More than 100 mid-century Bayside residential properties have been identified as potentially significant local heritage places.
Bayside has a rich history and heritage and is home to many mid-century properties due to a concentration of innovative architects building in the region in the years following World War II.
The properties were identified by independent, expert heritage consultants in a Draft Post-War Modern Residential Heritage Study. The completion of the Study is a priority action listed in Council’s Heritage Action Plan 2020.
Mayor Councillor Alex del Porto said that protecting our area’s important heritage is a strong theme in the Bayside 2050 Community Vision as well as being a key responsibility of local government under the Planning and Environment Act 1987.
“Our heritage places add to Bayside’s local character to make it the special place it is today. We are also required under law to conserve and enhance buildings, areas or other places which are of scientific, aesthetic, architectural or historical interest, or otherwise of special cultural value,” Cr del Porto said.
“The way in which we do that – the Heritage Overlay process – is laid out by the Victorian Government. However, it’s important to note that all affected property owners and key stakeholders will be afforded an opportunity to express their support or opposition to the Heritage Overlay to an independent Planning Panel through the planning scheme amendment process.”
The owners of the properties have been notified and we are consulting with them to ensure all information about their home is accurate and complete.
Following a detailed consultation process, Council will consider the study at its June 2022 meeting.
Those properties found to be of heritage significance may then be protected with a Heritage Overlay via a planning scheme amendment process.
The process ensures property owners and stakeholder views are considered prior to the application of heritage protection.
This includes the appointment of an independent planning panel to hear submissions and make recommendations.
The planning panel recommendations would then be considered by Council and if a decision is made to adopt the amendment, approval will be sought from the Minister for Planning.
