The Wyndham Housing and Neighbourhood Character Strategy provides a framework to guide the growth and change of established residential areas in the City of Wyndham.
Extensive consultation with the community on the Strategy occurred between January and March 2017. Over 250 submissions were received raising a wide range of issues about the impact of the Strategy on neighbourhood character, infrastructure, the environment and heritage.
Soon after the conclusion of the consultation process, the State Government made several changes to the residential zones. Some of these changes had a significant impact on the Council’s proposed schedules to the residential zones.
Council considered a report on the Strategy at its Ordinary Meeting held on 5 December, 2017. Council resolved to:
- Note the submissions received on the Housing and Neighbourhood Character Strategy
- A further report be provided to Council by mid 2018 that:
- Updates the Strategy to remove the Residential Growth Zone (and replace it with the General Residential Zone)
- Proposes new schedules to the General Residential Zone and Neighbourhood Residential Zone
- Updates the Housing analysis component of the Strategy
- Includes draft planning scheme documentation to implement the Strategy through a planning scheme amendment
- A further report be provided to Council on a draft priority list for preparing structure plans for Wyndham’s activity centres
A revised Wyndham Housing and Neighbourhood Character Strategy 2018 was adopted by Council on 7 August 2018.
The revised Strategy proposes the following:
- The Neighbourhood Residential Zone (NRZ) and Low Density Residential Zone (LDRZ) will apply to Limited Change Areas.
- The General Residential Zone (GRZ) will apply to Incremental Change Areas.
Where areas are currently zoned Activity Centre (Schedule 1), Priority Development Zone (Schedule 1) and Special Use Zone (Schedule 1), no rezoning is proposed to these Substantial Change Areas. Two sites to remain in the Substantial Change Area that require rezoning are the future Mixed Use area at the north west corner of Tarneit and Sayers Road and land immediately west of the Regional Rail Link at Manor Lakes. In addition, revised schedules have been prepared for the General Residential Zone (GRZ) and Neighbourhood Residential Zone (NRZ) to encourage new residential development to meet the five preferred neighbourhood character types, which are:
- Contemporary Garden
- Coastal Garden
- Garden Suburban
- Garden Court
- Rural Garden
To view the Council report visit Council Meetings Minutes.
Next Steps
The amendment documentation to implement the Strategy is to be sent to the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) for authorisation shortly.
Once the amendment receives authorisation, Council will exhibit the amendment and invite the community to make written submissions. Exhibition of the amendment is expected to occur in October/November.
A report will be submitted to Council in early 2019 where all written submissions will be considered. Any submission that objects to the amendment or seeks a change that Council is unable to resolve will be referred to a Planning Panel. The Panel will conduct a public hearing and report back to Council with recommendations.
Should you have any questions about the Wyndham Housing and Neighbourhood Character Strategy please contact Council’s Urban Futures Department on 1300 023 411 or housing@wyndham.vic.gov.au