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 Discouraging the removal of indigenous vegetation.
 Encouraging the re-establishment of riparian indigenous vegetation.
Zones and overlays
 Applying a Significant Landscape Overlay and Vegetation Protection Overlay to
prevent the loss of both native and exotic vegetation from the Jumping Creek headwater
catchment.
 Applying a Design and Development Overlay to control subdivision density and built
form issues in the sensitive Jumping Creek headwater catchment area.
 Applying the Special Building Overlay to land affected by overland flows in storm
events that exceed the capacity of underground drainage systems.
Future strategic work
 Regularly reviewing planning determinations to ensure that the Design and
Development Overlay is producing appropriate planning outcomes for subdivision
density in the Jumping Creek headwater catchment.
 Undertaking a precinct character analysis to assist and inform decision making on
planning applications.
 Undertaking environmental strategies and reviews outlined in the “Environment”
section of this Municipal Strategic Statement, which are relevant for the Jumping Creek
headwater catchment.
 Preparing guidelines for the sustainable development of dwellings in the Jumping Creek
headwater catchment, in terms of siting, building bulk, construction materials, cut and
fill methods and colors.
 Developing a Local Planning Policy which reflects, strengthens and provides a strategic
base for the principles and controls established in the Design and Development Overlay.
 Developing a set of standards and protocols relating to the consistent assessment of
planning applications for all forms of development on land forming the Jumping Creek
headwater catchment.
Other actions
 Promoting the protection of the Jumping Creek headwater catchment through
community education programs and environmental management training.
Reference documents
Maroondah 2020 - A Shared Future, Maroondah City Council, 1996
Corporate Plan 1996 – 1999, Maroondah City Council, 1996
Branching Out - An Environment Strategy, Maroondah City Council, 1997
Sites of Biological Significance in Maroondah, Maroondah City Council, 1997
Notable Tree Strategy, Maroondah City Council, 1997
Maroondah Municipal Housing Strategy, Maroondah City Council, 1997
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