Council has adopted a suite of new planning policies to guide future residential development. These policies underpin the application of new residential zones across the municipality.
Joint Portfolio Holder for Planning and Deputy Mayor of Hobsons Bay, Councillor Michael Grech said that the New Residential Zones, and Council’s associated Housing Strategy, Activity Centre Strategy and Neighbourhood Character Study, will provide Council with the tools to ensure appropriate development takes place in the right locations.
“Currently only one residential zone applies across the municipality. This General Residential Zone allows for houses and apartments up to three storeys in height,” said Cr Grech.
“Introducing two additional zones, the Neighbourhood Residential Zone and Residential Growth Zone, will enable Council to direct development to where it is most suited.
“The General Residential Zone is now proposed to only apply to 21 per cent of properties in the municipality.
“Seventy seven per cent of properties will be placed into the Neighbourhood Residential Zones with a two storey height limit.
“The remaining two per cent will be zoned Residential Growth Zone with a default height limit of four storeys and are predominantly in locations close to transport and amenities.
“By 2036, it is projected that an additional 17,000 residents will call Hobsons Bay home and it is important that we plan for this future growth.”
Properties located within the boundaries of the Newport Structure Plan have been excluded from the New Residential Zones as the zones in this area will be determined once the Structure Plan has been finalised.
Joint Portfolio Holder for Planning, Councillor Tony Briffa said that the New Residential Zones would empower Council to advocate to the state government for essential services in areas that will best serve the community.
“The decisions Council makes are only as good as the policies we have in our planning scheme,” said Cr Briffa.
“These new policies, which are the result of five years of extensive research in collaboration with the community, will enable us to apply a holistic lens to planning decisions to preserve the amenity and character of individual neighbourhoods.
“We believe that this proposal reflects a fair balance between the need to accommodate future growth in our community, while considering the heritage and environmental values that are so important to us.
“The next step is for the New Residential Zones to be incorporated into the Hobsons Bay Planning Scheme, which is done through a state government planning scheme amendment process estimated to take around 12-18 months.
“Community members will have a further opportunity to provide feedback during this process and we look forward to working with them to determine the future of housing in our city.”
To check the New Residential Zones for your property, visit our interactive map at participate.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/newzones
