C148maro Municipal Wide Heritage Amendment - Post World War II

Maroondah City Council has completed a municipal wide heritage study review with a focus on Post World War II heritage.

The community’s understanding of what constitutes heritage continues to evolve and expand over time. When heritage organisations, such as the National Trust, were first formed in the 1950s they focused on protecting grand Victorian mansions. Today, most people would agree that Edwardian and interwar-era places are also an important part of our heritage, and many appreciate post-war architecture and design as well. 

While sparse suburb development in Maroondah only began at the coming of the railway line in the 1880's and later intensified during the 1920's with the electrification of the railway line; the majority of suburban development in the municipality took place after World War II. 

While some parts of the City of Maroondah provide physical evidence dating back to 1870's, most of the municipality is characterised by twentieth century development and in the cases of areas such as Heathmont, Bayswater North, Warranwood and Croydon Hills, by post WW2 development.

The post war thematic history has found that it is this post war period that most strongly characterises Maroondah’s residential areas and activity centres.  

Implementation of Maroondah Heritage Study Review- Post World War 2 (Vol 1 and Vol 2)

Maroondah City Council has prepared Planning Scheme Amendment C148maro. This planning scheme amendment (as exhibited) implements the recommendations of City of Maroondah Heritage Study Review Volume 2: Citations for Individual Heritage Places and Heritage Precincts dated April 2023, by Built Heritage Pty Ltd by applying permanent heritage controls to 36 individual places, one Group Listing and 3 precincts.

Updates

Council resolved on 18 March 2024 to adopt Amendment C148maro to the Maroondah Planning Scheme in accordance with the Panel’s recommendations except in relation to the Sunbower Display Village Precinct HO187 (20-24 Rawson Court, Ringwood East) which is to be removed from Amendment C148maro.  In accordance with the Panel recommendation the following changes to the exhibited Amendment were adopted by Council:

Delete the application of the Heritage Overlay to the following places:

• Ringwood Drive-In Shopping Centre at 1-4/86 Maroondah Highway and 1-10 Murray Place, Ringwood (HO172)
• Contemporary Homes group listing (HO188)
• Humphrey Law and Co. building at 22-26 Armstrong Road, Heathmont (HO148)
• Former Bennett Residence at 52 Loughnan Road, Ringwood North (HO156)
• 6 The Outlook, Heathmont (HO164)
• 9-11 Wonga Road, Ringwood North (HO177)
• 2A Dirkala Avenue, Heathmont (HO179)
• 22 Lucille Avenue, Croydon South (HO181)
• 4 Wendy Court, Heathmont (HO182)
• 3 The Boulevard, Heathmont (HO183).

Amend the following Statements of Significance for:

• 254 Canterbury Road, Bayswater (HO152) Statement of Significance as shown in the Panel preferred version in Appendix E.
• 129 and 131-133 Dorset Road, Croydon (HO153) Statement of Significance to delete reference to Criteria F and H.
• 67 Loughnan Road, Ringwood (HO157) Statement of Significance to delete reference to Criterion F.
• 17 Malcolm Court, Ringwood East (HO160) Statement of Significance to delete reference to Criterion H.
• 25-27 Exeter Road, Croydon (HO168) Statement of Significance to delete reference to Criterion B.
• 4 Swain Court, Heathmont (HO174) Statement of Significance to delete reference to Criteria F and H.
• 30-32 Station Street, Ringwood (HO184) Statement of Significance to identify the Sunday School Hall as a non-contributory building.

Amend the Heritage Design Guidelines for 254 Canterbury Road, Bayswater (HO152) as shown in the Panel preferred version.

Amend the extent of the Heritage Overlay for 254 Canterbury Road, Bayswater (HO152) to reflect Mr Reeves ‘barest minimum’ Option 2.

(Copies of the Council Minutes are available at https://maroondah.infocouncil.biz/Open/2024/03/ORD_18032024_MIN_2877.PDF

Next steps

Following the adoption of the Amendment Council has requested the approval of the Amendment by the Minister for Planning.

The Minister for Planning will make the final decision regarding the  approval of the Amendment. 

Background

Planning Scheme Amendment Process

Public exhibition - SUBMISSIONS HAVE NOW CLOSED

The Exhibited Amendment

The amendment introduces City of Maroondah Heritage Study Review, Volume 1: Post WW2 Thematic Environmental History (May 2022) and City of Maroondah Heritage Study Review Volume 2: Citations for Individual Heritage places & Heritage Precincts (April 2023) as background documents, and introduces the following incorporated documents:

• Statements of Significance for all the new heritage places; and 
• Four Heritage Design Guidelines to apply to two individual places, 1 precinct and one serial listing.
• Deletion of HO93, 130 Croydon Road Croydon

 The full list of the exhibited heritage places is included in the Documents section of this page. 

Amendment C148maro was placed on public exhibition from 24 May 2023 to 27 June 2023. The  exhibition period was then extended to 14 July 2023. 

You may inspect the amendment, any documents that support the amendment and the explanatory report about the amendment at :

• the Maroondah City Council website: www.maroondah.vic.gov.au/development/planning/planning-our-city/current-planning-scheme-amendments

• during office hours, at the office of the planning authority, 

Maroondah City Council-Realm, Ringwood Town Square
179 Maroondah Highway
 Ringwood VIC 3134 (opposite Ringwood Station).

• at the Department of Transport and Planning website https://planning-schemes.app.planning.vic.gov.au/All%20schemes/amendments or by contacting 1800 789 386 to arrange a time to view the amendment documentation. 

Council Consideration of Submissions- Council Meeting 18 September 2023 

Following the exhibition period written submissions were reported to Council for final consideration. Under Section 23(1) of the Planning and Environment Act 1987, Council as the planning authority must:-

• change the amendment in the manner requested; or
• refer the submission to a panel; or
• abandon the amendment or part of the amendment

Council resolved to refer submissions to an independent Panel.

Panel Hearing

A public hearing was conducted by Planning Panels Victoria.

The Panel hearing was held on 27 November to Thursday 30 November 2023 and Tuesday 5 December to Wednesday 6 December 2023.

Following the Panel hearing, Council has received the Panel report for Amendment C148maro, 

View the Panel Report and recommendations on Councils website. 

Further information

Council has created informative videos to provide background information on this project. These can be viewed in the videos section. 

For further information on Amendment C148maro, please contact Council's Strategic Planning team on 1300 88 22 33 or 9298 4598 .