Amendment C212 - Monbulk Design Development Overlay and Policy changes

A planning scheme is a legal document, prepared and approved under the Planning and Environment Act 1987.

It contains state and local planning policies, zones and overlays and other provisions that affect how land can be used and developed.

This details the land in the Yarra Ranges that can be used for residential development, industrial use and green wedge and other land uses.

The Planning Scheme guides all our planning decision making at Council.

Changing this document requires approval from the State Government and opportunities for community feedback.

A Planning Scheme Amendment (PSA) is when changes are proposed to the policies or provisions

in a Planning Scheme. An amendment to the planning scheme involves a change to a planning scheme map, a change to the written part of the scheme, or both. Because this changes planning rules in some areas, Council must seek permission from the State Government to make those changes and to seek final approval. This helps ensure that any changes to the Planning Scheme are appropriate for the local region, for the State’s goals for all of Victoria, and consider community submissions.

When there is a proposed amendment to the Planning Scheme, the community will be informed about the amendment, what we’re proposing, and given the opportunity to make a submission.

The Yarra Ranges Planning Scheme will be amended when the process has been completed and the State Government has approved the changes.

This amendment proposes to amend the Yarra Ranges Planning Scheme to implement the Monbulk Structure Plan 2017 and Monbulk Urban Design Framework 2023, by introducing a new local policy (at Clause 11.03-1L-06) for the Monbulk Neighbourhood Activity Centre and apply a new Schedule 21 to the Design and Development Overlay (DDO21), applying to Monbulk town centre, and deleting reference to Monbulk in the current DDO12 which includes Monbulk as part of a generic Rural Townships Design and Development Overlay.

Both documents (structure plan and urban design framework) provide specific guidance on preferred character and design guidelines and strategies to guide the function of Monbulk as a commercial and community hub, supporting land uses that create an active and vibrant town centre with increased pedestrian movement.

The proposed changes to the Planning Scheme were proposed in the Monbulk Urban Design Framework, which the community provided detailed and extensive feedback on. This is the next step in the process.

The Monbulk Structure Plan was adopted by Council on 28 November 2017.

The Structure Plan provides a framework to guide the future growth and development of Monbulk. This document, which was informed by engaging with the local community, guides Council’s decisions when it comes to planning applications and projects planned for the town.

The Monbulk Urban Design Framework was adopted by Council in November 2023 and will help guide Council's decision making and project priorities for Monbulk.

It builds on the strategic work of the Monbulk Structure Plan (2017) with a purpose to provide clear design guidance. We had extensive engagement with the community about the UDF, its projects and proposals, which informed the adopted document.

Currently Design and Development Overlay 12 applies to commercial zoned properties along Main Road in Monbulk; however this is a generalised DDO that also includes the Rural Townships of Healesville, Seville, Warburton, Yarra Glen and Yarra Junction.

The provisions in the overlay relating to the design and built form for new development are not specific to Monbulk. By making a specific schedule for Monbulk town centre, it means we can prioritise developments that suit the character of the region, and discourage development that wouldn’t suit the region.

A Design and Development Overlay (DDO) is a planning control that contains specific requirements relating to the design and built form of new development to guide how land may be developed. These DDOs are designed to protect the neighbourhood character of areas, and encourage development that complements the area. It also helps Council discourage inappropriate development.

Local policy provides the detailed policy directions for an area of a municipality and helps Council to implement state policy in a way that is relevant at a local level.

Local policy has an important role in expressing the goals of a municipality, complementing zones, overlays and other provisions in the planning scheme.

To find out more, contact Yarra Ranges Council Strategic Planning department or look up www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/C212, where you can download the explanatory report, maps and more.

You will have been notified by Council if the amendment specifically affects you as an owner/occupier. Properties adjoining the land affected by the amendment have also been notified by mail.

We would like to hear from our community about the changes Council proposes, to help us make better decisions.

Submissions to the proposed PSA for the Monbulk DDO and local policy, must be in writing.

You can make your submission through the submission portal on Council’s website www.yarraranges,vic.gov.au/C212 or post to Strategic Planning, Yarra Ranges Council, PO Box 150, Lilydale 3140. Quote C212.

Submissions can support or seek changes to proposed planning scheme changes. Submissions are most effective when they demonstrate how a proposal may impact the individual making the submission.

You will be able to make a submission from 27 March 2025 to 28 April 2025.

Unfortunately, submissions received outside of this time cannot be accepted.

A summary of the submissions will be included in a report to a Council meeting and provided to the

Minister for Planning during the amendment process, to help with their consideration.

Submissions will be considered along with other information to inform the amendment.

27 March 2025 – Submissions open

28 April 2025 – Submissions close