Amendment C164 - Rezoning industrial land in the Brunswick Activity Centre

About Amendment C164

Moreland is committed to creating a strong and prosperous economy and creating sustainable neighbourhoods where residents can access services and businesses and have the opportunity to find jobs locally.  It recognises that the types of jobs needed in Merri-bek are changing. Traditional industrial jobs like manufacturing are being replaced by smaller office-based jobs.

Amendment C164 has proposed changes to the planning scheme in the Brunswick Activity Centre to support the continued development of the Centre.  Some parts of the Amendment have now been included in the planning scheme, whilst other parts are yet to be finalised or have been replaced with Amendments which seek the same objectives.

Status update

Parts 1A and 2A have now been gazetted.

Parts 1A and 2A of the Amendment have now been approved by the Minister for Planning.  This has changed the Merri-bek Planning Scheme to:

• Rezone industrial land within the Brunswick Activity Centre identified in the Moreland Industrial Land Strategy (MILS) 2015-30 (PDF 6Mb) as Category 3 (Transition - residential) areas and some identified as Category 2 (Employment) areas to allow for new employment opportunities and residential development. 

• Apply Schedules 18, 19 and 20 of the Design and Development Overlay (DDO) to ensure a consistent approach to built form design within the activity centre.

• Make modifications to DDO18, DDO19 and DDO20 to include specific built form guidance for MILS Category 2 Areas.

• Apply the Environmental Audit Overlay (EAO) to Category 3 and some Category 2 sites identified as potentially contaminated land.

• Apply the Parking Overlay (PO1) to land rezoned to Commercial 1 Zone and Mixed use Zone, to sustainability manage car parking in the activity centre.

Part 2B was abandoned by Council in May 2019.  This Part included the rezoning of the remaining MILS Category 2 (Employment) areas in the Amendment.  Rezoning of these properties will now be pursued by Amendments C192 and C193.  View copies of the officer's reports to the 9 October 2019 and 10 April 2021 Council meetings for more information.

Part 1B was adopted by Council at its meeting on 14 November 2018 and proposes the following over the land to be part of Amendments C192 and C193:

• Apply Schedules 18, 19 and 20 of the Design and Development Overlay (DDO).

• Apply the Environmental Audit Overlay (EAO) to sites identified as potentially contaminated land not already included in the Overlay.

• Apply the Parking Overlay (PO1).

This Part has now been submitted to the Minister for Planning for approval. View a table detailing the properties affacted by Part 1B (PDF 506Kb), a copy of the officers’ report (PDF 59Mb) to the 14 November 2018 meeting and the resolution of Council.  

History of the amendment

Authorisation

At the 9 August 2017 Council Meeting, Council resolved to seek authorisation to prepare Amendment C164 to the Merri-bek Planning Scheme. Council received authorisation from the Minister for Planning to prepare and exhibit the amendment on 16 October 2017.

Consultation and submissions

The Amendment was exhibited for between 16 November 2017 and 22 January 2018, and 139 submissions were received.  Council considered a report on the Amendment at the 11 April 2018 Council meeting and resolved to seek the appointment of a panel to consider the submissions.  If you would like to view a copy of the submissions please contact Council's Strategic Planning Unit.

View the agenda for the 11 April 2018 Council meeting which includes the report on submissions.

Panel and directions Hearings

A directions hearing was held in May 2018 and a panel hearing was held in early June 2018, with the Panel's report received by Council in August 2018.  View a copy of the Panel Report (PDF 6Mb).  

Panel documents

The following documents were made available as part of the panel hearing process:

• The Brunswick Structure Plan Reference Document (April 2018) (PDF 5Mb)
• Assessment for Potential Contamination Report - SKM (2011) (PDF 3Mb)
• Moreland Integrated Transport Strategy 2010-19 (MITS)
• Brunswick Integrated Transport Strategy (BITS)
• Submitter List including relevant MILS Area (PDF 254Kb)

Council submissions

• Council Part A Submission (PDF 1Mb)
• Council Part B Submission (PDF 3Mb)
• Council Urban Design Presentation (PDF 3Mb)
• Council Part B Environmental Audit Overlay Submission (PDF 558Kb)
• Council Part C Right of Reply Submission (PDF 636Kb)

Expert witness statements

• Ian Klukow of Golder Pty Ltd (Potential contamination - on behalf of Council) (PDF 648Kb)
• Rory McPhillips of Atma Environmental (Potential contamination - on behalf of submitters) (PDF 3Mb)

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