News
Whose PALS are they?
PALS, for Pro Active LandownerS, is a Facebook group which was ‘set up by a local landowner Karen Egan, which originated from the lack of representation of landowners within the council of Nillumbik’ These people are not shy in putting themselves forward. Recently a...
The Cluster Amendment is on the way..
We wrote in May about Manningham Council’s C117, a proposed amendment to the Manningham planning scheme, in Tourist Clusters in the Green Wedge? At that time the amendment was in the ‘Exhibition’ stage, that is the proposal was open for community comment. Council has...
Who cares about small lots?
The State and Local Planning Schemes specify the minimum lot size allowed in subdivisions in the Green Wedge. This minimum size is dependent upon zone, and in Nillumbik the predominant zone is Rural Conservation Zone, either RCZ3, minimum size 8 ha, or RCZ4 or RCZ5,...
Brochure available for sharing…
We know you want to spread the word about the value of our Green Wedge, particularly these days when it seems that it’s under more threat than usual. That’s why we have produced a brochure for you to share. Have a look, we think you'll like it. You can print it out,...
GWMP Review: Backgrounder
The Green Wedge is protected by a legal framework that starts with the Planning and Environment Act 1987 and includes the Victoria Planning Provisions and also local planning schemes. All development takes place within this framework. Municipal...
The Green Wedge Management Plan Review – what you should do now.
There are valid criticisms which could be made about the process which the Nillumbik Council has initiated, however we should not ignore it. Nillumbik residents are being asked to do two things right now, and we encourage you to engage. Vote for an Expert There will...
The Green Wedge Management Plan Review: have your say..
Green Wedge Councils are required by the State Government to prepare a Green Wedge Management Plan and to review it periodically. Nillumbik’s GWMP is in two parts, the first containing descriptive and background information and the second...
No 49 Room Hotel for the Manningham Green Wedge
It is clear from clause 57 of the State Planning Provisions that brothels are a prohibited use in the Green Wedges. No argument is possible. Residential hotels are also a prohibited use, but that’s a maybe - argument is possible. A permit may...
Victory for the Green Wedge in Manningham
A proposal to build a hotel and grappa distillery at 46-52 Brumby’s Road South Warrandyte has been rejected by VCAT. This time the site is in the Manningham portion of the Green Wedge. The proposed development was to build, on a 2.35 ha site, a 49 room hotel – revised...
Green Wedge success in Cottles Bridge
Like 2 Pigeon Bank Road, 14 Barreenong Road Cottles Bridge is in the Nillumbik Green Wedge in the Rural Conservation Zone. Unlike Pigeon Bank this case was taken all the way to VCAT by the applicant, which issued its ruling on March 16: a permit was not granted. The...
Development application abandoned prior to hearing
On 22/12 Phillip Mannerheim Holdings Pty Ltd and the Nillumbik Council agreed to VCAT making an order that the Council’s decision to issue a permit for the proposed development at 2 Pigeon Bank Road be set aside and instead that no permit be issued. The CFA has also...
No Deferral: 2 Pigeon Bank Road Hearing to proceed
Last week, on December 12, VCAT rejected the request by the developer to defer the VCAT hearing, now set to run for 4 days starting January 23. The story so far: at its meeting on 14th March the Nillumbik Council overturned the decision by its own officers to disallow...
Council Review: Good news or Bad for the Nillumbik Green Wedge?
At its meeting on 29th August the Nillumbik Council voted, without discussion, to spend $345,000 on an exercise called the ‘Nillumbik Planning Scheme Review’. They say that this project ‘seeks an improved and holistic approach to strategic planning, supported by...
Council Decision on No. 2 Pigeon Bank Road
The decision to grant a permit for the development at 2 Pigeon Bank Road was made at a council sub committee meeting on 14 March 2017. The Senior Planning Officer’s report and recommendations to Council read as follows: That the Committee (acting under delegation from...
Other News
Supreme Court Hearing Deferred
28 June 2017 The Supreme court has notified parties to the case that, because of Court time constraints, the directions hearing has been deferred to a date yet to be announced. The Court has indicated that the new date will not be in July or August.
Developer Goes to Supreme Court
Phillip Mannerheim Holdings Pty Ltd have upped the ante in this Pigeon Bank Road case and sought permission from the Supreme Court to appeal the VCAT decision to allow an appeal against the development. The application for Leave to Appeal will be heard on June 30
WCA Mounts Campaign to Overturn Council Decision
The Warrandyte Community Association, in conjunction with Friends of Nillumbik and The Green Wedge Protection Group, has decided to appeal Council’s decision to allow a development at Lot 2 Pigeon Bank Road. The surprise decision of Council to ignore the expert...