By JESSE GRAHAM
NEW design guidelines could encourage environmentally sustainable design and shape new developments in the Yarra Valley following the council’s approval of a planning scheme amendment.
Amendment C126, which features five Design and Development Overlays (DDOs) for Yarra Ranges towns, was put before the Yarra Ranges Council on 22 October and passed by a majority of the councillors.
If approved by Planning Minister Matthew Guy, the DDOs will enforce guidelines on new developments for town centres, with separate DDOs for different regions of the municipality.
Among the guidelines are restrictions on building heights in town centres, which are recommended not to exceed two storeys, and Environmentally Sustainable Design (ESD) requirements.
ESD requirements will only apply to developments with a floor area over 1500 square metres, and will require applications to include a management plan, showing how the proposed development would adopt environmentally sustainable design principles.
Ryrie Ward councillor Fiona McAllister said there would not be a great change to development under the DDOs in the Yarra Valley, with many of the features focusing on planning consistency in the area.
“More of the intent was for other towns in the municipality, in the Dandenongs, which statements about the discouragement of drive through facilities,” she said.
“The challenge for us, and the sawmill site (development) has shown this, is that we try to impact positively on development through DDOs – but VCAT decisions show that, ultimately, the state overrides.”
DDO12 applies to Healesville, Monbulk, Warburton, Yarra Glen and Yarra Junction, while DDO13 applies to Coldstream, Seville, Wandin North and Woori Yallock, along with towns in the Dandenong Ranges.
DDO17 applies to Coldstream, Woori Yallock and Yarra Junction, though only to the areas of Mixed Use Zone.
Six towns in the Dandenong Ranges will be under two DDOs, which include specific statements that discourage the construction of drive-through facilities.
Lyster Ward councillor Samantha Dunn said the DDOs will not affect current developments if they are approved, and there is no date set for Planning Minister Matthew Guy to review the DDOs.
