Amendment C286 & C306 - Public Open Space Contributions

Council has progressed Amendment C286yara that introduced a permanent public open space contribution rate of 8.65 per cent.

The Amendment came into operation when notice of its Approval was published in the Victorian Government Gazette 22 August 2024.

To view the Approved Documents, please visit Browse Amendments | Amendment C286yara.

Overview

We are proposing to increase the public open space contributions from developments that subdivide land in Yarra, to help support our growing population. This change would be introduced through an amendment to the Yarra Planning Scheme, known as Amendment C286yara.

The Amendment proposes to update the public open space contribution rate for all subdivisions. This is a recommendation from Yarra’s Open Space Strategy.

Yarra’s Open Space Strategy was adopted in September 2020 and informs this amendment. It identified the public open space needs of existing and future residents of Yarra, gaps in the provision of public open space and opportunities to address those gaps. Currently, the amount, quality and accessibility of open space vary considerably across the suburbs of Yarra.

Under the Amendment, any development in the City of Yarra that subdivides land would be required to provide a contribution to public open space at a rate of 10.1%. This is more than double the current rate, which is 4.5%.

The Amendment also updates Clause 22.12, which provides guidance on the collection of open space contributions.

At the 12 September 2023 Council meeting, Council adopted ‘the use of the 10 per cent margin above CIV as recommended in the Interim Panel Report, and a consequential public open space contribution rate of 8.67 per cent.’

Amendment 306yara implements the recommendation from the Amendment C286yara Interim Panel Report.

The amendment proposes to request a Ministerial amendment to apply a public open space at a rate of 7.4% and to update the planning policy.

Council was advised on 27 November 2023, the Amendment was refused by the Minister for Planning. Council has written to request reasons for this decision.