Minister for Planning, Hon. Richard Wynne MP, has authorised Council's proposed Planning Scheme Amendment C270morn to rezone ten parcels of land outside the urban growth boundary within the Mornington Peninsula Green Wedge.
The rezoning aims to protect the Shire's highly valued Green Wedge from inappropriate development, resolve anomalies in the planning scheme, and ensure the zoning of these sites reflects their intended use and location within the Green Wedge.
The tens sites are:
1. 60-70 Kunyung Road, Mount Eliza which was recently the subject of Ryman Healthcare's failed bid for a large-scale residential aged care facility and/or retirement village, opposed by the Shire and rejected by VCAT
2. the area known as 'Sunnyside Beach Off Sunnyside Road Mount Eliza'
3. 50A McGregor Avenue, Mount Martha
4. 60 Hearn Road, Mount Martha
5. 19 Tallis Drive, Mornington (Mornington Golf Course)
6. 46 London Bridge Road, Portsea (Portsea Golf Club)
7. 35 Sunnyside Road, Mount Eliza (Manyung Recreation Camp)
8. 3875 Point Nepean Road (Point Nepean National Park)
9. 74-76 Marine Parade, Shoreham (Mentone Grammar Camp)
10. 62 Oakbank Road, Mornington (Padua College)
These sites are proposed to be rezoned from Special Use (SUZ) to either the Green Wedge Zone (GWZ) or Public Conservation and Resource Zone (PCRZ). Council sought authorisation to start the rezoning process back in February 2020.
Authorisation of the amendment doesn't mean approval – rather the Minister is allowing Council to prepare the amendment and start the formal planning scheme amendment process. Council plans to exhibit the amendment for community feedback early in 2022.
Quotes attributable to Mayor Councillor Anthony Marsh:
"Council and community advocacy has succeeded and we can now commence the process to rezone these ten sites to strengthen protections for our valuable green wedge areas and prevent inappropriate development.
"The community will be thrilled with this major step towards rezoning these areas. There has been lots of community support for this proposal and we are looking forward to proceeding as quickly as possible.
"The protection of the Green Wedge and making a clear distinction between the built environment and our natural environment is so important to the Mornington Peninsula's unique character."
