Yarra City Council has welcomed the Minister for Planning’s decision to introduce new development protections for the Yarra River, announced today. 

Yarra Mayor, Cr Roberto Colanzi, said “this decision is an important outcome for the Yarra, as the new interim controls will provide stronger protection against overdevelopment of the river between Darebin Creek and Punt Road until permanent controls can be introduced by the State Government.”

“We’ve long advocated for minimum setbacks of between 25 and 40 metres from the nearest adjoining title to the river, and height controls varying between one to two storeys and four storeys,” he said.

“It is especially important to have these interim planning controls in place as the State Government works on the overarching plan for the river.”

“The decision will provide Council with powers to refuse proposals that don’t provide the proper protections for the river area,” Mayor Colanzi said.

Some sites have pre-existing planning controls and are not covered by the interim protections, including 607 Victoria Street, Abbotsford; the Alphington Paper Mill site and the Nylex site in Cremorne.

In July 2015, Yarra Council wrote to the Minister seeking the interim Planning Scheme provisions through Amendment C195 to the Yarra Planning Scheme. The provisions will be in place for two years while the State Government works on comprehensive and consistent planning controls for the river from Punt Road to Warrandyte.

The section of the river that falls within the City of Yarra was previously protected with a Design and Development Overlay and an Environmental Significance Overlay, but the new controls will provide even stronger provisions.

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