By JESSE GRAHAM
A HERITAGE Overlay proposal was passed by Yarra Ranges councillors last week, despite concerns from one councillor that the process was unfair on residents.
Yarra Ranges Planning Scheme Amendment C131 – Healesville Heritage Study, which was proposed last year, was passed by a majority of Yarra Ranges councillors at their 10 March meeting.
The overlay affects two ‘precincts’ – one in Nicholson Street (Maroondah Highway) and another in Symons Street – along with several individual properties throughout the town.
Last week’s council meeting was one of the final steps for the overlay, which has been in various stages of consultation for the past year, with the council to submit the amendment to the Planning Minister for approval.
Deputy mayor Jason Callanan and O’Shannassy Ward councillor Jim Child both supported the motion to pass the amendment at the meeting.
Cr Child said the matter had been extensively discussed with residents, both through council consultation and an independent panel hearing in October last year.
The panel’s report, which was released to the council in November, detailed discussions on each of the properties affected and responded to land-owner concerns.
The most notable concerns from the 24 resident submissions were that the overlay could negatively impact property values and restrict further development of buildings.
However, the council noted in the Panel Report that the majority of properties are located in Neighbourhood Residential Zones – areas intended for minimal further development – but said that all applications would be considered on its merits.
The council also referenced a Heritage Victoria study from 2001 which concluded that, generally speaking, the Heritage Overlay did not affect property values.
Chirnside Ward councillor Andrew Witlox opposed the proposal and said he did not like the way the discussions had been conducted.
Cr Witlox criticised the consultation for the overlay as not being fair on owners, who were not able to opt-out from the overlay and had to request that their properties be removed after the fact.
“I don’t like the process and I don’t like the way it was done,” he said.
“There was one (view) in this that it should be voluntary, and I think that’s the right way to go.”
Walling Ward councillor Len Cox said that he understood Cr Witlox’s position, but said the overlay was necessary to maintain historically significant buildings in the town.
No members of the public made a public submission to the council for or against the item, which was noted by Cr Child as a sign the proposal had been extensively discussed and explained.
All present councillors, with the exception of Cr Witlox, voted in favour of passing the amendment.
Ryrie Ward councillor Fiona McAllister was not present at the meeting to speak or vote.
For more information on Amendment C131, or for the full Panel Report, visit yarraranges.vic.gov.au.
