Independent panel to consider proposed residential zone changes

Published on 01 June 2016

Monash Council has referred its proposed changes to Monash’s residential zones to an independent planning panel for review, one of the final steps in what has been a long and thorough community consultation process.

Monash Mayor Geoff Lake said everyone who had made a submission to Council about the proposed changes (also known as Amendment C125 to the Monash Planning Scheme) would be invited to make a submission to the independent planning panel. The panel is expected to hold its hearing in coming months.

Cr Lake said Council believes its proposed changes strike the right balance for the community, but was interested in receiving an independent assessment.

“We’re reached a position that would provide some protection against massive concrete overdevelopments while at the same time providing flexibility for local families who want to redevelop their properties to meet their needs,” Cr Lake said.

“We’re interested to find out what the independent planning panel thinks of our proposals and will consider the panel’s views before putting a final proposal forward to the Minister for Planning,” he said.

“We are grateful to all local residents and property owners who gave us their views as hearing from so many people has helped Council determine what we think is the right balance for our community.

“There are very divergent views in our community so it has been a long task to achieve a middle ground.”

The proposed changes that will be considered by the planning panel include:

• Reducing the maximum amount of coverage that buildings have across a block (the site coverage) from 60% to 50%. In environmentally sensitive areas near the Damper, Gardiners and Scotchmans creeks, the maximum site coverage is proposed to be 40% - 45%
• Introducing a rear setback of 6 or 7m in areas near the Damper, Gardiners and Scotchmans creeks. Rear setbacks aren’t being proposed in other areas of Monash, as Council received feedback that many people felt the measure would be too restrictive on property owners
• Increasing the minimum parcel of private open space from 35m² to 50m² in most areas of Monash, except in areas near the Damper, Gardiners and Scotchmans creeks where the proposal is to increase to a 60m² parcel. The total private open space requirement remains at 75m²
• Requiring a minimum of two canopy trees in new multi-unit developments
• Removing the area of Glen Waverley bounded by Highbury, Springvale, Waverley, Gallaghers and Westlands roads and Camelot Drive from the Neighbourhood Residential Zone and including it in the less restrictive General Residential Zone

Media Contact: Jo Robertson 0418 391 979 or email Joanne.Robertson@monash.vic.gov.au