Amendment C131 - Updated Planning Scheme & New Residential Zones

Council has completed a significant update of the Hobsons Bay planning scheme through Amendment C131. The amendment came into effect on 24 February 2022. The changes include restructuring the planning scheme to align with the state-wide planning framework, updating local policy, and introducing new residential zones and overlays.

These changes now form part of the Hobsons Bay planning scheme. The updated policy, zone and overlay provisions can be accessed online at the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning. Planning scheme maps and property information is available online at VicPlan.

Note: Properties within Newport Structure Plan 

Amendment C131 does not apply new residential zones to properties within the Newport Structure Plan boundary or subject site to the Inner Newport Heritage Gap Study. 

Updated residential zones will be applied in Newport as part of a future planning scheme amendment to implement the Newport Structure Plan. You can find out more about the Newport Structure Plan and the heritage work via this link. 

Background

Preparing the new Planning Policy Framework and Residential Zones

In 2014, the state government applied the General Residential Zone to all residential land in Hobsons Bay. This was a transitional arrangement while Council completed strategic work to guide the application of the new zones.

In 2018, community feedback was invited on the proposed new residential zones and supporting strategies. This consultation ran from 17 September to 9 November 2018. Council received 57 submissions during the consultation period. The submissions were considered at the Council meeting on 11 December 2018 and changes were subsequently made to the strategies and zones. 

In 2019, Council adopted the Housing Strategy Volume 2(PDF, 18MB), Housing Strategy Volume 3(PDF, 9MB), Neighbourhood Character Study(PDF, 11MB), and Activity Centres Strategy.(PDF, 3MB)  These strategies informed the application of the new residential zones. In 2020, the three strategies were revised in response to new state planning guidance released by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) in December 2019 (Planning Practice Note 90: Planning for housing and Planning Practice Note 91: Using the residential zones).

In addition to revising the new residential zones to respond to state guidance Council translated the new housing strategy along with local policies in the LPPF and the Municipal Strategic Statement (MSS) into the new state format for planning schemes (introduced as part of Amendment VC148).

On 11 August 2020, Council readopted the revised strategies and new residential zones to align with state planning guidance (Planning Practice Note 90 and 91) along with the new Planning Policy Framework. You can access the Council Meeting minutes via this link(PDF, 826KB). In September 2020, Council began formal preparation of Amendment C131 to implement the strategic work and zones.

Amendment C131

Public Exhibition and Planning Panel

In November to December 2021, Amendment C131 was put on public exhibition for community consultation. Notice of the amendment was published in the Maribyrnong and Hobsons Bay Star Weekly on 11 November 2020 and in the Government Gazette on 12 November 2020.

Council notified over 51,000 owners and occupiers of residential properties by direct mail. This included a factsheet explaining the purpose of the amendment and how to make a submission. Council received 56 submissions, from a range of different stakeholders including landowners, residents, developers, government agencies and authorities.

In May 2021, the amendment was considered by an independent Planning Panel. The Panel conducted hearings (by online video) and considered all submissions. Council received the Panel’s report on 9 August 2021 that supported the amendment subject to minor changes.

Council adopts C131

On 14 September 2021, Council considered the Panel report and adopted the amendment with changes generally consistent with the Panel recommendations. You can access the Council meeting minutes via this link(PDF, 1MB). On 27 September 2021, Council submitted the amendment documentation for approval by the Minister for Planning.

On 24 February 2022 the Minister for Planning adopted the amendment subject to changes. The changes were minor and included the following:

• Reinstatement of the exhibited text and Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) preferred wording for the Environmentally Sustainable Design (ESD) policy at Clause 15.02-1L

• Various drafting changes to implement amendments C126 and VC204 (approved in December 2021) and to improve the clarity and structure of the PPF.

The changes are also detailed in this letter(PDF, 140KB).