OVERVIEW OF THE RECOMMENDED CHANGES TO THE MAROONDAH PLANNING SCHEME

The findings of the Recommendations report are proposed to be implemented through the introduction of 11 new schedules to the Neighbourhood Residential Zone (NRZ) and 2 new schedules to the General Residential Zone (GRZ).

The following is a list of the recommended new schedules to the residential zones under the Maroondah Planning Scheme.

Neighbourhood Residential Zone (NRZ)

• Neighbourhood Residential Zone (NRRZ1) Croydon Hills Estate, Birt’s Hill & Jumping Creek Valley

• Neighbourhood Residential Zone (NRZ2) Wicklow Hills Ridgeline

• Neighbourhood Residential Zone (NRZ3) Wicklow Hills Lower Slopes

• Neighbourhood Residential Zone (NRZ4) Loughnan’s Hill

• Neighbourhood Residential Zone (NRZ5) Jubilee Park

• Neighbourhood Residential Zone (NRZ6) Ruskin Park

• Neighbourhood Residential Zone (NRZ7) Warranwood Ridgeline and Slopes

• Neighbourhood Residential Zone (NRZ8) Croydon Ridge and Southern Hills

• Neighbourhood Residential Zone (NRZ9) Croydon Golf Links Estate

• Neighbourhood Residential Zone (NRZ10) Bushland Fringes

• Neighbourhood Residential Zone (NRZ11) Sites of Biological Significance

General Residential Zone

• General Residential Zone 1 Garden Suburban

• General Residential Zone 2 Bush Garden Slopes

In Maroondah’s designated Neighbourhood Activity Centres, the following additional residential zones and schedules are recommended:

General Residential Zone

• General Residential Zone Schedule 3 (GRZ3) Ringwood East NAC Neighbourhood Consolidation Precinct

• General Residential Zone 4 (GRZ4) Ringwood East NAC Residential Regeneration Precinct

• General Residential Zone (GRZ5) Heathmont NAC Bush Residential Growth Precinct

• General Residential Zone (GRZ6) Heathmont NAC Special Residential Precinct

Residential Growth Zone

• Residential Growth Zone Schedule 3 (RGZ3) Ringwood East NAC Residential Growth Precinct

• Residential Growth Zone Schedule 4 (RGZ4) Ringwood East NAC Strategic Residential Growth Precinct

• Residential Growth Zone Schedule 5 (RGZ5) Heathmont NAC Residential Growth Precinct

Additional residential schedules in the commercial areas

• Ringwood East Heathmont NACs reflect Structure Plans (C96 & C97)

Please note the Maroondah's Major Designated Activity Centres (MAC), namely Ringwood MAC and Croydon MAC are being considered as separate strategic projects.

To view and extract of the Report's Recommendations Summary Table please click here.

The review process has been undertaken in a five-stage process:

Stage 1: Appointment of a Consultant

Maroondah City Council engaged Claire Scott Planning to undertake the Maroondah Neighbourhood Character Study Review.

Stage 2: Residential Character Assessment

A Residential Character Assessment has been prepared, including an assessment of how the current planning scheme provisions are performing in relation to the protection and management of landscape and residential character. It also includes an audit of character area changes since the 2005 study.

Stage 3: Identification of Community Values

Stage 4: Implementation Recommendations

Stage 5: Final Report

Please note that once the recommendations of the Stage 5 report are endorsed by Council a planning scheme Amendment process will be initiated as a second stage of this process and formal exhibition of any changes will be carried out in accordance with the Planning and Environment Act 1987.

A Residential Character Assessment has been prepared, including an assessment of how the current planning scheme provisions are performing in relation to the protection and management of landscape and residential character. It also includes an audit of character area changes since the 2005 study.

Please refer to the Neighbourhood Character study stage 2 Character report

Stage 3 of the project has been completed and involved the following community engagement:

Meeting with Key Stakeholders

A workshop discussion took place on 23 October 2018 with representatives from key community groups.

The stakeholder workshop was attended by members of:

·  Ruskin Park Residents Action Group

·  Croydon Golf Links Estate Residents Association

·  Jubilee Park Residents Group

·  The Monastery Ridge Group

·  The Ringwood East Action Group

·  Croydon Conservation Society

Café Consult

A consultation session on the Neighbourhood Character Study Review took place as part of Café Consult at the Maroondah Festival on 11 November 2018.

A total of 65 people participated in the Café Consult Neighbourhood Character Study Review engagement activity. Of these participants, 47 identified ‘footpaths and bike paths’ as one of the top three most valued character elements of the neighbourhood. Other key elements that received a high number of votes included: ‘street trees’ (45); ‘private garden areas’ and ‘space around buildings’ (39); and ‘high tree canopy’ (28).

Consultation on Identification of Community Values

Six consultation sessions were scheduled between 13 November 2018 and 12 December 2018 to hear resident’s views in relation to:

·  What they value most about their area, and

·  What are the character elements that they would like to see changed or retained in their future neighbourhood.

Council’s Your Say Maroondah website included an online feedback form, details of consultation sessions and a community bulletin. Individual submissions were received from members of community groups and residents

One of the most common character elements valued by the community was vegetation such as canopy trees, bushland, and natural habitat. 

Input from the community raised the need to retain the green and leafy nature of the area, particularly with increasing housing density.  The protection of vegetation was also identified as important, particularly regarding older gum trees and canopy trees.

Open spaces and the protection of older homes/weatherboard houses was also identified as important elements to be retained as they add significant character to neighbourhoods in areas such as Jubilee Park.

Safe streetscapes and pedestrian crossings were also identified as important elements to be enhanced as part of the future community.

Overall, the responses identified the following valued aspects of the neighbourhood areas namely:

·  Tall canopy trees;

·  Large gardens and open spaces;

·  The mix of exotic and native species and the wildlife it attracts;

·  Vistas and ridgelines; and

·  Low density that is sympathetic to nature.

Maroondah City Council’s Neighbourhood Character Study was prepared in 2004 and approved by Council in March 2005. This Study identified the defining built form, landscape/natural and social elements that combined to form and contribute the character of Maroondah.

The study concluded that there were 24 definable neighbourhood character areas across the municipality. The scope of the Study excluded non-residential areas.  The Maroondah Neighbourhood Character Study is noted as a Policy Reference.

The Study is recognised within the Maroondah Planning Scheme and principally finds form in Clause 22.02 Residential Neighbourhood Character as well as C54; 55 and C56 of the Victoria Planning Provisions.

Clause 22.02 of the Maroondah Planning Scheme sets out the Residential Neighbourhood Character Policy.  One of the key objectives of this policy is the need to “identify neighbourhood character and design elements that are special to maintaining and enhancing the character of the residential areas of Maroondah.”

As noted in the Maroondah Neighbourhood Character Study 2004 : “Neighbourhood character is not about the imposition of design styles, rather it should be about recognising the distinctive characteristics of different urban forms and their relationship to topography and vegetation, Getting this right is the best way of maintaining and enhancing the sense of place..”

• Neighbourhood character is shaped by the combination of the public and private realms.
• Every property, public place or piece of infrastructure makes a contribution, whether great or small.
• It is the cumulative impact of all these contributions that establishes neighbourhood character.
• Understanding the relationships that physically appear on the ground is the most important aspect of establishing the character of an area.

(Planning Practice Note 28-Using-the-Neighbourhood-Character-Provisions-in-Planning)