Liveable Nillumbik - land amendment approved

At this week's Policy and Services meeting Council agreed to submit the amendment (Amendment C85) to change the land use planning zones in Hurstbridge which will progress the Liveable Nillumbik project to the next step.

The Liveable Nillumbik housing project will result in more diverse, sustainable and accessible housing options being available to Nillumbik residents.

The development will follow a best practice housing model that will address social, economic, and environmental outcomes that are appropriate to Hurstbridge and Nillumbik more broadly.

The decision follows a recommendation made by an independent Planning Panel, held in June this year, to adopt the amendment to rezone the land at the former Hurstbridge Secondary School site.

The Panel, which was appointed by the Minister for Planning, reviewed the 68 written submissions and five presentations made by the public in late June to the proposed Amendment which is looking to rezone the land from Public Use Zone 2 - Education to Township Zone - resulting in this piece of land having the same zone as the rest of the Hurstbridge township.

Part of approving the change to the zone included approving the criteria for a Development Plan Overlay.

While all proposed dwellings will comply with all planning guidelines that apply to the Hurstbridge area, such as the Hurstbridge Urban Design Guidelines, strict criteria has also been set which requires developers to demonstrate how they will address the accessibility, diversity, affordability, environmental and neighbourhood character aspects of the development.  This is the Development Plan Overlay.

Council agreed this week to accept the recommendations made by the Panel.

Nillumbik Shire Mayor Councillor Helen Coleman said, "The Panel provided clear support for the proposal and stated in their report that they '…generally support the Council’s approach and commends its ambition to deliver an innovative and aspirational outcome for the site…'".  

"We heard from seven submitters on the night about the project and the decision was made to forward the amendment through to the Minister and seek his approval now for it to become final and gazetted."

The Liveable Nillumbik project will take in the region of three years to complete.

It will include:

  • Rezoning of the land
  • Selecting a developer (through a tendering process)
  • Developing a masterplan
  • Securing a planning permit
  • Designing and constructing the new housing

"Council wants to facilitate a result that will meet community expectations and follows a best practice housing model that will address social, economic, and environmental outcomes that are appropriate to Hurstbridge and Nillumbik as a whole."

For more information visit Nillumbik Shire Council