The Mansfield Planning Scheme Review was adopted by Council at it's ordinary meeting on 22 November 2022. From here, Council officers will implement the recommendations of the strategy into the Mansfield Planning Scheme and inform the Minister for Planning that the review has been completed.

All Victorian local governments are required to undertake a Planning Scheme Review under Section 12B of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 within 12 months of adoption of a new 4 year Council Plan.

We are currently reviewing our Planning Scheme to ensure it not only aligns with current State and local policy directions but also remains relevant and meets the needs of our community.

What is the Mansfield Planning Scheme? 

The Planning Scheme is made up for 4 key components:

1. Planning Policy Framework - a standard set of planning policies and controls that apply to all local government areas within Victoria. We cannot change the Planning Policy Framework.
2. Municipal Strategic Statement - outlines the key land use and development objectives and strategies for our local government, and provides the basis for zones, overlays and particular provisions. We review the Municipal Strategic Statement every three years.
3. Local planning policies
4. Planning Scheme maps

This is illustrated in the below diagram (Courtesy of DELWP):

What is a Planning Scheme Review

The Victorian Government's Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning provide Planning Practice Note 32 on the Review of Planning Schemes outlining the purpose and suggested process for conducting and reporting on a Review of Planning Schemes.

Key Findings of Report: 

• Need to update the planning scheme to have current information from the Council Plan
• Include a reference to the traditional owners within our planning scheme
• Include new policies to implement the:
  • Mansfield Shire Council Plan 2021-2025
  • Mansfield Open Space Strategy 2021
  • Mansfield Planning Strategy 2022
  • Mansfield Commercial and Industrial Land Use Strategy 2021
  • Activating Lake Eildon Masterplan 2020

An exhaustive list of the other actions recommended are as follows: 

• Prepare a signage strategy to implement the Township Approaches Planning Controls and Guidelines Study, Mansfield (2018).
• Consider whether a Design and Development Overlay is required to address character and urban design in Mansfield Township.
• Review, with Goulburn Valley Water, the buffer zone areas, and zones around wastewater management facilities.
• Prepare policy guidance to help balance priorities for rural land use, tourism in agricultural areas and protection of landscape values.
• Identify areas where vegetation and key biodiversity areas should be retained and conserved and apply appropriate planning tools to protect them.
• Identify, in partnership with Goulburn Murray Water, where permit triggers within the ESO1 and 2 can be amended or removed to reduce the resource burden on councils and referral authorities and remove red tape for applicants.
• Develop, in partnership with Traditional Owners, new planning policy to support Traditional Owner interests and values considering: 02.01 Context 02.03 Strategic Directions to provide high level policy guidance on protection of Country and of Traditional Owner values in relation to the development of the land. 02.04 Strategic Framework Plan (identification of Country boundaries) Clause 11.03-6 Planning for places to insert a new policy related solely to Traditional owner values and objectives, including a Country map which can include key cultural assets. Localised policy into Planning Policy Framework, Zones, and Overlays that are existing, such as an ESO or SLO (in collaboration with the Regional Planning Services office) Inclusion of applicable Country Plan (or other applicable document) into the planning scheme as a Background document at Clause 72.08
• Update flood prone area mapping across the municipality in partnership with Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority.
• Prepare a Rural Living Strategy or similar to identify areas of the Shire that would be suitable for Rural Living Zone, Rural Conservation and Low Density Residential Zone.
• Identify areas where vegetation and key biodiversity areas should be retained and conserved and apply appropriate planning tools to protect them.
• Prepare a housing strategy or neighbourhood character study to review township framework plans and settlement strategies to assess growth opportunities and constraints, populate local schedules to residential zones, and align township zoning with State policy (PPNs 90 ad 91).
• Undertake strategic work to prepare the municipality for climate change impacts, including risks such as fire and flooding
• Work with Goulburn Murray Water to update the MoU between the organisations to streamline planning permit referrals and responses.
• Advocate for further investigation to be undertaken in how to manage AirBNBs and have them defined with a land use term in the planning scheme
• Advocate for better guidance and policy for the application and location of affordable housing for Mansfield Shire
• Advocate for a regional toolkit for regional Developer Contribution Plans 

Questions?

If you have any questions or comments on the Mansfield Planning Scheme Review, please contact 5775 8555 and ask for Strategic Planning. Alternatively, email planningenquiries@mansfield.vic.gov.au and write attention: strategic planning in the header of the email.