Delivering Melbourne's newest sustainable communities
- Program report
- Planning amendments
- Strategic assessment
- Strategic Impact Assessment report
- Public consultation
- Background
- Project overviews
- Getting more information
In a national first, the Victorian and Commonwealth governments have agreed on a process to cut red tape and streamline environmental assessments in the implementation of the Victorian Government’s Delivering Melbourne’s newest sustainable communities program.
The program, aimed at accommodating Melbourne’s growing population over the next 20 years, will be assessed through a ‘strategic assessment’ process under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 to enable sustainable, long-term development that safeguards the environment.
This is the first strategic assessment in Australia to reach the endorsement stage and heralds a new era in Commonwealth-State collaboration on planning and environmental management.
The Program Report details the implementation program for the strategic assessment. This has now been endorsed by the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment.
Although the program is now endorsed, actions under the program cannot commence until the Commonwealth Minister gives approval for the types of activities that can take place under the program. Where approved, such activities will need no further federal assessment, provided they are taken in accordance with this program.
 Program report This Program Report provides the details of commitments made by the Victorian Government to manage potential impacts on matters of national environmental significance through the life of the Program. It sets the framework for the implementation, monitoring and reporting of Program activities, including these environmental commitments. The approved program includes large areas for the establishment of environmental offsets and provides important protections for nationally protected species through the retention and management of secure conservation reserves and other mitigation measures. This includes two proposed grassland reserves of approximately 15,000 hectares in Melbourne’s west. The final Program Report can be downloaded in 3 parts:  Program Report Part 1 pp.1-8 (PDF - 1.8 MB) Program Report Part 2 pp.9-18 (PDF - 2.8 MB) Program Report Parts 3-4 pp.19-90 (PDF - 1.2 MB) |  |
Planning amendments
The Minister for Planning has approved and is now seeking parliamentary ratification of Amendment VC55. Subject to Parliament’s approval of the Growth Areas Infrastructure Contribution legislation it will then come into operation. Amendment VC55 will implement new planning scheme provisions that address the objectives of Delivering Melbourne’s newest sustainable communities.
For further information go to the Department of Planning and Community Development website.
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Strategic assessment
The Victorian Government has entered into an agreement to undertake an assessment under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Section 146(1) of the Act allows the Commonwealth Minister to agree in writing with a person responsible for the implementation of a policy, plan or program that an assessment be made of the impacts of actions under the policy, plan or program on a matter protected by provision of part 3 of the Act.
Agreement for strategic assessment of impacts of the revised Melbourne Urban Growth Boundary (PDF - 563 KB)The proposed program as defined in the Commonwealth-State agreement is the Urban Growth Boundary Review for Melbourne being undertaken by the State of Victoria and announced on 2 December 2008, for the development of land, including transport infrastructure, within:
- the investigation areas shown in the Melbourne @ 5 Million Report (published by the State of Victoria in December 2008) including the subsequent extension to these areas.
- areas inside the existing Urban Growth Boundary for which a planning scheme amendment to introduce a Precinct Structure Plan has not commenced to be exhibited or does not remain on exhibition under sections 17-19 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 (Vic) as at 26 May 2009 and as definitively shown on the Growth Areas Authority map no. 3356/6, dated 26 May 2009.
- areas in the Outer Metropolitan Ring Transport Corridor, the E6 Transport Corridor and the Regional Rail Link Corridor between West Werribee and Deer Park discussed in the Victorian Transport Plan (published by the State of Victoria on 8 December 2008).
- View maps of the investigation areas.
- Simplified State and Commonwealth biodiversity approvals for the Program early in the planning cycle
- Increased certainty and reduced cost for development proposals where they meet the conditions of the approvals
- A ready supply of native vegetation and species offsets that developers will purchase from the Government
- A commitment by the Victorian Government to enhanced protection of a network of key biodiversity values that are retained inside the Urban Growth Boundary
- Advance mitigation of the impacts of clearing biodiversity values
- Strict adherence to the principles and standards required under Victoria's native vegetation policy framework and species regulations
- A commitment to monitoring and full public reporting on the implementation of the Program and its approval conditions under the Commonwealth legislation.
Two large areas of native grassland to the west of Melbourne are proposed to be preserved for future generations. These native grasslands are listed as a critically endangered ecological community under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and are also listed as threatened under the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988.
The Government is also proposing to establish a smaller Grassy Woodland reserve south-east of Whittlesea, after a process of community consultation has been undertaken. It will protect fine stands of River Red Gum trees which are a key component of the Grassy Eucalypt Woodland of the Victorian Volcanic Plain. This was listed in June 2009 as a critically endangered ecological community under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. These Red Gum Grassy Woodlands are also listed as threatened under the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988.
A large network of protected environmental areas associated with Merri Creek and its environs within the Melbourne North Growth Area will also be protected from urban development as a result of the Strategic Assessment . This will include important stands of grassy woodlands and remnant native grasslands, and habitats for the Growling Grass Frog.
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| Strategic Impact Assessment Report The Strategic Impact Assessment Report provides details of potential impacts of the proposed program of urban development on matters of national environmental significance. A draft Strategic Impact Assessment Report was released for public comment from 17 June to 17 July 2009. This was subsequently revised in response to comments received. The final report was submitted to the Commonwealth Minister for Environment, Heritage and the Arts to support the endorsement process for the Program Report. The final Strategic Impact Assessment report can be downloaded in 20 parts: Please note: Some of the files below are large in size and may take some time to download. |  |
Public consultation
The initial public consultation process was conducted from 17 June to 17 July 2009.
The Victorian Government then investigated potential minor refinements to parts of the Regional Rail Link, Outer Metropolitan Ring / E6 Transport Corridor and grassland reserves in Melbourne's west. Affected property owners and occupiers were consulted. Submissions on this additional consultation closed on 21 September 2009.
All submissions received were considered by the Government before making its final decisions. The Government has presented its recommended alignments and locations for the Urban Growth Boundary, Regional Rail Link, Outer Metropolitan Ring / E6 Transport Corridor and western grassland reserves to State Parliament for ratification.
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Background
Recent population forecasts indicate that Melbourne’s population will reach 5 million sooner than expected. Meeting the needs of our rapidly growing population will involve more than just making sure there are enough homes for everyone.
Safeguarding our liveability also depends on:
- Having a choice of affordable housing options available
- Meeting the transport needs of people and businesses
- Improving employment opportunities
- Protecting our highly valued open space and biodiversity
- Ensuring infrastructure and services are in place and ready to support communities as they grow.
Melbourne @ 5 million and The Victorian Transport Plan, which were released by the Government at the end of 2008, proposed a number of initiatives to meet these challenges including reviewing the Urban Growth Boundary, establishing grassland reserves in Melbourne’s west, and providing major transport infrastructure.
After the release of Melbourne @ 5 Million and The Victorian Transport Plan, an Inter-Departmental Taskforce was established by the Department of Planning and Community Development to oversee the review of Melbourne’s Urban Growth Boundary and the implementation of integrated land use and transport initiatives in Melbourne’s new growth areas.
The following agencies formed the Taskforce with the Department of Planning and Community Development:
- Department of Premier and Cabinet
- Department of Treasury and Finance
- Department of Sustainability and Environment
- Department of Transport, VicRoads
- Growth Areas Authority.
- Revise Melbourne’s Urban Growth Boundary and designate land for development
- Plan the alignments of the Regional Rail Link (west of Werribee to Deer Park) and the Outer Metropolitan Ring / E6 Transport Corridor
- Define the boundaries and management of areas for grassland reserves in Melbourne’s west.
Project overviews
1. Urban Growth Boundary
Melbourne’s Urban Growth Boundary is being reviewed to ensure that enough land is available to meet the needs of Melbourne’s growing population.
2. Regional Rail Link
The Regional Rail Link will be the biggest expansion of the Melbourne’s rail network in 25 years. The route for the 50 kilometre, twin-track rail link, is proposed to run from west of Werribee to Southern Cross Station via Tarneit and Sunshine, separating regional and metropolitan train services.
3. Outer Metropolitan Ring / E6 Transport Corridor
The Outer Metropolitan Ring / E6 Transport Corridor will create a major arterial transport corridor providing links between Melbourne’s west and north.
4. Strategic Impact Assessment for Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
The Strategic Impact Assessment (see above) identifies some key locations of national environmental significance and recommends that, in order to protect these significant areas, two major grasslands reserves be created in Melbourne’s west.
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Getting more information
There are a three ways to get more information about the four proposals:
1. Read the maps, reports and information on each project's website (see the links in Project overviews).
2. Call our information line on 1800 090 789 (Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm) – our staff can answer your questions and send out documents including maps, reports, and fact sheets.
3. Go to Melbourne Planning Maps Online to see how your property is affected. Enter a property address to obtain a Melbourne Planning Property Report. The Property Report will include a map showing the location of the proposed Urban Growth Boundary and how your property is affected. The report and map will also show the properties affected by the proposed alignments for the Regional Rail Link and Outer Metropolitan Ring / E6 Transport Corridors, and the proposed grassland reserves.
Interpreter: If you do not speak English, please call 03 9280 0752 and a telephone interpreter will assist you with your call.
Please note: Document(s) on this page are presented in PDF format. If you do not have the Adobe Reader, you can download a copy free from the Adobe web site.