Planning for the Future

Planning for the future

Planning eNewsletter | May 2015

MAYOR'S MESSAGE

Welcome to the Moonee Valley Planning e-newsletter. Each month we invite you to explore and find out about planning and development matters affecting our city.

This edition includes details on the approved heritage controls for the Newmarket Railway Station and how to be a part of the conversation about our housing future.

So read on, get involved and discover what is happening in our city.

Cr Narelle Sharpe
Moonee Valley Mayor

OUR HOUSING FUTURE – GET INVOLVED IN THE CONVERSATION
Like any community Moonee Valley is changing and it’s time to have a conversation about how we manage our future housing needs. Council has developed a Draft Housing Issues and Opportunities Paper which raises questions and presents important information as a first step in preparing a new Housing Strategy for Moonee Valley.

All members of the community are invited to get involved in the conversation about our housing future. Find out more and give us your feedback on what housing issues are important to you by completing our feedback form.

You can also come along to our drop-in session where you can meet one on one with officers to discuss this important issue and provide feedback. Come at any time during the event and stay for as little or as long as you like.

Housing drop-in session

Date: Thursday, 7 May from 5.30pm-8pm

Venue: Clocktower Centre, 750 Mt Alexander Road, Moonee Ponds

Consultation runs until Friday, 5 June 2015.

MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS

Former Moonee Ponds Market site

On Tuesday, 28 April Council approved the development of a 16-storey building on a corner of the former Moonee Ponds Market site.

The development is to be located on an area of approximately 2,388 square metres within the south eastern corner of the former Moonee Ponds Market site, fronting both Hall and Aspen Streets.

1 Ascot Vale Road, Flemington

We have been advised by VCAT that they have approved, with some minor refinements, the application to make further changes to the planning permit for the development at 1 Ascot Vale Road in Flemington.

We remain opposed to the development at 1 Ascot Vale Road and our submission to VCAT in December 2014 recommended refusal of these latest changes.

Going forward we will work closely with the developer to ensure the community is kept up to date regarding construction works, which have now started.

More major developments…..

To read the latest information on other major developments affecting our city visit our website

LONG TERM PLANNING

Population forecast update

The Australian Bureau of Statistics has released its most recent Estimated Residential Population (ERP) figures. This is the most comprehensive population count available in Australia, providing the most accurate population figures available.

The ERP of Moonee Valley as at 30th June 2014 is 117,337. This is an increase of 2 per cent on the previous year.

This is the greatest annual population increase experienced over the last 10 years.

Nominate a significant tree

Council will again be reviewing its Significant Tree Register, which helps protect significant trees in the local area, to ensure it stays up to date.

The cut-off date for nominations this year will be 30 June. An independent review of both the existing register and newly nominated trees then takes place. Any new additions to the register would then be implemented through a planning scheme amendment which seeks to apply a planning control known as an Environmental Significance Overlay (Schedule 2) to trees identified as being significant.

For more information and to nominate a tree you feel warrants investigating in the next annual review, visit mvcc.vic.gov.au/trees or call Strategic Planning on 9243 8888.

HERITAGE

Heritage controls for the Newmarket Railway Station approved!

Council applied to the Minister for Planning for heritage controls in May 2014 after receiving an application from Metro Trains to demolish the portion of Newmarket Station fronting Pin Oak Crescent due to structural issues. Metro Trains subsequently withdrew the demolition request and is looking to instead repair the station building.

Council exhibited a planning scheme amendment to introduce a Heritage Overlay for the Newmarket Railway Station in August 2014. The Minister for Planning has now approved this Heritage Overlay, which was gazetted into the Moonee Valley Planning Scheme on 23 April 2015.

Ascot Vale Housing Estate Heritage Overlay

At its meeting on 28 April Council adopted Moonee Valley Planning Scheme Amendment C143.

This amendment applies the Heritage Overlay to part of the Ascot Vale Housing Estate and implements the findings of the Post-War Thematic Precincts Heritage Study 2012-14.

Consultation on this study occurred in late 2013.

Heritage Overlay Review

Planning Scheme Amendment C144 updates places and precincts where the Heritage Overlays were incorrect or incomplete.

The amendment also updates the Permit Exemptions Policy to include all Heritage Overlay precincts. The Permit Exemptions Policy sets out planning permit exemptions for minor buildings and works that meet particular criteria.

Amendment C144 was adopted by Council at the 28 April Ordinary Meeting and has now been sent to the Minister for Planning for approval.

COMMUNITY CORNER

Celebrating National Volunteer Week

National Volunteer Week (11-17 May) is the opportunity to shine a spotlight on the many volunteers across Australia who generously give their time for the benefit of their local community.

To the 700+ community members who donate their time to support a range of Council programs, activities and events, we say THANK YOU!

GET INVOLVED

Help us improve Union Road

We’re seeking your feedback and suggestions on the draft streetscape plan for the Union Road shopping precinct.

We’re holding two walkshops to help bring the ideas in the plan to life. Meet us at the corner of Athol Street and Union Road, Ascot Vale (the northern end) for either of the below walkshops.

Walkshop 1: Saturday, 16 May at 2pm.

Walkshop 2: Monday, 18 May at 6pm.

Feedback can also be sent via email to or call the Urban Design team on 9243 8888. Feedback is open until Tuesday, 9 June 2015.

Your ideas for Riverside Park
Located alongside the Maribyrnong River, Riverside Park is one of our most popular parks. We want your ideas on how we can refresh this special park to make it more enjoyable for all.

You are invited to come along to our community ideas sessions on Wednesday, 6 May from 11am to 2pm and Saturday, 9 May from 12 noon to 3pm at the barbecue area at Riverside Park, The Boulevard, Aberfeldie.

A Taste of Moonee Valley!
What are the foods that flavour your life? Do you have a recipe that means something special to you?

Share your recipes and stories with us!

A selection of these will be included in a new recipe book that celebrates Moonee Valley’s cultural and culinary diversity!

Don’t miss the chance to share your favourite dish! Submissions close Thursday, 28 May 2015

Rainbow stories in the Valley
We’re proud to be sharing the stories of people in our community who identify as either lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex or queer (LGBTIQ).

Show your support for International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism and Transphobia (17 May) by coming along to a friendly and engaging evening of stories and guest speakers.

When: Wednesday, 13 May, 6.30pm

Where: Balcony Room, Clocktower Centre, 750 Mt Alexander Road, Moonee Ponds

Auslan interpreters will be present at this event. Please let us know if you have any additional accessibility requirements.

To RSVP, visit mvcc.eventbrite.com.au or call 9243 8888.

WHAT'S ON

Winter Music in the Valley

When: Sunday, 31 May, 3pm

Where: Clocktower Centre, Moonee Ponds

Winter Music in the Valley is a series of free concerts held over four Sundays in May and June across Moonee Valley:

The series will open with the coming together of four fabulous women’s choirs from across Melbourne including Wendy Stapleton’s the Australian Women’s Choir, the Brunswick Women’s Choir, the Grace Notes Singers and the Soufflé Sisters Community Choir.

Community conservation activities

Would you like to:

•Learn more about protecting your local environment?

•Get out and about in local parks and reserves?

•Be part of a passionate community group?

If the answer is yes, then get involved with your local environmental volunteers group. Community planting days are running from May to August 2015.