FAQ's

Amendment C130 involves the following changes to the Maroondah Planning Scheme:

• Amend Clauses 21.01, 21.02, 21.03, 21.06, 21.07, 21.08 and 21.10 of the Municipal Strategic Statement (MSS) to support the strategic basis of the Amendment in accordance with the Maroondah City Council Plan 2017-2021, Maroondah 2040: Our future together and Maroondah Housing Strategy.
• Amend Clause 22.02 (Residential Neighbourhood Character) to update the policy application.
• Amend Clause 22.05 (Retail and Commercial Development) to update reference to the Masterplan.
• Delete Clause 22.06 (Ringwood Activity Centre), Clause 32.07 (Residential Growth Zone), Schedule 1 to Clause 32.07 (Residential Growth Zone) and Schedule 3 to Clause 43.02 (Design and Development Overlay) as they are no longer required.
• Introduce Clause 37.08 (Activity Centre Zone) and a new Schedule 1 to Clause 37.08 (Activity Centre Zone) to implement the Precinct Plans from the Masterplan and update reference to the Masterplan.
• Rezone land within the Ringwood MAC from the Commercial 1 Zone (C1Z), Commercial 2 Zone (C2Z), Industrial 1 Zone (IN1Z), General Residential Zone Schedule 1 (GRZ1), Road Zone Category 1 (RDZ1) and Residential Growth Zone Schedule 1 (RGZ1) to the Activity Centre Zone Schedule 1 (ACZ1).
• Rezone land at 1B Patterson Street, Ringwood East from the General Residential Zone Schedule 1 (GRZ1) to the Public Park and Recreation Zone (PPRZ).
• Rezone part of 174 Maroondah Highway, Ringwood from the Neighbourhood Residential Zone Schedule 4 (NRZ4) to the Public Park and Recreation Zone (PPRZ).
• Rezone part of 2-10 Mt Dandenong Road, Ringwood East from the Road Zone Category 1 (RDZ1) to the Activity Centre Zone Schedule 1 (ACZ1).
• Rezone land at 60 Nelson Street, Ringwood from the Urban Floodway Zone (UFZ) to the Public Park and Recreation Zone (PPRZ).
• Amend Schedule 1 to Clause 45.06 (Development Contributions Plan Overlay) to update reference to the Masterplan and to apply to the Ringwood MAC area.
• Amend the Schedule to Clause 72.04 to include the Ringwood Metropolitan Activity Centre Development Contributions Plan (March 2019) as Incorporated Document and delete the Ringwood District Centre Development Contributions Plan (July 1997).
• Amend the Schedule to Clause 72.08 to include the Ringwood Metropolitan Activity Centre Masterplan, Maroondah City Council, 2018 as Background Document.

You may inspect the amendment, any documents that support the amendment and the explanatory report about the amendment, free of charge, at  the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning website Planning.vic.gov.au

Any person who may be affected by the amendment was given an opportunity to make a submission to the planning authority. Submissions closed on 30 March 2020 and were considered as part of the Planning Panel process.

A masterplan establishes a framework to enable the delivery of a centre that has a diverse, compact and well-connected community rich in local jobs, transport, services, culture and affordable housing.

Protecting valuable natural and historical features, as well as using land more efficiently, are also important aspects of masterplans.

Masterplans set out a blueprint for balanced development and investment that will occur over many years.

Metropolitan Activity Centres (MeACs) are important elements of the Victorian Government’s long-term plan Plan Melbourne to encourage and manage the sustainable growth of Melbourne’s suburbs. They are the highest priority areas for commercial and residential development and renewal outside of the Central Business District. Plan Melbourne recognises Metropolitan Activity Centres as the cornerstones for establishing more jobs, housing and services in the suburbs.

Ringwood is defined as one of nine MeACs in Plan Melbourne, and therefore will be a focus for growth.

The Ringwood MeAC is located 23km east of Melbourne’s CBD within the municipality of Maroondah. It is a key subregional destination with a diverse range of land uses and activities that serve a wide sub regional catchment.

Geographically Ringwood MeAC is situated along Maroondah Highway at the foot of the Dandenong’s, operating as a gateway to the Yarra Valley, a popular tourist destination, as well as an important sub-regional goods and services hub.

Ringwood’s location, integrated within the expansive arterial road and railway network of the outer east of Melbourne has enabled it to be established as a strategic transport node.

Since the release of the Ringwood Transit City Urban Design Masterplan, 2004 significant levels of regeneration, development, investment and change have occurred in Ringwood.

Major achievements for the area have occurred as a result of the 2004 Masterplan include:

·  Major redevelopment and expansion of Eastland;

·  Ringwood Station and Bus Interchange upgrade;

·  Heatherdale Station relocation;

·  Construction of EastLink;

·  New Ringwood Town Centre development and cultural hub inclusion of Realm;

·  New mixed use and high density residential development.

The actions contained within the Ringwood Transit City Urban Design Masterplan (2004) had been largely completed. There was a need to apply consistent and contemporary planning controls across the entire activity centre.

The review of the 2004 Masterplan will help to facilitate the sustainable growth and increasing demands of the community, to ensure Ringwood remains a liveable, vibrant, and attractive place to live, work and visit.

The review also assists in implementing key directions within the Maroondah Housing Strategy 2016 to plan for increased housing densities within Ringwood MAC, to continue to protect our neighbourhoods, ridgelines and vegetation.

Changes to a planning scheme are called “amendments” and the process is set out in the Planning and Environment Act 1987.  An amendment may involve a change to a planning scheme map, a change to the written part of the scheme, or both.  It is a process set out by the State Government and more information can be found here:

https://www.planning.vic.gov.au/schemes-and-amendments/amending-a-planning-scheme