GREATER BENDIGO PLANNING SCHEME
22.04
Date to be inserted
Proposed C170
SALINITY POLICY
This policy applies to all use and development of land that is affected by the Salinity
Management Overlay or that presents obvious indicators of salinity such as salt scolds, Sea
Barley Grass and Spiny Rush.
The policy builds on the MSS objectives in Clause 21.06.
Policy basis
Salinity is common throughout the municipality and generally occurs in low-lying
landscapes.
Saline groundwater can adversely affect the structure of buildings, roads and infrastructure
resulting in significant environmental, social and economic costs.
Salinity is usually the result of three broad processes – groundwater recharge, groundwater
movement and groundwater discharge. Reducing or minimising groundwater recharge is
critical to addressing salinity problems. This can be done by introducing changes to land
use and land management practices at sites where there is high recharge, for example, the
upper reaches of a catchment and the tops of hills.
Objectives
To identify groundwater discharge areas and high groundwater recharge areas with the
assistance of relevant government departments and the catchment manager and to minimise
the adverse effects of salinity and rising and high watertables.
Policy
To ensure development is compatible with site capability and the retention of native
vegetation.
To encourage revegetation and guide suitable land management practices in areas of high
groundwater recharge.
To implement the Planning Guidelines for Urban Salinity in the City of Greater Bendigo,
2007, for the identification, assessment and development of areas affected by salinity.
Application requirements
It is policy that any application to use and develop land where there is known salinity
discharge or high groundwater recharge or indicators of salinity, a Salinity/Water
Management Plan must be prepared by a suitably qualified hydro-geologist to the
satisfaction of the Responsible Authority.
The Salinity/Water Management Plan must be prepared in consultation with the relevant
Victorian Government department and/or the relevant catchment manager and must
address, but is not limited to, the following:

A desktop assessment and field survey of the geology and geomorphology of the
site to ascertain the nature of groundwater flows.

An assessment of the likely hydro-geological performance having regard to the
impact of salinity.

An indicative assessment of the extent of the salinity issues and the post
development risk it imposes.

The depth to the watertable and salinity concentration of the groundwater in the
region of the proposed development.
LOCAL P LANNING POLICIES - CLAUSE 22
PAGE 1 OF 2
02/03/2006
Date
to be
be inserted
inserted
to
Proposed C170
C60
GREATER BENDIGO PLANNING SCHEME

Recommendations regarding the management and future use of areas identified
as being susceptible to salinity.

An Implementation Plan outlining any works necessary to implement such
recommendations.
Decision guidelines
Before deciding on an application, in addition to the decision guidelines within the relevant
zone or overlay, the responsible authority must consider, as appropriate:

The findings and recommendations of the Salinity/Water Management Plan.

The recommendations of the Planning Guidelines for Urban Salinity in the City of
Greater Bendigo, 2007, in particular the draft guidelines for considering developments
in areas of shallow saline groundwater:
Depth to watertable
(metres)
Relative Threat
Proposed Action
0-1.5
Very High
Development should not occur on
this land
1.5-2.5
High
Development should only occur
where appropriate geo-technical
standards are adopted for all
infrastructure.
>2.5
Generally low*
Development occurs as for nonsaline land
* Note - suitable allowance should be made for drought conditions in considering
watertable depth. There can be no prescriptive method for this other than
consideration of the groundwater hydrographs constructed from longer term
watertable records where available.

The findings and recommendations of A Local Government Planning Guide for
Dryland Salinity, Volumes 1 & 2, 1995.

Whether a Section 173 Agreement should be made that:

Requires any dwelling to be constructed to appropriate geotechnical
standards, where the depth to watertable is between 1.5metres and 2.5 metres.

Prohibits the construction of a dwelling where the depth to watertable is less
than 1.5 metres
Reference documents
Dyson and Associates P/L, Planning Guidelines for Urban Salinity in the City of Greater
Bendigo, July 2007.
LOCAL P LANNING POLICIES - CLAUSE 22
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