SUBMISSION TO RESIDENTIAL ZONES ADVISORY COMMITTEE SEPTEMBER 17, 2014 RESIDENTS ABOUT INTEGRATED SUBMISSION TO PLANNING PANELS VICTORIA RESIDENTIAL ZONES ADVISORY COMMITTEE (MELBOURNE DRAFT AMENDMENT C179) Presented by Peter Hogg, Chair

SUBMISSION TO RESIDENTIAL ZONES ADVISORY COMMITTEE SEPTEMBER 17, 2014 Residents About Integrated Development welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the discussion around the currently proposed changes to the existing residential zoning scheme. RAID has the following comments to make, in particular in how the proposed changes impact on North Melbourne and nearby areas.

SUBMISSION TO RESIDENTIAL ZONES ADVISORY COMMITTEE SEPTEMBER 17, 2014 We understand that the whole of the City of Melbourne has already been gazetted as GRZ. We understand that amendment C179, currently being considered by the Panel, is to vary this so that sensitive heritage areas are protected by zoning as NRZ. Given this intent, RAID poses the following questions: – why is this amendment being proposed? – has the proper process been undertaken to ensure that the right areas are zoned in the right way? – will the proposed amendments aimed at simplifying and rationalizing current planning controls be aided or restricted by local CoM overlays and other controls already in place ?

SUBMISSION TO RESIDENTIAL ZONES ADVISORY COMMITTEE SEPTEMBER 17, 2014 RAID’s position: currently large areas of North and West Melbourne are zoned Residential 1 (RZ1). the logical translation of RZ1 under the new Residential Zones is NRZ. NRZ limits housing density, allows for mostly single dwellings and includes a maximum building height for residential building of 8 metres. NRZ should be the default re-zoning except where it can be demonstrated that GRZ can be supported without undermining the existing fine grained inner urban fabric.

Erskine Street: NZR Curran Street GRZ: SUBMISSION TO RESIDENTIAL ZONES ADVISORY COMMITTEE SEPTEMBER 17, 2014 RAID believes that the City of Melbourne selection for NRZ is inconsistent as demonstrated by photographs of the following single dwellings in intact streetscapes that are currently in RZ1 Curran Street

Erskine Street: NZR Curran Street GRZ: SUBMISSION TO RESIDENTIAL ZONES ADVISORY COMMITTEE SEPTEMBER 17, 2014

Dryburgh Street: NZR Dryburgh Street GRZ: SUBMISSION TO RESIDENTIAL ZONES ADVISORY COMMITTEE SEPTEMBER 17, 2014

SUBMISSION TO RESIDENTIAL ZONES ADVISORY COMMITTEE SEPTEMBER 17, 2014 NRZ is the category most inner city municipalities (e.g. City of Yarra, City of Port Phillip and the City of Moonee Valley) have assigned to their valuable housing stock – in some instances up to 90% has been so zoned. There is currently ample latitude for the City of Melbourne decision makers to increase or decrease building height under NRZ. This raises the question as to why the City of Melbourne heritage areas are treated differently to similar areas of the Yarra, Port Phillip and Moonee Valley? What criteria and what care were taken in the selection of these areas? Did the planning officers actually go to the areas in question, or was this a “Google Earth job?”

SUBMISSION TO RESIDENTIAL ZONES ADVISORY COMMITTEE SEPTEMBER 17, 2014 RAID approves the decision of City of Melbourne planning officers in supporting the allocation of some areas of high sensitivity in North and West Melbourne as Neighbourhood Residential Zone NRZ, whereas previously all of the area was to be zoned General Residential Zone (GRZ). However, RAID notes that the precedent set by the recent Supreme Court ruling Boroondara City Council v 1045 Burke Road Pty Ltd [2014] VSC 127 is worrying as the Court found the Tribunal was entitled to take into account all relevant considerations when determining whether to allow the demolition of a heritage building. This ruling undermines the concept that adequate controls are in place to protect against inappropriate development.

SUBMISSION TO RESIDENTIAL ZONES ADVISORY COMMITTEE SEPTEMBER 17, 2014 Given this RAID recommends that other high sensitivity areas of North Melbourne should also be brought into the Neighbourhood Residential Zone (NRZ), in particular the following precincts which provide intact street scapes and small scale intact pockets of 19 th century and early 20 th century housing including: the area bounded by Erskine (north side), Abbotsford, Brougham (south side) and Melrose (east side) Streets the area bounded by Brougham (north side), Dryburgh (west side) and Melrose (east side) Streets and Curran Lane including the historic Bougainvillea House

SUBMISSION TO RESIDENTIAL ZONES ADVISORY COMMITTEE SEPTEMBER 17, 2014

In closing RAID recognises that the intention of the zoning changes is to facilitate increased population growth. The impact of significant population growth will dramaticly increase demand for social, open space, recreational and community infrastructure such as educational and healthcare services. The CoM is carrying a disproportionate load in population growth in the inner city in particular. This cannot be sustained in the absence the provision of additional schools, childcare, kindergartens, recreational facilities and open space. All arms of government need to plan for, and invest in, this needed infrastructure NOW, before the population growth takes place, and not provide it as an afterthought.

THANK YOU