Amendment C230 – Rezoning 500 Burwood Highway, Vermont South (ARRB Site)

Consultation has concluded

Feedback on Amendment C230 closed on Tuesday 5th July 2022.

For updates visit the Whitehorse Planning Scheme page

Amendment C230 to the Whitehorse Planning Scheme proposes to rezone land at 490-500 Burwood Highway, Flat 1/490-500 Burwood Highway and Flat 2/490-500 Burwood Highway, Vermont South from Transport Zone Schedule 4 (TRZ4) to Residential Growth Zone Schedule 3 (RGZ3) and apply a number of overlay controls in order to facilitate the future development of the land. The land is also known as the former Australian Road and Research Board site and has remained unused since it was sold to private interests in 2017.

In addition to the rezoning to RGZ3, the Amendment also proposes to apply the following overlay controls to the land:

  • Significant Landscape Overlay and a new Schedule 10 (SLO10) (Former Australian Road and Research Board site, 490-500 Burwood Highway, Vermont South);
  • Vegetation Protection Overlay Schedule 5 (VPO5) (Significant, exotic, native and indigenous trees);
  • Design and Development Overlay and a new Schedule 6 (490-500 Burwood Highway, Vermont South (DDO6) (Former Australian Road and Research Board site));
  • Environmental Audit Overlay.

The Amendment also makes minor adjustments to the Housing Framework Plan at Clause 21.06 and Map 1: Neighbourhood Character Precincts at Clause 22.03 to include the Amendment land within a Substantial Change Area and the Garden Suburban 7 precinct. The Amendment inserts a new Statement of Significance under the Schedule to the Heritage Overlay for HO23 (Australian Road and Research Board).

The Amendment has been initiated at the request of the landowner. The current TRZ4 is redundant given that the Australian Road and Research Board operations have moved offsite, and the land cannot be developed or used for a different purpose until it is rezoned. The proposed Amendment would enable the Amendment land to be developed for residential use, including with townhouses and apartment developments of varying heights that reduce in scale and height down towards the sensitive boundaries of the site.

The Heritage Overlay control is proposed to be retained over the Amendment land with a new Statement of Significance to be incorporated to provide greater clarity of the elements of primary and secondary significance. The proposed VPO5 recognises three outstanding canopy trees on the land, and the proposed SLO10 recognises and requires future development and works on the land to maintain and enhance the existing landscape character.

Planning permit applications for future development would still be required if the proposed planning scheme changes were to be approved by the Minister for Planning. It is proposed under the DDO6 that any planning permit application for development within 30 metres of the site boundaries would be publicly notified.

Documents relating to the Amendment, including copies of the proposed planning controls, are available to view from the 'Documents' menu (top right of this webpage).  

How to Have Your Say

Submissions closed on Tuesday 5th July 2022. All submitters will be kept updated on the progress of the amendment.

What happens next?

Council will review all comments and determine how to proceed. If there are submissions that Council cannot resolve, Council will request the Minister for Planning to appoint an independent planning panel to review the Amendment and hear all submissions.

The independent panel will make recommendations in a report to Council. Council will then consider the Panel report at a Council meeting, and determine whether or not to adopt the Amendment with or without changes.

If Council chooses to adopt the Amendment, is will be submitted to the Minister for Planning for approval.

If you have any questions about the Amendment, please contact Council’s City Planning and Development Department on 9262 6303.

Feedback on Amendment C230 closed on Tuesday 5th July 2022.

For updates visit the Whitehorse Planning Scheme page

Amendment C230 to the Whitehorse Planning Scheme proposes to rezone land at 490-500 Burwood Highway, Flat 1/490-500 Burwood Highway and Flat 2/490-500 Burwood Highway, Vermont South from Transport Zone Schedule 4 (TRZ4) to Residential Growth Zone Schedule 3 (RGZ3) and apply a number of overlay controls in order to facilitate the future development of the land. The land is also known as the former Australian Road and Research Board site and has remained unused since it was sold to private interests in 2017.

In addition to the rezoning to RGZ3, the Amendment also proposes to apply the following overlay controls to the land:

  • Significant Landscape Overlay and a new Schedule 10 (SLO10) (Former Australian Road and Research Board site, 490-500 Burwood Highway, Vermont South);
  • Vegetation Protection Overlay Schedule 5 (VPO5) (Significant, exotic, native and indigenous trees);
  • Design and Development Overlay and a new Schedule 6 (490-500 Burwood Highway, Vermont South (DDO6) (Former Australian Road and Research Board site));
  • Environmental Audit Overlay.

The Amendment also makes minor adjustments to the Housing Framework Plan at Clause 21.06 and Map 1: Neighbourhood Character Precincts at Clause 22.03 to include the Amendment land within a Substantial Change Area and the Garden Suburban 7 precinct. The Amendment inserts a new Statement of Significance under the Schedule to the Heritage Overlay for HO23 (Australian Road and Research Board).

The Amendment has been initiated at the request of the landowner. The current TRZ4 is redundant given that the Australian Road and Research Board operations have moved offsite, and the land cannot be developed or used for a different purpose until it is rezoned. The proposed Amendment would enable the Amendment land to be developed for residential use, including with townhouses and apartment developments of varying heights that reduce in scale and height down towards the sensitive boundaries of the site.

The Heritage Overlay control is proposed to be retained over the Amendment land with a new Statement of Significance to be incorporated to provide greater clarity of the elements of primary and secondary significance. The proposed VPO5 recognises three outstanding canopy trees on the land, and the proposed SLO10 recognises and requires future development and works on the land to maintain and enhance the existing landscape character.

Planning permit applications for future development would still be required if the proposed planning scheme changes were to be approved by the Minister for Planning. It is proposed under the DDO6 that any planning permit application for development within 30 metres of the site boundaries would be publicly notified.

Documents relating to the Amendment, including copies of the proposed planning controls, are available to view from the 'Documents' menu (top right of this webpage).  

How to Have Your Say

Submissions closed on Tuesday 5th July 2022. All submitters will be kept updated on the progress of the amendment.

What happens next?

Council will review all comments and determine how to proceed. If there are submissions that Council cannot resolve, Council will request the Minister for Planning to appoint an independent planning panel to review the Amendment and hear all submissions.

The independent panel will make recommendations in a report to Council. Council will then consider the Panel report at a Council meeting, and determine whether or not to adopt the Amendment with or without changes.

If Council chooses to adopt the Amendment, is will be submitted to the Minister for Planning for approval.

If you have any questions about the Amendment, please contact Council’s City Planning and Development Department on 9262 6303.