A PLANNING scheme amendment that allows for 1,200 new homes a year to be built on the peninsula was adopted by council at their meeting last week (6 August).
The shire states the amendment C219morn provides a sustainable approach to housing on the Peninsula by:
- directing future growth to areas close to shops, jobs, schools and public transport
- ensuring all types of housing can be accommodated (homes, units, apartments and residential aged care facilities)
- protecting the Peninsula’s special values and character
A shire release stated “Amendment C219morn meets the State Government’s draft housing targets under its long-term housing plan for Victoria. The amendment will provide for about 1,200 new homes per year to house our growing population which is expected to reach 180,000- 200,000 residents by 2036,” and insisted the new planning scheme would not affect the Green Wedge with the Urban Growth Boundary unchanged.
One speaker at the meeting, Lyle Ridout, expressed concern the changes would have adverse intentions on the housing market, not consistent with supplying an increased supply with the growing population of the peninsula.
Having family in the Somerville area for 130 years, the new scheme would amend his family’s six acre lot from subdividable into one acre lots to now not subdividable at all, even though the property is within the Shire’s own Somerville Township Structure Plan.
“The new amendment has changed the LDRZ (Low Density Residential Zone) for our property,” said Ridout. “The effect of that is that while we always intended to subdivide to accommodate members of our family on our existing and long-held family block, the new plan makes that impossible”. “We are not greed property developers. Just a long-standing family who want to carry on our family tradition. A plan that is now disrupted”.
Ridout pointed out to councillor’s the planning panel’s recommendation 18 that suggested council should “review the Low Density Residential Zone areas as a matter of priority, to assess and identify areas that could accommodate an increase in development density without materially impacting amenity or the environment.” The council only agreed to review LDRZ areas for the potential to accommodate more housing density as part of a future review, and not as part of the current planning scheme.
“According to the shire’s town planning department, this could take up to another five years,” said Ridout. “The peninsula can’t wait an additional five years to open up land like ours to much-needed housing. “A six-acre property is not farmland. It is a lifestyle property,” said Ridout. “The same lifestyle property would be possible even if it was a single acre”.
A council officer in the meeting said the review would not occur until the housing capacity in the shire had been depleted. The view being that capacity would not be depleted for 15 years. Cr Sarah Race raised an amendment inviting state and federal members covering the Mornington peninsula to a briefing about Amendment C219morn to ensure they understand the implications for housing supply on the peninsula for the next 15 years. The amendment was carried unanimously.
Cr Lisa Dixon raised another amendment asking that the LDRZ areas be reviewed as recommended by the Planning Scheme Review – that while a review is currently flagged as “low priority” it be escalated to a “high priority” issue. The amendment was consistent with the request by Ridout, but was not passed by the majority of councillors and was not adopted.
Voting in favour of the motion to adopt the planning scheme amendment C219morn were councillors Gill, O’Connor, Race, Roper, Mar, Celi, and Brooks. Against the motion were councillors Dixon and Bissinger. Councillors Holland and Marsh did not attend the meeting.
Amendment C219morn is the culmination of several years of planning and community engagement. Now that it’s been adopted by council, the amendment will be sent to the Victorian Planning Minister for final approval. The planning scheme changes proposed by Amendment C219morn will only come into effect if the amendment is gazetted by the Minister.
“Council is proud of what we’ve achieved with C219morn. The amendment strikes the right balance between the need to provide more housing and our strong desire to protect our natural environments and unique character,” said Mornington Peninsula mayor Cr Simon Brooks.
“The Mornington Peninsula is different to metropolitan Melbourne, and it is important for us to keep it that way. “New development will be directed to areas where it can be comfortably accommodated: close to jobs, schools, public transport and footpath networks. This enables and encourages residents to walk, ride or catch the bus to work and activities, and relieves pressure on our road network and benefits the environment and residents. We will continue our successful advocacy campaign for a better public transport network in our region. “Planned growth to meet our future housing needs is important, and this amendment, along with the Urban Forest Strategy will protect and enhance the Peninsula we know and love.”
First published in the Mornington News – 13 August 2024
