New Monbulk Design and Development Overlay proposed

Council is encouraging community members to share feedback on a planning scheme amendment for the Monbulk area.

On Tuesday, 23 July, Councillors endorsed seeking permission from the Minister for Planning to publicly exhibit Planning Scheme Amendment C212 for community engagement.

The amendment proposes to implement actions from the Monbulk Structure Plan and the Monbulk Urban Design Framework, by proposing to apply a Design and Development Overlay in Monbulk’s town centre, and introduce a planning policy for Monbulk into the Yarra Ranges planning scheme, to help guide new development.

Yarra Ranges Mayor, Cr Sophie Todorov, said the changes would influence new development in Monbulk specifically.

“Monbulk already has planning controls through a Design and Development Overlay, Schedule 12 – but these are general, and also apply to Healesville, Seville, Warburton, Yarra Glen and Yarra Junction,” she said.

“What we want to do here – which was outlined in the Urban Design Framework – is have a specific control for the topography and town character of Monbulk, giving us planning controls tailor-made for the town.

“This will mean that developments will still have a limit of three storeys, as they currently do, but with more specifically defined setbacks for buildings over 7.5 metres that are much clearer than the current overlay.

“For most residents, this won’t have an impact outside of what you see in new buildings; for people undertaking new or major developments, they will have greater clarity when preparing their application.

“If we aren’t able to bring in these new planning controls, Monbulk would remain vulnerable to ad-hoc development which would jeopardise its valuable town character.”

“When the amendment is placed on exhibition we will ask our community to share their thoughts and provide feedback."

Council will update the community if the Minister grants authorisation for the Planning Scheme Amendment to be exhibited.

In the meantime, community members can sign up at shaping.yarraranges.vic.gov.au to be notified when community engagements go live.