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Program details

Introduction | Program report | Commonwealth Approvals

    Introduction

    Melbourne’s population is growing, and will continue to grow to an expected five million people by 2030. To enable development that will cater for this growth over the next 20 years while safeguarding the environment, the Australian and Victorian governments have completed a strategic assessment of the Victorian Government’s August 2010 changes to Melbourne’s urban growth boundary under national environment law (the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999).

    This is the first strategic assessment in Australia to reach the approval stage and heralds a new era in Commonwealth-State collaboration on planning and environmental management. 

    The detailed commitments of the Melbourne Strategic Assessment are set out in the Program Report below. The strategic assessment aligns State and Commonwealth biodiversity requirements and approval standards for issues of common interest so that separate approvals are no longer required.

    The program will lead to increased certainty and reduced cost for development proposals covered by the strategic assessment. Key benefits include:

    • Massive reduction in red tape
    • Consistency of requirements across jurisdictions under a single approval process (provided actions are taken in accordance with the program) 
    • Increased government investment of $1-2 million per year in mapping and data collection to facilitate this approach 
    • Larger, consolidated mitigation measures, including major new conservation reserves
    The Strategic Assessment program will establish grassland reserves of approximately 15,000 hectares immediately west of Melbourne and a new 1,200 hectare grassy woodland reserve north-east of Melbourne. These reserves will provide enhanced environmental protection for nationally listed grassland and woodland communities and several listed threatened species. A further 6000 hectares of land has been protected through application of the Rural Conservation Zone inside the new UGB. These areas also contain a range of important biodiversity values.

    Fact Sheet - The Melbourne Strategic Assessment (updated Nov 2011) [PDF File - 418.1 KB]
    Fact Sheet - The Melbourne Strategic Assessment (accessible version Nov 2011) [MS Word Document - 884.0 KB]
     

    Program Report

    DMNSC Program CoverThe 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 Program Report for the Melbourne Strategic Assessment was endorsed by the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment on 2 February 2010.

    The final Program Report can be downloaded below:

    Program Report (2009) [PDF File - 4.2 MB]

    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 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.


    Commonwealth approvals

    The Program Report for the Melbourne Strategic Assessment was endorsed by the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment on 2 February 2010.

    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.
    • Prescriptions for managing 'matters of national environmental significance' were approved by the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment on 16 April 2010 and 27 May 2010. These are available on the Planning Requirements page.

     For more information see http://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/notices/assessments/melbourne.html

     

    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.

     

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