• Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Local History
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
  • Read Our Newspapers Online
    • Read the Latest Western Port News
    • Read the Latest Mornington News
    • Read the Latest Southern Peninsula News
    • Read the Latest Frankston Times
    • Read the Latest Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News
  • Competition
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Trending
  • Resident road rage over reduced speed limit
  • Steele retires, ‘Stirts’ to Seagulls
  • Pythons and Tigers all square, oh my!
  • Frankston Football Club hold a successful fair
  • Home services crisis after switch to private providers
  • Call for help after donation drop
  • True passion the source of author inspiration
  • OAM for ‘Coodabeens’ Bill Baxter
Facebook Twitter
MPNEWSMPNEWS
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Local History
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
  • Competition
MPNEWSMPNEWS
Home»News»Woodland protected
News

Woodland protected

By Mike HastNovember 28, 2012Updated:February 28, 2014No Comments4 Mins Read
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

AN independent planning panel has recommended minimum lot sizes of 2000 square metres in Mt Eliza’s Wood­land precinct and 1300sqm on street corners.

For almost a decade, the shire has been trying to restrict subdivision of about 1600 big blocks in the area bounded by Nepean Hwy, Humphries, Moorooduc and Canadian Bay roads.

Since September 2003, it has re­ceived many applications to subdivide, but has not had a planning scheme to limit development.

Some landowners have taken the shire to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, which has refused some plans, but approved others.

The issue has divided Woodland residents and seen the formation of two groups – Mt Eliza Woodland Residents Association, formed in late 2004 to oppose subdivision, and Growing Our Community, formed in mid-2011 to promote it.

It also has seen two attempts to set mandatory controls. The first, known as C87, was thrown out by then Plan­ning Minister Justin Madden in December 2009 after it had sat on his desk for more than two years.

The shire restarted the process in March last year when it asked Planning Minister Matthew Guy to help it pro­tect Woodland via a design and de­velopment overlay (DDO).

Mr Guy approved interim protection earlier this year while the process was underway.

The interim order expired at the end of September, but has been extended.

More than 420 submissions to C162 as it is now known were received by the independent panel, which sent its report to the shire earlier this month.

The report sets minimum lot sizes of 2000sqm and 1300sqm on corner blocks. The council is likely to consi­der the report in December and then send its decision to Mr Guy for final approval.

The recommendations are unlikely to satisfy either Woodland group and there is no certainty the council will agree to the 1300sqm corner block limit on about 94 properties.

The shire wanted minimum lot sizes of 2500sqm for properties not on cor­ners.

There are 124 blocks of about 4000sqm and 96 of about 5000sqm.

Block size was set many years ago when the area was unsewered. Planners decided big blocks were needed so septic tanks functioned properly in the poor soil that did not allow dispersion.

Other recommendations support stron­ger vegetation controls in the heavily treed precinct and greater enforcement of planning controls.

Deborah Haydon of the residents as­so­ciation said she was pleased the panel report had recommended mini­mum lot sizes.

“We were worried the planning amend­­ment was going to be thrown out again,” she said.

Ms Haydon said 88-90 per cent of Woodland residents supported “our asso­ciation and what we’ve been trying to do”.

She was concerned about develop­ment of corner blocks. “There has already been a subdivision in Winona Rd at the entrance to Woodland, which doesn’t present a good picture.”

The association was prepared to ac­cept the 2000sqm size “the same as in Tower Rd”, she said.

Per Carlsen of Growing Our Com­munity said the panel report was “a political report”.

“What has changed since the previous panel report was rejected? The government,” he said.

Mr Carlsen said the group would meet Opposition planning spokesman Brian Tee on Thursday “and we’ll see what he can do”.

The group had wanted a performance-based planning amendment not a prescriptive one.

“Banning subdivisions smaller than 2000sqm will not solve the problems of ensuring Mt Eliza remains a sustainable community within a social, environmental and economic context.”

He said it was vital older people were allowed to remain in the community and young families can afford to move into the area.

Former Mt Eliza councillor Leigh Eustace, who lobbied strongly to bring in minimum lot sizes before and during his four years on the council, said it was pleasing the panel had “acknowledged Woodland needed protection and recognised mandatory controls as the best way to provide this protection”.

He was against the subdivision of corner blocks.

Mt Eliza planning subdivision woodland
Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email

Related Posts

Resident road rage over reduced speed limit

July 5, 2022

New CFA vehicle honours service

July 4, 2022

Jetty repair in the budget pipeline

June 27, 2022

Bus shelters vandalised

June 27, 2022
Add A Comment

Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Weather
Jul 5, 2022 - Tue
Mornington, Australia
13°C
clear sky
clear sky
1 m/s, ENE
60%
768.07 mmHg
tue07/05 wed07/06 thu07/07 fri07/08 sat07/09
sky is clear
12/9°C
sky is clear
10/9°C
light rain
12/11°C
moderate rain
11/9°C
light rain
12/9°C
Peninsula Essence Magazine

Click here to read

June 27, 2022
Peninsula Kids Magazine

Click here to read

May 26, 2022
Council Watch

Keeping watch on councillor costs

June 27, 2022

Leadership lacking for ‘neutral’ policy

June 20, 2022
Interview

True passion the source of author inspiration

July 4, 2022
Property of the Week

278 Dundas Street, Rye

May 11, 2022
100 Years Ago This Week

Frankston Football Club hold a successful fair

July 5, 2022
Contact
Street: 63 Watt Road, Mornington, 3931
Mailing: PO Box 588, Hastings, 3915
Menu
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Local History
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
  • Competition
About

Established in 2006, Mornington Peninsula News Group (MPNG) is a locally owned and operated, independent media company.

MPNG publishes five weekly community newspapers: the Western Port News, Mornington News, Southern Peninsula News, Frankston Times and Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News.

MPNG also publishes two glossy magazines: Peninsula Essence and Peninsula Kids.

Facebook Twitter
© 2022 Mornington Peninsula News Group.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.