City of Boroondara Mayor, Councillor Nicholas Tragas has applauded the Victorian Government's decision to approve a raft of mandatory height controls in West Hawthorn.

The first of their kind to be granted in the City of Boroondara, the local community and Council had been pushing for these height limits – known as Amendment C69 – to be incorporated into the Boroondara Planning Scheme since 2004, when a working group was formed.

"This decision is an encouraging sign that the new Victorian Government is taking our need to manage local development very seriously," Cr Nicholas Tragas said.

"It is also refreshing to see the Planning Minister Matthew Guy acknowledging the great work done by the City in developing this local policy."

Mandatory overall building heights of between 16 and 18 metres have been imposed in various parts of West Hawthorn, specifically along Power Street, Glenferrie Road, Lynch Street and other areas surrounding the West Hawthorn Shopping Centre and Hawthorn Station. (See map for a detailed outline of the affected areas.)

This includes most of the land in the Planning Scheme Amendment C69 which introduces a new local policy and applies a design and development overlay to manage built form.

While Amendment C69 was approved on an interim basis until 31 January 2013, Council is hopeful that these controls will be made permanent.

"This successful campaign for mandatory height controls, along with the recently-adopted Activity Centres Strategy, draft Our Neighbourhood Strategy and draft Open Spaces Strategy – both of which are at consultation stage – illustrate Council's commitment to maintaining our unique and much-loved urban character and to protect against inappropriate developments that threaten it," Cr Tragas said. 

"We of course would hold a very strong hope that these interim mandatory controls become permanent after January 2013 when the state planning policy work has been done and our planning scheme controls can be seen in this context."

Glenferrie Ward Councillor Phil Meggs is pleased that the hard work has been rewarded by a fair and reasonable compromise that allows development in West Hawthorn while protecting the local amenity.

"It is great to see the Victorian Government supporting our position and giving planning weight to the West Hawthorn Urban Design Framework, albeit only until 2013," Cr Meggs said.

"This provides certainty for the community whether they are residents, business owners, investors or visitors, as there are now clear parameters everyone must work within.

"The mandatory height controls and setbacks are a clear indication that while reasonable development is supported, it must be appropriate and respect the local area."

Local resident Michael Heaton and developer Les Smith were part of the working group between 2004 and 2006 and they are both pleased that the mandatory controls have been applied.

"What it does is provide certainty (and) it means everyone is on an even playing field," Mr Heaton said.

"Before, everyone was trying to stretch the envelope, and if there are no mandatory height controls then the whole thing just becomes another application to VCAT."

Mr Smith believes it gives developers more certainty too.

"(The height controls) provide some consistency, and I think that's positive for the community," Mr Smith said.

"The City of Boroondara has shown absolute foresight in putting it together. It's taken some time, but ultimately, all councils across Melbourne should adopt this type of practice so that there will be definitive areas that everybody – residents, operators, tenants – all understand what the planning ramifications are. It's extremely important."

Please see the map below for the affected areas.