Meeting recap - 23 June, 2021

An application to use land at 42 Orchard Street in Kilsyth for 35 warehouses has been approved.

The application sought approval to use and develop the land for 35 warehouses, with up to 118 car parking spaces contained within the site boundary. The site is currently an un-utilised storage facility.

Council’s meeting agenda noted that the application was consistent with the provisions of the Yarra Ranges Planning Scheme, relating to development that supports employment opportunities, uses good design of built form on industrial land, minimises off-site amenity impacts and avoids unacceptable traffic impacts to the surrounding network.

Councillors said at the meeting that measures such as the proposed acoustic fence would help to reduce impact on nearby community members, but also proposed that the colour of the warehouse facades on the eastern boundary should be muted to reduce impact on nearby community members.

Councillors unanimously voted to approve an alternate motion to the Council meeting, which added one condition for the application’s approval – that the materials on the eastern facades of the warehouses on the eastern boundary be modified to feature panels in muted earthy tones.

Eight dwellings will be built as part of an eight-lot subdivision at 78-80 Winyard Drive, following Council’s approval of a planning application.

Application YR-2020/404 proposed an eight-lot subdivision, with a single dwelling to be built on each lot, with associated vegetation removal.

Despite 16 objections being received, it was considered that the application demonstrates an appropriate balance between the built form of the site (as set out in Council’s Design and Development Overlays), with appropriate setbacks and landscaping for the sites, and meets the requirements of the Planning Scheme.

Councillors empathised with the concerns of objectors, but said the application suited the neighbourhood character of the area and the land’s zoning.

Councillors unanimously moved to approve the application.

A draft master plan for the Coldstream Station area will be released for community engagement and feedback, following Tuesday night’s Council meeting.

The draft Coldstream Station Master Plan has been assembled by Council staff to recommend future infrastructure improvements to the site on Station Street.

Council was recently successful in receiving $539,680 in grant funding through the State Government’s Growing Suburbs fund towards the implementation of the master plan’s projects.

A major component in the draft plan is a pump track, where community members, young people and families can practice bike riding on a small track suitable to beginner-level skills and experience.

The Coldstream Station site sits along the Yarra Valley Trail – which currently spans from Lilydale to Yering and will soon be extended to Yarra Glen.

A path is also being constructed to connect the station site to Maroondah Highway and the wider town, addressing the lack of footpath connection to the station site.

The draft master plan will be shared with the community, to gather their feedback on the projects within, before the plan returns to Council for further review and endorsement.

Councillors unanimously voted to release the draft plan for community engagement.

Council will advise community members on Hyne Street, Lilydale, of its intention to declare a Special Charge at its meeting on 24 August 2021.

The Special Charge will see the construction of the road on Hyne Street, following a petition from community members.

As a result of the significant amount of support from landowners, construction of the road has been referred for inclusion in Council’s 10-year Roads for the Community Initiative.

This program has been funded by the Federal Government, and subsidises landowner contributions, dramatically reducing the out-of-pocket expense of landowners compared to Special Charge Schemes outside of this program.

The intention to levy a Special Charge will be advertised in community newspapers and the matter will return to Council on 24 August or the next available Council meeting.

Council will submit two projects to the State Government’s 2021-22 Country Football and Netball program and provide in-principle support for funding.

Councillors unanimously voted to endorse two projects for submission:

• Kimberley Reserve Training Space and Pathway Lighting and
• Woori Yallock Netball Court Surface, Lighting and Fencing Upgrade

Councillors also moved to provide in-principle support to contribute $1 from Council (and other sources) for every $1.50 that Sport and Recreation Victoria contribute to these projects.

Under the Country Football Netball Program, eligible organisations can submit applications for up to three projects, totalling up to $150,000.

The Kimberley Reserve project would see installation of a three-pole LED lighting system on the open space at the reserve, providing lighting for tenant clubs. Additional pathway and security lighting are also proposed in the project.

The Woori Yallock project would see resurfacing of existing tennis and netball courts to provide two compliant competition courts, as well as LED lighting to Australian standards for outdoor netball competition, with surrounding fencing.

Councillors noted that both projects were a worthy investment of Council funding and voted unanimously to submit them for funding.

Council will join a Special Purpose Vehicle with 15 other Councils in the south-east to continue a project for alternative waste processing facilities.

Yarra Ranges has been working with the other Councils to undertake a procurement project for alternative general waste processing, driven by the expected closure of landfill facilities in Hallam – which Yarra Ranges Council uses - in 2025.

About 30,000 tonnes of household landfill waste are collected in Yarra Ranges each year, which is currently sent to Suez Landfill in Hallam.

The landfill is expected to reach capacity and close in 2025, and Council has been discussing how to alternatively dispose of waste, reducing the amount ending up in landfill.

In 2019, Council resolved to join other Councils in a collaborative procurement model, where every Council would aggregate their collective landfill needs and be more attractive to private providers as a contracting entity.

Forming a Special Purpose Vehicle – a company that is its own separate legal identity, with its own assets and liabilities - is the next step in this process. 

Councillors unanimously voted to have Yarra Ranges Council commit to join the Special Purpose Vehicle for the South East Metropolitan Alternative Waste Processing proposal.

Council will change the name of the Yarra Ranges Environmental Advisory Committee and update the terms of reference for the group.

At Tuesday night’s meeting, Councillors unanimously voted to change the name of YREAC to the Sustainable Environment Advisory Committee, to better reflect the breadth of topics the committee discusses.

The committee features 23 community members and agency staff, providing invaluable local knowledge of the environment – and ideas for future management – to Council.

The committee currently has six community vacancies, so Council has reviewed the Committee’s membership and broadened its scope.

Council will run a recruitment process to fill the Sustainable Environment Advisory Committee vacancies for a three year term, along with assessing current members for reappointment.

Councillors thanked people who have been part of the committee and encouraged current members and community members interested in joining to put their hand up for the committee.