samantha in the press

Yarra Ranges Council gives green light to subdivide about 500 properties

Lilydale Leader
by Kimberley Seedy
5 Nov 2014

low density residential zone– changes for some

report from the roundtable – 28 oct

At last night’s council meeting councillors had to make a decision on the review of the Subdivision minimum lot size provisions of the Low Density Residential Zones  (LDRZ) across the shire.

Lots of Hills people in the gallery, in the main to support
submitters speaking about the Olinda Pool.

The review came about after the Minister for Planning amended the LDRZ to a minimum subdivision of 2,000 sq mtrs (from 4,000sq mtrs) back in July 2013. At the same the Minister introduced a schedule to the LDRZ (apologies for planning jargon) to retain the 4,000 sq mtr subdivision size on an interim basis to allow council time to consider any changes.

There’s been an enormous amount of community consultation on the issue with over 2,400 online surveys received along with 54 written submission and 45 verbal submissions at a special meeting of council. Opinion was divided, depending on what part of the Shire you came from, but what was consistent was the majority opposition to changes in the Dandenong Ranges and that a one size fits all approach across the Shire was not appropriate.

It was an issue I’d rather not be contemplating, I didn’t think we should be making any changes to LDRZ, however that wasn’t the majority view of my colleagues.

I moved a motion which sought to exclude the townships of Belgrave, Belgrave Heights, Belgrave South, Selby, Tecoma, Upwey and Upper Ferntree Gully from any changes to the LDRZ subdivision controls. I am pleased to report that the motion was supported unanimously by councillors (note: Crs Callanan and Witlox absent).

The way it panned out, rather than be a blanket change across all LDRZ land in the Shire, there were some parameters about where it should be contemplated:

·         Council generally supported the change of 2,000 sq mtr minimum subdivisions for LDRZ across the Shire with the exception of Belgrave, Belgrave Heights, Belgrave South, Selby, Tecoma, Upwey and Upper Ferntree Gully, however there are further parameters that limit the extent of subdivision across the Shire.

·         Areas within the Bushfire Management Overlay (BMO - per our council report attachments 3 to 10) will not be subject to the lower subdivision provisions of 2,000sq mtr and will remain at a minimum of 4,000sq mt.

·         Cr Child amended the motion to exclude properties in the BMO when it came to Warburton (attachment 5), citing the lack of fire risk for LDRZ in the township, so that means the minimum of 2,000sq mtrs will apply in the Warburton LDRZ.

·         It excludes the areas of uniform subdivision in Attachment 8 – Lilydale, so the 4,000 sq mt minimum will be retained there.

·         It excludes what’s known as the Bickleigh Vale subdivision (Heritage Overlay 75) on attachment 8 - Montrose, so the 4,000 sq mt minimum will be retained there.

·         It excludes LDRZ lots outside of the Urban Growth Boundary, attachment 3 - so the 4,000 sq mt minimum will be retained.

There’s been a long history of strategic planning for the Dandenongs which resulted in the development of the Regional Strategy Plan which makes specific reference “there shall be no net increase in the total provision for residential development in the Dandenong Ranges…”. The Regional Strategy Plan can only be amended by both houses of parliament, is the only one of its kind in Victoria and carries much weight in terms of the strategic direction of the shire.

I’m pleased to say that councillors supported the motion to exclude any changes to Belgrave, Belgrave Heights, Belgrave South, Selby, Tecoma, Upwey and Upper Ferntree Gully.

This is an excerpt from The Dandenong Ranges report,
back in 1974 the Victorian Public Interest Research Group
undertook a study which led to the development of the
Regional Strategy Plan, it ring true today, 40 years later.

Given the history of strategic work to support no changes in the Hills, the level of community opposition to any changes, with 78% of verbal submitters from the Dandenongs opposed to any change and of the written submissions 68.7% opposed in Upper Ferntree Gully, 70% opposed in Upwey, 67% opposed in postcode 3160 (Belgrave, Belgrave Heights, Belgrave South and Tecoma) and 74% opposed in Selby, it was good see that councillors took that into account by supporting the motion to exclude those townships.

samantha in the press

Yarra Ranges green group combats plan to subdivide city ‘lungs’
Lilydale Leader

by Kimberley Seedy

14 Oct 2014

Yarra Ranges councillor says election could be funded by fining people who don't vote
FreePress Leader
by Therese Allaoui
15 Oct 2014

packed house for low density subdivisions hearing

report from the roundtable – 30 sep

The gallery was packed for the Yarra Ranges Council meeting to hear submissions about the proposed changes to Low Density Residential Zones (LDRZ). It was standing room only with residents from across the shire keen to put their point to council.

 

All but two councillors were there (Cr’s Witlox and McAllister absent) to hear community views about the change to allow the minimum subdivision size from 4,000 sq metres to 2,000 sq meters in LDRZ.

 

Forty five community members presented, a couple of them town planners representing groups of residents. One of the core themes of the night was the protection of the Dandenong Ranges as a place that unique, had high biodiversity values and the challenge of landslip and bushfire risk.

 

Even submitters from other parts of the Shire agreed that the Dandenongs was not the right place for smaller subdivisions in LDRZ and another consistent theme was the inappropriateness of a one size fits all approach.

 

The shire has received enormous feedback on the proposed changes, with 2,500 online surveys completed and 50 written submissions.

 

At first glance the consultation is closely split 50/50 between those in favour and those opposed to the 2,000 sq mt minimum. However when you look at the results per postcode they reveal a different story, very consistent with what was presented on Tuesday night.

 

Here are the results by postcode:

Belgrave, Belgrave Heights, Belgrave South and Tecoma (all postcode 3160) had an 18% response rate with 67% not supporting lower subdivisions

Healesville had an 18% response rate with 43.6% not supporting lower subdivisions (54% supported Lilydale had a 26.5% response rate with 48% of people not supporting lower subdivisions the changes)

Mooroolbark had a 33% response rate with 56% of people not supporting lower subdivisions

Mt Evelyn had a 16% response rate with 43% not supporting lower subdivisions (53.8% supported the changes)

Monbulk had a 13% response rate with 47% not supporting lower subdivisions (46% supported the changes)

Montrose had a 19% response rate with 59.6% not supporting lower subdivisions

Selby had a 72% response rate with 74% not supporting lower subdivisions

Upper Ferntree Gully had a 17% response rate with 68.7% not supporting lower subdivisions

Upwey had a 15% response rate with 70% not supporting lower subdivisions

Warburton had a 7% response rate with 53% not supporting lower subdivisions

Yarra Junction had a 24% response rate with 27% not supporting lower subdivisions (64% supported the changes)

 

From the survey responses the townships of Healesville, Mt Evelyn and Yarra Junction had a majority support for the lower subdivisions, whilst Monbulk was divided with 47%against/46%for. What’s also clear is the overwhelming lack of support for the changes in townships across the Dandenongs, with Selby being the most opposed at 74%.

 

 

The matter will come back to council at our meeting on the 28^th October for a decision.

samantha in the press

Yarra Ranges Council faces difficult balancing act as it considers new minimum land size
Free Press Leader
by Cherry Prior
9 Jul 2014

Division over smaller blocks
Lilydale Leader
by Cherry Prior
8 Jul 2014

samantha in the press

Yarra Ranges Council cheered by parents for voting to keep family day care service 
Lilydale Leader
by Kimberley Seedy
25 Jun 2014

Zoning changes proposed in Yarra Ranges by Planning Minister Matthew Guy opposed by Tecoma Village Action Group and Reclaim Tecoma
Free Press Leader
by Cherry Prior
26 Jun 2014

Council slams exemptions
Mail Newspapers
by Kath Gannaway
24 Jun 2014

Plan to fight hills carve-up
Free Press Leader
by Cherry Prior
25 Jun 2014

 

 

 

 

changes to low density - your views?

Yarra Ranges Council is seeking feedback from the community on the proposed changes to the subdivision provisions for the Low Density Residential Zone (LDRZ).

As part of the reformed residential zones the Minister for Planning has proposed to reduce the minimum subdivision size in the Low Density Residential Zone (LDRZ) from 4,000 square metres to 2,000 square metres if the lot is connected to reticulated sewerage subject to planning permit approval.

Much of the area in the Dandenongs around the Upwey, Tecoma, Belgrave corridor is zoned LDRZ and it’s an important consideration what happens in these areas given our environment, topography and bushfire risk.

It’s important we hear from community members about this issue and council will be sending letters to all landowners of the LDRZ area of the Shire (that’s around 12,000 letters) to participate in an online survey on the proposed changes.

The survey is open to all residents, you can find out more on council’s website here.

 

Please note the survey and submissions close Monday 30 June 2014.