Protecting the Yarra River Stronger links between waterway and catchment management and the state planning system will help protect waterways. One example is the recent change to the State Planning Policy Framework, which sets clear objectives for preventing overshadowing, limiting building height, increasing setbacks, and riparian and canopy vegetation protection in the Yarra River corridor. These new standards will be applied through new and revised Design and Development, and Significant Landscape Overlays in the local planning schemes between Richmond and Warrandyte. These new planning controls will support more consistent decision-making across local government boundaries and will protect the Yarra River’s character and environmental values from inappropriate development. The Yarra River is a key focus of the government. The Yarra River Protection Ministerial Advisory Committee was established in December 2015 to provide independent advice to government about improving governance arrangements for protecting the river. 3.1 Protecting our waterways and their catchments Under the Water Act 1989, Victoria has a water entitlement framework that limits how much water we can take for human use. It also requires licences for any works on waterways. Where applicable, planning controls are used to define the way land may be used or developed. Within a planning scheme, overlays can be used to show land that has particular values, such as significant environmental features. The Environment Protection Act 1970 protects water quality for both surface and groundwater. Our regional waterway strategies and regional catchment strategies identify environmental, social, cultural and economic values in partnership with communities to achieve common objectives. Regional catchment strategies guide strategic land use planning to protect and improve catchment values. Protecting our waterways through the planning system In urban areas, integrated water management plans will find holistic ways to protect environmental values of waterways. In urban and regional areas, we need to better align planning to achieve common objectives. There are opportunities to use planning tools, such as Environmental Significance Overlays, to protect areas with riparian vegetation and other native plants and animals that support land and water habitat and quality (see Chapter 5: Resilient and liveable cities and towns). Action 3.1 – Improve planning arrangements for urban waterways The government will protect the Yarra River corridor by responding to the Yarra River Protection Ministerial Advisory Committee recommendations. The government will consider applying the agreed recommendations to other major urban waterways.
Protecting the Yarra River Stronger links between waterway and catchment management and the state planning system will help protect waterways. One example is the recent change to the State Planning Policy Framework, which sets clear objectives for preventing overshadowing, limiting building height, increasing setbacks, and riparian and canopy vegetation protection in the Yarra River corridor. These new standards will be applied through new and revised Design and Development, and Significant Landscape Overlays in the local planning schemes between Richmond and Warrandyte. These new planning controls will support more consistent decision-making across local government boundaries and will protect the Yarra River’s character and environmental values from inappropriate development. The Yarra River is a key focus of the government. The Yarra River Protection Ministerial Advisory Committee was established in December 2015 to provide independent advice to government about improving governance arrangements for protecting the river. 3.1 Protecting our waterways and their catchments Under the Water Act 1989, Victoria has a water entitlement framework that limits how much water we can take for human use. It also requires licences for any works on waterways. Where applicable, planning controls are used to define the way land may be used or developed. Within a planning scheme, overlays can be used to show land that has particular values, such as significant environmental features. The Environment Protection Act 1970 protects water quality for both surface and groundwater. Our regional waterway strategies and regional catchment strategies identify environmental, social, cultural and economic values in partnership with communities to achieve common objectives. Regional catchment strategies guide strategic land use planning to protect and improve catchment values. Protecting our waterways through the planning system In urban areas, integrated water management plans will find holistic ways to protect environmental values of waterways. In urban and regional areas, we need to better align planning to achieve common objectives. There are opportunities to use planning tools, such as Environmental Significance Overlays, to protect areas with riparian vegetation and other native plants and animals that support land and water habitat and quality (see Chapter 5: Resilient and liveable cities and towns). Action 3.1 – Improve planning arrangements for urban waterways The government will protect the Yarra River corridor by responding to the Yarra River Protection Ministerial Advisory Committee recommendations. The government will consider applying the agreed recommendations to other major urban waterways.
Water-Plan-strategy-accessible.docx