State Government housing pilot: 16-20 Dumbarton Street, Reservoir

Published on 01 May 2023

Dumbarton Street Reservoir

Part of a Victorian pilot program which aims to deliver a mix of new social, affordable and private housing on surplus government land.

Public hearing

There was a public hearing to consider this amendment on Friday 14 July, 2023.

Background

The State Government is running a Planning Scheme Amendment (C209dare) to facilitate the construction of housing on the site. This includes:

  • Introducing a development plan overlay. A development plan overlay requires a development plan to be prepared, in accordance with certain stated requirements, to coordinate the proposed use / development of the site before a permit is granted. It also exempts planning applications from the notice requirements and third party appeal rights under the Planning and Environment Act 1987.
  • Amending the schedule to clause 72.01 to make the Minister for Planning the responsible authority. As the responsible authority, the Minister for Planning would be the decision maker for future planning proposals for the site (the development plan and permits).
  • Retaining the current zoning (general residential zone)

The proposed amendment does not state how much housing is to be provided on the site.

The Minister for Planning has requested that the Government Land Standing Advisory Committee provide independent advice on the suitability of the proposed planning scheme amendment. As part of this process:

  • the proposed planning scheme amendment was put on public exhibition from 4 April to 25 May 2023 (during which time public submissions could be made), and an online public information session was held on Tuesday 9 May 2023. The opportunity to make submissions has now closed.

Our role is to seek the best planning policy outcome for the site. We lodged a submission during the public exhibition period (endorsed at its Council meeting on 22 May 2023) that included the following planning concerns:

  • A lack of provision for affordable housing
  • Inadequate development controls
  • Inadequate protections for native vegetation
  • Traffic issues

Hearing

The Committee conducted a public hearing on Friday 14 July 2023. The Committee considered written submissions, regardless of whether a submitter wished to participate in the hearing.

The hearing process was public and anyone was able to observe proceedings.

Report

The Committee’s report was to be submitted to the Minister for Planning within 20 business days from the last day of proceedings.

The timing of any decision and public release of the Committee’s report is at the discretion of the Minister for Planning. Decisions will be published on the Government Land Planning Service webpage.

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