Some of these strategic documents have now been adopted by Council and are in the process of being implemented through amendments to the Boroondara Planning Scheme. Others are still being prepared with input from the community.
Click on the links below to find out more about how Council is planning the future of the City.
Yarra River Corridor Planning Controls – VC Amendment 96
On 15 October 2012 the Minister for Planning approved new planning controls for the Yarra River corridor in the City of Boroondara.
The amendment applies a mandatory 9 metre height limit to development along the corridor. The amendment also introduces a range of guidelines relating to site coverage, permeable surfaces, building setbacks from the river banks and the removal and planting of vegetation.
Further information about the controls is available at Council's Yarra River Planning Controls website or at VC Amendment 96 at Planning Scheme Amendments Online.
Neighbourhood Character Study
The Neighbourhood Character Study will help guide how development occurs in the City's residential areas.
On 24 September 2012 Council adopted the Neighbourhood Character Precinct Statements which set out design guidelines for the City's residential areas. The Precinct Statements were adopted subject to changes.
These changes have now been made. The updated versions can be accessed via the interactive map at: www.boroondara.characterstudy.com.au
For the Precinct Statements to have statutory weight, they need to be included in the Planning Scheme. As a first step, Council will aim to update the existing Neighbourhood Character Policy at Clause 22.07 to, amongst other things, include the Precinct Statements as a reference document.
Heritage Action Plan
Council has prepared a Heritage Action Plan that sets out a prioritised programme of heritage studies and other projects relating to the identification, protection, management and promotion of the City's historic building and features.
The Heritage Action Plan was prepared following an audit of Council's heritage studies and other activities as well as a review of the recently completed Boroondara Thematic Environmental History. This is an important document which provides Council with a clear plan for future heritage activities.
The final Heritage Action Plan was adopted by Council on 17 September 2012.
Amendments C138 and C139
Amendments C138 and C139 aim to give statutory weight to the Kew and Glenferrie Structure Plans by including their land use policies and design guidelines in the Boroondara Planning Scheme.
The amendments were on public exhibition in July and August 2012. All submissions are now being reviewed and will be reported back to Council in early 2013.
Boroondara Open Space Strategy
The Boroondara Open Space Strategy aims to protect and improve the diversity and quality of the City’s open space over the next 15 years. The Strategy addresses factors such as maintaining biodiversity, promoting health and wellbeing, managing climate change, protecting cultural heritage, enhancing linkages and ensuring open space is available for the City's future population.
The draft Strategy was on public consultation from December 2011 until the end of February 2012. All submissions are now being reviewed and will help inform changes the Strategy.
Activity Centres Strategy
The Activity Centres Strategy establishes directions for the use and development of the City's neighbourhood activity centre shopping strips. The Strategy nominates height controls for these activity centres with the aim of protecting the character of these centres.
The Strategy was adopted by Council in June 2011 and is currently in the process of being translated into planning policies for inclusion in the Boroondara Planning Scheme.
Interim controls, including absolute maximum height limits, were recently approved by the Minister for Planning. These will provide certainty for developers and the community while the planning scheme amendment for permanent controls is in progress. Read more about the announcement in Council's media release.
Structure Plans and Urban Design Frameworks
Structure Plans and Urban Design Frameworks are long-term plans to ensure that Boroondara’s major activity centres and key employment corridors meet the community’s changing needs. They guide major changes in land use, built form and public space, and provide advice on what locations are preferred for development and what areas should be protected.
Council has adopted Structure Plans for Kew Junction, Glenferrie, Camberwell Junction and Balwyn and an Urban Design Framework for West Hawthorn.
The land use and design directions of the West Hawthorn Urban Design Framework have already been incorporated into the Boroondara Planning Scheme which includes mandatory height limits for some parts of the study area.
The Structure Plans for Kew Junction and Glenferrie are being implemented via Amendment C138 and C139.
The Balwyn Structure Plan will be incorporated into the Planning Scheme along with the Boroondara Activity Centres Strategy.
Heritage Studies and Projects
A number of heritage studies have been completed for different parts of the municipality over the last 20 years.
More recently Council has been reviewing these heritage studies by conducting localised heritage reviews. Recently completed reviews include the Camberwell Junction Heritage Review, the Kew Junction Commercial Heritage Review, the Assessments of Residential Precincts in Kew and the Hawthorn Heritage Precincts Study. These studies are all in the process of being implemented through the introduction of heritage overlays over buildings and precincts recommended for protection.
A heritage study of Surrey Hills is currently underway.
In addition Council recently commissioned the preparation of a Thematic Environmental History (PDF, 4.8 MB) for the municipality. This document provides an overview of City's history, identifying how key patterns of development have influenced the culture of the area and the natural and built environment.
Planning Scheme Amendments
Planning scheme amendments are made regularly to ensure its directions, policies and requirements for land use and development are relevant and up to date.
The Boroondara Planning Scheme sets out policies and requirements for the use, development and protection of land in the City. Council regularly amends the planning scheme to ensure it is relevant and up to date.
Copies of all amendments to the Boroondara Planning Scheme can be accessed from Planning Scheme Amendments Online.