The Minister for Planning Advisory Committee review of Amendment C143 LDRZ subdivision reforms has been completed their report & recommendations to the Planning Minister have been released publicly. Despite the Advisory Committee generally supportive of the Amendment proposed, the Planning Minister has refused the Amendment, ignoring the support for the Amendment within the independent Advisory Committee Report. The Minister has refused the Amendment on the basis of insufficient information in relation to the associated Bushfire Risk, which is ironic given the Minister implemented the expansions to the Bushfire Management Overlay without consultation of the public and particularly without consultation with the submitters affected by Amendment C143 of the Yarra Ranges Planning Scheme.
Council has subsequently reviewed the decision of the Planning Minister & the Low Density Residential Zone subdivision reforms, and at their Council meeting on 12th June 2018 have decided to abandon any immediate reform of the Low Density Zone subdivision provisions. Council has decided that the Low Density Zone will now be considered as part of Council's Housing Strategy review and Structure Plan process for individual Townships.
This decision now means that any significant subdivision reform of the Low Density Residential Zone areas of the Shire are likely many years from reaching a decision/conclusion.
The previous Council Housing Strategy refused to consider reform to the Low Density Residential Zone areas of the Shire. We can only hope this upcoming Housing Strategy review will not hold such a narrow minded view at the beginning of the process. We encourage Low Density Residential Zone land owners to strongly contribute to Council's Housing Strategy review process when the opportunity arises.
Posted: Wednesday 13 June 2018