Hepburn Planning Scheme Amendment C80hepb

Council adopted the Planning Scheme Amendment on 29 March 2021. View the Council meeting minutes(PDF, 7MB). The Minister for Planning approved the amendment on 23 November 2021.

Planning Scheme Amendment C80hepb sought to:

  • Translate the Municipal Strategic Statement and Local Planning Policy Framework (MSS and LPPF) to the Planning Policy Framework (PPF)
  • Implement the Hepburn Planning Scheme Review, February 2020 (HPSR)
  • Implement recent reforms to the Victoria Planning Provisions (VPP) and the Ministerial Direction - The Form and Content of Planning Schemes into the Hepburn Planning Scheme.
Land affected by the amendment

The amendment applies to all land within the Hepburn Shire.

Why was the amendment required?

Amendment C80hepb implements the Hepburn Planning Scheme Review (HPSR) approved by Council in February 2020 into the Hepburn Planning Scheme in conjunction with Smart Planning Program reforms.

Where can I view the amendment documentation?

You can inspect all documents relating to the amendment free of charge via the Browse amendments – C80hepb webpage on the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning’s website.

Viewing of submissions 

Exhibition of the amendment concluded on 29 August 2020. You can view all submissions below, which have been redacted to protect submitters’ privacy: 

Council considered the proposed amendment at its meeting held on 15 September 2020. Council requested the Minister for Planning to appoint an Independent Planning Panel to consider all submissions received to the amendment. View the Council Meeting minutes(PDF, 3MB). 

 

Review purpose

The purpose of the Review was to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the Hepburn Planning Scheme in achieving:

  • The objectives of planning in Victoria
  • Its capacity to deliver the (albeit outgoing) Council Plan
  • The objectives and strategies of the planning scheme including the State Planning Policy Framework and the Local Planning Policy Framework (now known as the Planning Policy Framework).

The review considered:

  • The effectiveness of local planning policies, zones, overlays and schedules
  • The effectiveness of development controls
  • What was working and what needed refinement.

The review also evaluated the planning scheme to ensure that it:

A key finding of the Review was that the  was not delivering a clear and effective land use and development planning framework for the municipality. It was also found that the planning scheme could be better targeted to key strategic directions, more streamlined, and include less repetition with clearer requirements. Further strategic planning projects were also identified so that the  could be further strengthened and aligned to the community’s vision for the municipality.

The Hepburn Planning Scheme Review comprised the:

  • Data and Evidence Report which provided a summary of background reports and data prepared since the adoption of the planning scheme on 8 June 2000 and the information guiding the preparation of a reviewed planning scheme.
  • Stakeholder and Community Engagement Report which was based on consultation undertaken in September and October 2019 seeking the community’s views and aspirations for the future of land use and development across the municipality.
  • Planning Scheme Audit and Review Report which incorporated the findings of the two above reports and made recommendations for the planning scheme over the short-, medium- and long-term for Council.

The three reports can be accessed under the useful links and document library tab below.

Frequently asked questions

Why is the planning scheme important?

The planning scheme affects everyone because it outlines how and where people can develop or use their land in the Hepburn Shire.

Why did Council rewrite the planning scheme?

The Amendment implements the recommendations of the Hepburn Planning Scheme Review 2020 which Council adopted at its meeting held in February 2020.  The Review found the need to:

  • Ensure that the planning scheme is up to date and addresses key issues that our municipality is experiencing now and in the future
  • Align the planning scheme to its key strategies and plans including the Council Plan and the Central Highlands Regional Growth Plan; and
  • Identify future strategic work that will continue to reflect the direction of the Shire.
What is in the planning scheme?

The planning scheme includes state, regional and local planning policies, strategies, and provisions set out in a Planning Policy Framework. The planning scheme is effectively a ‘legal toolbox’ that implements the state, regional and local policies, and strategies. The ‘tools’ or provisions include zones, overlays, particular provisions and general provisions.

What does the updated Planning Scheme deliver

The new Hepburn Planning Scheme:

  • Delivers an improved basis for decision making on land use and development in the Shire. It is be clearer about what the community’s expectations are, if a permit is required and what Council’s expectations are for applicants. This makes the scheme easier to navigate for the community and reduce confusion and delays.
  • Confirms the foundations for further strategic work. A program of further work was identified in the Hepburn Planning Scheme Review 2020 and includes undertaking structure planning work in each of the five main townships, reviewing agriculture land, protecting heritage and biodiversity.
What was the background to the Hepburn Planning Scheme Review?

The Hepburn Planning Scheme was gazetted on 8 June 2000 and replaced the former Daylesford, Creswick and Glenlyon Planning Schemes and parts of the Talbot and Clunes Planning Schemes and Kyneton Planning Scheme.

Section 12B of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 requires a planning authority to review the provisions of its planning scheme every four years and within a year of adopting its Council Plan.

Council undertook planning scheme reviews in 2003, 2008 and 2011 but none were implemented. A previous review in 2011 resulted in Amendment C58 but was abandoned by Council. The scheme has only had minor changes since 2000, mostly because of State-wide (VC) and Group of councils (GC) amendments.

In mid-2019, Council commenced its most recent and thorough review of the Hepburn Planning Scheme to guide future of land use and development within the municipality over coming years.

The review and the planning scheme amendment to implement the Review (Amendment C80hepb) also coincided with a requirement to respond to the new Planning Policy Framework and translate it into a contemporary document based on the existing planning toolbox, known as the Victoria Planning Provisions.

Useful links and document library

Planning Scheme Amendment C80hepb Panel Report(PDF, 3MB)

Media release - Council Adopts Planning Scheme Amendment C80hepb(PDF, 330KB)

Hepburn Shire Planning Scheme Review Stakeholder and Engagement Report February 2020(PDF, 2MB) (Attachment 15)

Hepburn Planning Scheme Review Data and Evidence Report (Final) February 2020(PDF, 19MB) (Attachment 16)

Hepburn Planning Scheme Audit and Review Report (Final) February 2020(PDF, 5MB) (Attachment 17)

Participate Hepburn – Hepburn Planning Scheme 

 

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