Current Strategic Projects

Allansford Strategic Framework Plan

The Allansford Strategic Framework Plan (Allansford SFP) was adopted by Council on 3 May 2021.

The Allansford SFP sets a long-term strategic land use vision for Allansford and provides a framework for its future growth and development over the next 20 years.

The Allansford SFP has considered site attributes, relevant policy and range of feedback received during three rounds of community and stakeholder engagement. 

The Allansford SFP can be accessed via the link above.  

To give effect to the Allansford SFP, Council will prepare a planning scheme amendment to provide the policy direction to deliver the recommendations of the plan. 

Please contact [email protected] with any questions in relation to the Allansford SFP.

Allansford Flood Study

Council is undertaking flood modelling of the Hopkins River catchment at Allansford.

The investigation will look at risks posed by large riverine floods and changes brought about by climate change.

New information about climate change-induced extreme weather will enable more effective planning for Allansford.

Ultimately, the investigation will result in a Planning Scheme amendment that will include revised flood mapping and land use controls.

The investigation will also inform emergency response planning and build community flood resilience.

This project is a partnership with the Glenelg-Hopkins Catchment Management Authority with technical work carried out by Water Technology.

The community has contributed to the project by providing historical flood information that has helped calibrate modelling for the flood investigation.

A review of the flood data used to produce the flood model is available here.

The 1% Annual Exceedance Probably (AEP) or 1-in-100 Year Average Recurrence Interval (ARI) flood depth map for Allansford is available here. 

A community meeting was held at the Allansford Mechanics Institute Hall on February 13, 5.30pm which discuss the flood depth mapping including:

• a summary of the project so far;
• project components still in progress including the Stormwater Management Strategy;
• the use of planning controls (overlays) to mitigate future flood risk;
• discussion and call for suggestions to mitigate Allansford's flood risk;
• relationship between this study and the Allansford Strategic Framework Plan;
• viewing of the flood mapping outputs from the study so far; and,
• an opportunity to ask questions.

You can watch a vide of the meeting here.

Keen to know more? Please get in touch.

Email: [email protected]

Tel: 5559 4800

In person: Civic Centre, 25 Liebig Street, Warrnambool

Post: PO Box 198, Warrnambool 3280

If you have specific questions, concerns or comments please contact Peter Reid on 5559 4800 or [email protected]

Bushfield-Woodford Strategic Framework Plan

Warrnambool City Council is developing the very first Strategic Framework Plan for Bushfield and Woodford, to be known as the Bushfield-Woodford Strategic Framework Plan (the Plan). 

The two small towns of Bushfield and Woodford are situated in very close proximity to each other stretching from the Hopkins Highway in the east towards Caramut Road in the west; and approximately three kilometres from the City of Warrnambool.

The adjacent settlements face further residential growth and wastewater management challenges. Council needs to address these challenges while also protecting the unique features of these small townships to ensure great futures and unique rural lifestyle. The Plan aims to provide a coordinated, long term vision to guide land use and development and manage the future development of the settlements 20 years into the future.

Community participation is essential to achieving these objectives. An online community survey conducted late in 2022, a community drop-in session in March 2023 and engagement with a variety of government and community group stakeholders have guided the creation of a draft Plan. In September of 2023 Warrnambool City Council released the Draft Plan for public comment. 

The community have provided significant feedback on the Draft Plan, both positive and negative. The comments have offered further thoughts and reinforced some priorities. There was great feedback on the Draft received from individual community members, community groups and government agencies with an interest in the small towns. The Draft Plan is currently being revised based on the feedback received, as expected. Some additional community engagement will take place prior to preparing the final version of the Plan.

A newly created Implementation Strategy will guide the further realisation of the revised Strategic Framework Plan vision and development over the next 20 years and beyond.  Both of these will be presented to Council for formal adoption. The Implementation Strategy will also detail further technical work as well as actions required to realise the vision of the Bushfield-Woodford Strategic Framework Plan.

Development of the Plan is funded through a grant provided by the Victorian Planning Authority.

If you have questions or comments regarding the project, please contact Peter Reid on 5559-4800 or via email at [email protected]. You can also write to:
Warrnambool City Council Strategic Planning
PO Box 198
Warrnambool, Vic, 3280
 

Warrnambool Open Space Project

Council has begun an Open Space Project that includes:

• A review and update of the Warrnambool Open Space Strategy (2014) to provide a public open space planning framework to 2040.
• Preparation of an Open Space Contributions Policy.
• Preparation of associated planning scheme documentation for the Warrnambool Planning Scheme.

Background

Over the past decade, public open space planning has been guided by the Warrnambool Open Space Strategy 2014 (OSS).  It is a reference document in the Warrnambool Planning Scheme.  The purpose of the OSS is to provide an open space planning framework for Warrnambool to 2026.

The Vision of the OSS is for Warrnambool to have a high quality, diverse, accessible open space network that reflects community needs and enhances social connection, environmental protection and economic benefit.
It adopted seven guiding principles: accessible, adaptable, connected, efficient, diverse, equitable, and protective of the environment.  The OSS considered the provision of open space in Warrnambool to be good overall with connectivity between open space identified as a key gap.

With the 2014 OSS approaching end-of-life, it is time to review and update the OSS.  With considerable population growth forecast for Warrnambool, it is important to understand future demand on the open space network and to identify further gaps in provision.  An updated OSS is also important to enable the development of an Open Space Contributions Policy for inclusion in the Warrnambool Planning Scheme.

Warrnambool Council has used a range of mechanisms to collect open space contributions in the past, including Development Contribution Plans, legal agreements, and through the planning permit and subdivision process.  Most contributions are collected under the Subdivision Act 1988, which must be assessed on a case-by-case basis and are open to appeal. Council would benefit from a more consistent approach, including setting fixed rates in the schedule to Clause 53.01 in the Warrnambool Planning Scheme.

It is expected that the Warrnambool Open Space project will deliver the following benefits:
•             A contemporary open space strategy for the municipality to guide decision making about the future provision of, and broad improvements to, public open space.
•             Outputs to enable financial resource planning and asset provision.
•             Facilitate a coordinated approach to open space planning.
•             Justification for the introduction of an Open Space Contributions Policy into the Warnnambool Planning Scheme.
•             Clarity for landowners and developers about future open space contribution requirements.
•             Clarity for the community about the future provision and improvement of open space.
•             Reduce potential conflict between developers and Council about future contributions requirements (and potentially VCAT applications).

Council anticipates the delivery date for the Warrnambool Open Space Strategy and Open Space Contributions Policy is by March 2026.

Council has engaged SGS Economics and Planning to undertake the Warrnambool Open Space Project.

For more information contact Open Space Planner Amy Cumming on 5559 4800 or [email protected] 
 

East of Aberline Precinct Structure Plan

Eastern Activity Centre Structure Plan

The Eastern Activity Centre is Warrnambool’s only major activity centre, second only in scale and importance to the City Centre. In addition to its importance as an activity centre, the centre, and adjoining land to the east, also serves a role as the City’s current eastern gateway.

Activity Centres provide a broad range of goods and services to residents, businesses, and visitors focussing on mixed use development including retail, commercial and residential. The existence of a comprehensive network of activity centres, that differ in role and function, provide an important contribution to the economic, social, and environmental sustainability of Warrnambool and southwest Victoria.  

A Structure Plan is a document that provides guidance and certainty about the intended use and development outcomes for an area, in this case, a mixed-use activity centre.

The Warrnambool Eastern Activity Centre Structure Plan has been implemented into the Warrnambool Planning Scheme. The Structure Plan identifies a vision for the centre, as well as guiding land use and development outcomes that supports the centre’s role in Warrnambool’s network of Activity Centres. The Structure Plan also recognises the prominent gateway role of the Eastern Activity Centre.

The Structure Plan is accompanied by a Shared Infrastructure Plan which sets out the higher order shared infrastructure that is required to service new development within the Eastern Activity Centre.

For further information, please contact Julie McLean, Coordinator City Strategy, on (03) 5559 4836 or by email [email protected]

North Dennington Development Plan

On 3 August 2015, Council endorsed a Development Plan for the North Dennington Growth Area.

The Development Plan applies to all land within the Growth Area as defined by the adopted North Dennington Structure Plan. The area generally includes all land west of Harrington Road, south and east of the Merri River, and north of the former railway line.

For further information please contact Rob Wandell on [email protected].

South Warrnambool Flood Study

Warrnambool City Council has completed new flood modelling of the Merri River catchment in South Warrnambool. The South Warrnambool Flood Investigation covers the area from Rutledges Cutting (in Moyne Shire) to the mouth of the Merri River, and upstream to the Princes Highway Bridge in Dennington. The new study updates and expands on the 2007 study.

The investigation has looked at the risks posed by large storm tide and riverine flood events and the worsening flood risk profile due to the effects of climate change. Updated knowledge on climate change-induced extreme events, sea level rise and storm tide flooding will enable more effective planning for South Warrnambool. 

Ultimately, the investigation will result in an amendment to the Warrnambool Planning Scheme that will include revised flood mapping and land use controls. The investigation will also:
-    assess the feasibility of establishing flood alerting/warning arrangements (including for significant storm tide events);
-    provide reliable flood risk information for insurance purposes;
-    provide flood mapping and intelligence products for the entire project area to inform and develop emergency response planning and build community flood resilience; and,
-    assess the feasibility of structural flood mitigation works.

The Glenelg-Hopkins Catchment Management Authority is managing the project in conjunction with Warrnambool City Council, with detailed technical work being carried out by Venant Solutions.

The final report is available to read here.

Council understands that the completion of this important project has raised a variety of concerns in the affected communities and wants to ensure it understands these concerns prior to voting on the adoption of the Investigation.

Stakeholders are invited to consider the report and provide feedback on or before Friday, April 11. 

Your comments can be provided via:
-    email at [email protected]
-    post at P.O. Box 198, Warrnambool, Vic., 3280
-    personal delivery at 25 Liebig St, Warrnambool, or
-    telephone on (03) 5559 4800

 

Sustainable Subdivisions Framework

Councils engage shared Sustainable Subdivision Advisor resource 

Warrnambool City Council has joined forces with 6 Victorian Councils to push for more sustainable development outcomes in greenfield subdivisions by employing a Sustainable Subdivisions Advisor to work across the 7 Councils.  Participating Councils include City of Greater Bendigo (lead Council), Ballarat City Council, City of Greater Geelong, Horsham Rural City Council, Mildura Rural City Council, Moorabool Shire Council and Warrnambool City Council. 
 
The dedicated 12 month shared Sustainable Subdivisions Advisor resource will be hosted by the City of Greater Bendigo but will support planning staff assessing subdivision applications to utilise the Sustainable Subdivisions Framework (SSF) resources whilst at the same time assist developers to increase sustainable development outcomes including encouraging a move towards all electric suburbs.  
 
If you are in the preliminary stages of preparing a subdivision plan or ready to lodge an application, please contact our Planning Support team to arrange a meeting (no fee) with the Sustainable Subdivisions Advisor who is available to assist developers with delivering sustainable subdivision outcomes. 

Resources to support planning applicants to self-assess their subdivision and case studies are available at the links below.  

Information for subdivision applicants  

Are you submitting a subdivision planning permit application? See below to download the relevant applicant kit and template below with instructions on how you can participate in the Sustainable Subdivisions Framework (SSF) Trial. For additional information on the SSF and application process, visit the CASBE website or contact the Sustainable Subdivisions Advisor at [email protected] for further information.
 
Medium Subdivisions 16 – 59 lots 
•    Applicant Kit for Medium Subdivisions 

Large Subdivisions 60 – 249 lots 
•    Applicant Kit for Large Subdivisions 

Very Large Subdivisions 250+ lots 
•    Applicant Kit for Very Large Subdivisions 

About the Sustainable Subdivisions Framework 

How does the trial work? 

For subdivision greater than 16 lots, Council planning staff will work with applicants to assess their subdivision applications against the Sustainable Subdivisions Framework (SSF). There is no additional application fee for developers to utilise the Sustainable Subdivision Advisor and resources. 

We invite you to talk to us about opportunities to apply the SSF to your subdivision application. We acknowledge implementing any recommendations within the SSF is voluntary, we do however strongly encourage developers to utilise the SSF to frame your thinking when preparing the initial concept subdivision design and then implement opportunities identified during the detailed design process.  We welcome all feedback on the SSF and welcome collaboration with the development community so we can improve the SSF and deliver beneficial outcomes for our community.  

Why is a Framework important? 

The creation of a subdivision is the creation of a community. A subdivision is an opportunity to set up community life that will extend over many decades. The initial subdivision design represents an enormous opportunity to create fundamental conditions, for a sustainable and resilient community. 

Despite clear objectives in existing planning policy seeking to influence sustainable design outcomes in the built environment, there is limited information regarding requirements and standards to support robust evaluation of subdivisions from a sustainability perspective. 

The long-term nature of subdivision planning is now set against a backdrop where our climate is fundamentally changing. Many councils are planning population growth for the next 20-30 years, in some cases via Precinct Structure Plans, and are currently considering how these communities might contribute to achieving the 2050 net zero emissions target identified in the Victorian Climate Change Act. 

What will the Framework achieve? 

The SSF seeks to mitigate the impact of future climate projection scenarios, by creating sustainable and liveable subdivisions that can adapt to the changing climate. The SSF identifies seven categories that can assist in creating environmentally sustainable subdivisions.  
These are: 
•    Site Layout and Liveability 
•    Streets and Public Realm 
•    Energy 
•    Ecology 
•    Integrated Water Management (IWM) 
•    Urban Heat 
•    Circular Economy (Materials and Waste) 

The seven SSF categories each include objectives and measurable standards to facilitate stronger sustainability outcomes and apply innovation and implementation considerations to all categories. 

For further detailed information about the Sustainable Subdivisions Framework, please visit the Council Alliance for a Sustainable Built Environment (CASBE) websiteFrom the website you can access an extensive array of resources to support the SSF, including a copy of the SSF itself and sample submission requirements.  A series of case studies are also available from the website. 
 

North Merri Open Space Landscape Master Plan

The North Merri Open Space Landscape Master Plan will provide guidance for appropriate landscaping treatments on current and proposed public open space north of the Merri River, from established properties in the east (Ponting Drive and Johnstone Road) to Caramut Road in the west. 

The intent of the Plan is to:
•    Guide the planting of appropriate species and landscaping outcomes in the riparian corridor
•    Improve conservation and cultural values
•    Maintain the underlying purpose and function of the flood zone
•    Create linkages with the South Merri open space precinct and adjoining residential open space areas.
 

The Plan will serve as a strategic document relied on by Council and other users to achieve an appropriate landscaping outcome as the growth area develops.
 

Guiding Principles  
•    The majority of the project site consists of a flood zone and it is imperative that the Plan does not introduce hazards that will impede this function (eg. hydrological, biophysical, biosecurity and human and wildlife safety). 
•    The Plan is to complement both the Merri River Landscape Guidelines and the South of Merri Open Space Precinct Plan, and link with public open spaces established or proposed within nearby residential areas such as Wollaston Way, Oakwood Riverside Estate and Riverland Estate. Consideration should be given to future bio-links or corridors as part of long term planning and infrastructure development. 
•    The Plan should focus on improving conservation values. Planting of vegetation should consider biodiversity values and improvement, pre-European Ecological Vegetation Classes (EVC’s) and how it can link with green corridors being established across the municipality. Plantings should also focus on improving habitat for key indicator species (flora and fauna) with consideration to future climate impacts on species. 
•    The Plan should identify outcomes that will improve cultural values and the symbiosis of a bio-cultural landscape. 
 

While the Plan is not an open space strategy, it should allow for passive and active recreation in predetermined areas within the site.

Council anticipates the plan will be finalised in the second half of 2025.

Warrnambool City Council has appointed Michael Smith & Associates to develop and deliver the North of Merri Open Space Landscape Master Plan.

For more information contact Open Space Planner Amy Cumming on 5559 4800 or [email protected]

Warrnambool Planning Scheme Review

The Warrnambool Planning Scheme controls land use and development within the municipality. 

It contains State and local planning policies, zones and overlays and other provisions that affect how land can be used and developed.

The planning scheme indicates if a planning permit is required to establish a new use of land, to construct a building or make other changes to the land.

The Local Planning Policy Framework (LPPF) contains planning policies and statements about how decisions will be made, and provides guidance on issues of local significance.

The LPPF contains a Municipal Strategic Statement (MSS) which establishes the strategic planning framework for the City and captures significant planning directions (i.e. greenfield growth areas, city centre renewal, protection of key environmental assets, etc).  The MSS is dynamic and should be continually refined as Council revises its strategic directions.

The MSS and LPPF are informed by a number of Council strategies and policies including the Council Plan (2013-2017), Health and Wellbeing Plan, City-Wide Housing Strategy, Retail Strategy, Industrial Land Use Strategy, Warrnambool Open Space Strategy, to name a few.

Warrnambool Planning Scheme Rewrite Project 2015

In 2014, Council commenced a comprehensive review of the Warrnambool Planning Scheme.  The objectives of the project were to:

• Ensure the Local Planning Policy Framework (LPPF) is consistent with, and is underpinned by the structure and themes at the State Planning Policy Framework (SPPF) level.
• Determine whether new policies need to be prepared to implement adopted Council strategies and policies.
• Provide a draft revised Municipal Strategic Statement (MSS), LPPF and land use planning controls (ie. zones and overlays).

On 2 February 2015, Council endorsed the final report for the Warrnambool Planning Scheme Rewrite Project. 

The Warrnambool Planning Scheme Rewrite final report contained a number of recommendations that will be implemented by a staged approach. The first stage included:

• Restructure the LPPF, and more specifically the MSS, to align it with the SPPF.
• Update the LPPF to reflect Council strategies, plans and polices.
• Refresh the MSS to be a more contemporary document and reflect current issues and influences.
• Delete all but three local policies, and where relevant, incorporate the objectives and strategies from the deleted policies into the new MSS.
• Refresh the remaining three local planning polices to provide consistency in language.

The first stage was implemented into the Warrnambool Planning Scheme via Amendment C93 in September 2016.

Warrnambool Planning Scheme Review 2018

Council is required to review its planning scheme in accordance with the requirements of the Planning and Environment Act no later than one year after the Council Plan is approved. 

The review analyses the planning scheme by considering the following questions:

• What are the key issues to be addressed in the Planning Scheme Review having regard to the current performance of the scheme?
• What are the possible options or solutions that could be explored to address issues?

The final Warrnambool Planning Scheme Review Report was completed in December 2018 and was adopted by Council on 1 April 2019.

The final report made 30 recommendations to not only improve the Warrnambool Planning Scheme but to prepare for the State Government initiated Smart Planning program that has introduced a new Planning Policy Framework (PPF) into all Victorian Planning Schemes. 

The final report also provides an update on a strategic work program to continue implementation of the recommendations of the Warrnambool Planning Scheme Rewrite Project 2015. 

Further Information

For further information, please contact Andrew Nield, Strategic Planner, on (03) 5559 4800 or by email [email protected]

Warrnambool Residential Land Supply Monitoring