By Mikayla van Loon
Reviews of five structure plans for some of the main activity centres in the Yarra Ranges have been approved by local council.
The review of Chirnside Park, Mooroolbark, Healesville, Coldstream and Monbulk’s structure plans consolidated information, updated project scope, removed completed actions and updated changes of council departments.
With the normal lifespan of a structure plan being 20 years, the council undertakes reviews regularly to ensure the growth and advancement of the towns are reflected in planning.
Councillor Johanna Skelton put forward the recommended motion to accept the updates and said it was part of the council’s process to do so.
“It’s a policy neutral, bureaucratic thing we need to do to ensure everything stays up to date for these townships and all the energy that has gone into the community engagement and the material in those structure plans is not changing, so that’s the important bit for me,” she said.
“It seems important and prudent to go through and replace the outdated aspects of these plans because there are things that are very much out of date.”
For Chirnside Park the updated actions refer to public transport connectivity, pedestrian access on Kimberley Drive and within the Eastridge/McMillans sites, as well as a coherent road system.
In Mooroolbark the updates are mostly in response to the level crossing removal and incorporating better streetscapes, looking at repurposing the temporary station car park for affordable housing, actively encouraging the development of The Terrace Shopping Centre and better community spaces.
Cr Sophie Todorov spoke to the motion and said particularly with her patch, the Mooroolbark Structure Plan was last updated in 2011 but many changes have been made since then.
“That’s quite some time ago but I was really pleased to see we’ve had government announcements for a new train station for example and the catalysts that have informed the changes for Mooroolbark and what that township needs,” she said.
Healesville’s structure plan had a large list of amendments to facilitate sustainable residential growth, working with tourism destinations, provide cultural opportunities and conduct an urban design framework.
As the councillor for Ryrie ward, Fiona McAllister said she remembers when the structure plans for her area were being put together, bringing together over 100 people for hours.
“These documents are really key and yes it is about removing actions that have been done and it is hugely rewarding to see those lists because sometimes those lists are very long but it does keep them living and I think that is really critical in that they are not documents that sit on the shelf,” she said.
“I’m a huge fan of [having these documents] come back into the chamber very regularly for us to have an opportunity to revisit, look at what is still relevant because the towns change, Coldstream has changed, Healesville has changed and some things we have in those plans from six years ago aren’t quite right.”
Coldstream’s revised action list refers to the relaxing of requirements in the Green Wedge Zone in commercial areas, exploring opportunities to expand the Coldstream trail experience, aesthetic improvements for shop fronts and improving Coldstream’s drainage issues.
Up in Monbulk, the revisions look at appropriate planning zones to housing change areas, improved street activation, encourage ‘shop-top’ housing and retail and commercial business zoning.
Seconding the motion, Cr Todorov said these reviews were essential to the future of these towns.
“It’s looking at future use, looking at land use development, open space, even potentially looking at planning scheme amendments as well, which impacts other things like infrastructure and transport links,” she said.
“It is important these structure plans remain fluid so they are adapting to changes.”
Councillors voted unanimously to approve the motion.
