Presentation of officer reports - Boroondara
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Urban Planning Special Committee Agenda 18/11/19
3 Presentation of officer reports
3.1 Feedback on the Draft Metropolitan Open Space
Strategy
Abstract
The Victorian Government has prepared a draft Metropolitan Open Space Strategy
(MOSS) (Attachment 1), in response to Action 93 of the Five Year Implementation
Plan of Plan Melbourne 2017-2050. The draft MOSS outlines how the Victorian
Government envisages to better plan, design and use open space in metropolitan
Melbourne, and sets directions on how to sustain and grow Melbourne’s open space
network.
The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) released the
draft MOSS on 30 September 2019 for targeted stakeholder consultation (not open
to the general public). Key stakeholders and public land agencies, including local
Councils were invited to review and provide feedback on the draft MOSS by 22
November 2019.
The Strategic Planning Department has coordinated Council’s response to the draft
MOSS (Attachment 2) with input from a number of Council departments, including
Environment and Sustainable Living, Traffic and Transport, Parks and Infrastructure,
Family, Youth and Recreation, Statutory Planning, and Commercial and Property
Services.
The consolidated feedback provides general support to the proposed vision, goals,
principles, key directions, as well as the ‘short term investment actions’ and ‘longer-
term investment actions’ proposed in the draft MOSS. However, the feedback raised
a number of issues to be addressed, in relation to the information available on the
existing open space network, future open space needs, and guidance on future open
space planning and management.
This report seeks the UPSC’s endorsement of the feedback at Attachment 2.
Following which, officers will provide a copy of the feedback to DELWP.
Confidential information is contained in Attachment 1, as circulated in the
confidential section of the agenda attachments, in accordance with Section 89(2) of
the Local Government Act 1989, as the premature disclosure of the information
could be prejudicial to the interests of Council or other persons. This item has been
included in the public agenda to facilitate transparency and accountability in
Council’s decision making.
If discussion of the confidential information in the attachments to this report is
required in order for Council to make a decision, this item will be deferred to the
confidential section of the agenda.
City of Boroondara 3Urban Planning Special Committee Agenda 18/11/19
Officers' recommendation
That the Urban Planning Special Committee resolve to:
1. Note the draft Metropolitan Open Space Strategy as shown in confidential
Attachment 1.
2. Endorse the feedback on the draft Metropolitan Open Space Strategy as shown
in Attachment 2 and provide the feedback to the Department of Environment,
Land, Water and Planning.
City of Boroondara 4Urban Planning Special Committee Agenda 18/11/19
Responsible director:Shiran Wickramasinghe
City Planning
___________________________________________________________________
1. Purpose
The purpose of this report is to:
1. Inform the UPSC of the content of the draft MOSS and key issues
identified by Council officers.
2. Seek the UPSC’s endorsement of the feedback on the draft MOSS for
submission to DELWP by 22 November 2019.
2. Policy implications and relevance to community plan and council plan
Council Plan 2017-2021
Council’s feedback on the draft MOSS is consistent with the strategic objective:
“Inviting and well-utilised community parks and green spaces: (Theme 2).
Boroondara Community Plan 2017-27
The Boroondara Community Plan 2017-27 sets out the 10 year vision for
Boroondara’s future based on values, aspirations and priorities important to the
community. Providing Council’s feedback on the draft MOSS is consistent with
the following strategies:
Strategy 2.3 Partner with other land owners to improve and provide further
access to open space throughout the municipality.
Plan Melbourne 2017-2050
The Victorian Government’s metropolitan planning strategy Plan Melbourne
2017-2050 seeks to integrate long-term land use, infrastructure and transport
planning to meet the city’s future environmental, population, housing and
employment needs.
The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) is
responsible for developing the MOSS in response to Action 93 of the Five-year
Implementation Plan of Plan Melbourne 2017-2050 in relation to:
Direction 6.4 - Make Melbourne cooler and greener.
Policy 6.4.2 - Strengthen the integrated metropolitan open space network.
Specifically, Action 93 is to:
Prepare a metropolitan open space strategy that enhances recreation, amenity,
health and wellbeing, species diversity, sustainable water management and
urban cooling across Melbourne.
City of Boroondara 5Urban Planning Special Committee Agenda 18/11/19
The strategy will include measures to:
protect and enhance existing open spaces, underpinned by improved and
accessible spatial data
plan for an increase in open space, particularly in areas identified as
lacking access to open space, areas undergoing substantial population
growth, and areas where the network of green spaces could be expanded
or improved
enhance the role, function and overall community value of currently
underutilised public land assets (e.g. utility easements, school grounds) in
contributing to the open space network
better coordinate the delivery and management of open space across state
and local government, including identifying management objectives for
different parts of the network and developing standard agreements to
manage land
provide improved network planning and provision guidance for both state
and local government.
Council’s feedback on the draft MOSS has taken into account the above
relevant Plan Melbourne direction, policy and action.
3. Background
Council officers were previously involved in discussions led by the former
Metropolitan Planning Authority (MPA, now the VPA) in 2014 and 2015 with
regard to their intention to prepare a metropolitan open space strategy. MPA
sought officers’ initial thoughts on the development of the MOSS and visited a
number of parks/reserves in the municipality.
However, the MPA MOSS project was subsequently placed on hold pending
the refresh of the Victorian Government’s metropolitan planning strategy Plan
Melbourne 2017-2050. Plan Melbourne was released in March 2017, along with
a Five Year Implementation Plan which sets out 112 actions. The preparation of
the MOSS is identified as Action 93.
In January 2019, DELWP wrote to Council indicating the MOSS project had
recommenced, and inviting officers to attend a workshop on the refreshed
MOSS project.
The workshop was held on 13 February 2019 at Glen Eira City Council, led by
the DELWP MOSS project officers. Officers of Council’s Strategic Planning
Department attended the workshop, along with officers from Glen Eira City
Council, Bayside City Council, Parks Victoria, the Port Phillip and Westernport
Catchment Management Authority, and Melbourne Water.
At the workshop, the MOSS project team provided an overview of the MOSS,
and invited attendees to discuss the proposed vision, goals and principles to be
developed in the strategy. Officers were advised a draft MOSS would be
prepared for further review and feedback later in the year.
City of Boroondara 6Urban Planning Special Committee Agenda 18/11/19
Subsequently, DELWP released the draft MOSS (Attachment 1) on 30
September 2019 for targeted stakeholder consultation (not open to the general
public). Key stakeholders and public land agencies, including local Councils
were invited to review and provide feedback on the draft MOSS. Feedback on
the draft MOSS is to be provided through the Engage Victoria MOSS
consultation webpage by 22 November 2019.
4. Outline of key issues/options
The draft MOSS outlines how the Victorian Government envisages to better
plan, design and use open space to support a cooler, greener city and create
fairer and more equitable access for all Melburnians. It seeks to set directions
for how to sustain and grow Melbourne’s open space network to deliver multiple
benefits to the communities.
The MOSS outlines a vision ‘all Melbournians enjoy the best liveability in the
world’, with the following goals:
Improved heaith and wellbeing
Healthy biodiversity
Enhanced resilience to climate change
Maximised economic and social benefit
To achieve the vision and goals, and the key directions to ‘protect, optimise and
grow’, the MOSS proposes a more connected, immersive and shared-use
approach to planning and providing open space with the following five
principles:
Innovative and creative
Fair and equitable access
Community at centre
Resilient and sustainable
Working together
These principles will guide the Victorian Government’s future investment to
upgrade and create new parks.
Council officers across a range of departments have responded to the topics
raised within the draft MOSS, and the feedback has been coordinated into the
proposed feedback at Attachment 2.
The consolidated feedback provides general support to the proposed vision,
goals, principles, key directions, as well as the ‘short term investment actions’
and ‘longer-term investment actions’ proposed in the draft MOSS. However,
the feedback raised a number of issues to be addressed, in relation to:
the need for further information about the existing open space network
the need to identify future open space ‘pressure areas’, taking into
consideration the Victorian Government’s population forecast and Plan
Melbourne’s envisaged housing and urban density growth across
Metropolitan Melbourne
the need to identify consistent definitions, hierarchy, classifications, and
design guidelines of open space
guidance on open space provision benchmarks
City of Boroondara 7Urban Planning Special Committee Agenda 18/11/19
guidance on a ‘best practice’ assessment methodology and framework for
municipal open space strategy development and/or review in the future
guidance on improving open spaces linkages with adjoining municipalities
clarification of the relationship of the MOSS to other various Victorian
Government open space related initiatives, strategies and guidelines with
regards to implementation
consideration of the potential amenity impact (e.g. traffic, noise, lighting
etc.) on local residents associated with an increase in the use of existing
open space (i.e. optimisation)
inclusion of a ‘no net loss’ principle to protect open space from incremental
loss of area
recommendations on ongoing governance of metropolitan open space
planning and implementation. In particular clarifications of the roles and
responsibilities of various government agencies and key landholders
the need to undertake boarder community consultation
The full response is provided at Attachment 2 for endorsement by the UPSC.
DELWP indicated following the consultation period (closing on 22 November
2019), a revised MOSS will be prepared and submitted to the Minister for
Energy, Environment and Climate Change for approval in January 2020.
5. Consultation/communication
The Strategic Planning Department coordinated Council’s response to the draft
MOSS with input from a number of Council departments, including Parks and
Infrastructure, Environment and Sustainable Living, Family, Youth and
Recreation, Statutory Planning, and Commercial and Property Services.
Officers note no further community consultation is envisaged by DELWP prior
to submission of the draft MOSS to the Minister for approval in 2020. However,
it is considered appropriate the revised MOSS be placed on public exhibition so
the community are afforded an opportunity to review and provide feedback on
the MOSS, before it is submitted to the Minister for approval. This feedback has
been included as part of Council’s response at Attachment 2.
6. Financial and resource implications
Costs associated with preparing the feedback to the draft MOSS have been
limited to officer time across various departments of Council.
7. Governance issues
The officers responsible for this report have no direct or indirect interests
requiring disclosure.
The implications of this report have been assessed and are not considered
likely to breach or infringe upon, the human rights contained in the Victorian
Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006.
City of Boroondara 8Urban Planning Special Committee Agenda 18/11/19
8. Social and environmental issues
Providing feedback on the draft MOSS contributes to the protection and
enhancement of the open space network in Metropolitan Melbourne and the
City of Boroondara, and will have a positive social and enviromental impact.
Manager: Zoran Jovanovski, Strategic Planning
Report officer: Jo Liu, Senior Strategic Planner
City of Boroondara 9Urban Planning Special Committee Agenda 18/11/19
Feedback by the City of Boroondara
Metropolitan Open Space Strategy (Draft for
Comment, September 2019)
For endorsement by the Urban Planning Special Committee on 18
November 2019
City of Boroondara Attachment 3.1.1 10Urban Planning Special Committee Agenda 18/11/19
Contents
Introduction ..................................................................................................................1
Response to Engage Victoria MOSS webpage online survey.....................................1
General comments ......................................................................................................2
Feedback on Chapter 1. Introduction ..........................................................................3
Feedback on Chapter 2 - A refreshed approach for Melbourne ..................................4
Developing the network (p.12) .................................................................................4
Supporting and sustaining the network (p.12)..........................................................5
The Strategic Framework (p.15)...............................................................................5
Feedback on Chapter 3. Short term investment priorities (2020-2023).......................5
Feedback on Chapter 4. Long term actions.................................................................9
Funding Models........................................................................................................9
Information and research .........................................................................................9
Communications and engagement.........................................................................10
Legislation, standards and guidelines ....................................................................10
Monitoring and evaluation ......................................................................................10
Feedback on Chapter 5. Next steps ..........................................................................10
Governance and reporting......................................................................................10
Next steps ..............................................................................................................11
City of Boroondara Attachment 3.1.1 11Urban Planning Special Committee Agenda 18/11/19
Introduction
Open space is a highly valued asset in the City of Boroondara which
contributes to the municipality’s neighbourhood character, biodiversity values,
and health and wellbeing of the community. The Boroondara Open Space
Strategy (2013) recognises the forecast population growth, increasing urban
densities, climate change, and providing for diverse and changing recreational
needs as some of the key challenges to future open space planning. The
strategy has also identified the need to provide additional open spaces to
improve the existing open space provision in Boroondara.
Council supports the preparation of the Metropolitan Open Space Strategy
(MOSS) and welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback on the draft
MOSS.
Council’s feedback responds to the overall approach of the MOSS, the
Strategic Framework, the short term investment priorities and long term
actions identified in the MOSS. For completeness, a response to the online
survey is also included below.
Response to Engage Victoria MOSS webpage online survey
Overall, how satisfied are you with the MOSS content and its direction?
☐ Very dissatisfied
☒ Dissatisfied
☐ Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied
☐ Satisfied
☐ Very satisfied
How satisfied are you with each section of the MOSS?
Introduction A Refreshed Short-term Longer- Next
Approach For Investment term Steps
Melbourne Actions Actions
Very ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
dissatisfied
Somewhat ☒ ☒ ☐ ☐ ☒
dissatisfied
Neither ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
satisfied nor
dissatisfied
Satisfied ☐ ☐ ☒ ☒ ☐
Very satisfied ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐
1
City of Boroondara Attachment 3.1.1 12Urban Planning Special Committee Agenda 18/11/19
Please provide your additional feedback here:
The draft MOSS should include information and discussions in relation to
the existing open space network. This may be provided in an additional
chapter between the ‘Introduction’ and ‘A refreshed approach for
Melbourne’ chapters, or incorporated into one of these chapters. Further
comments are provided below.
Council is generally satisfied with the ‘Short term investment actions’ and
‘Longer-term investment actions’ chapters. Some additional comments are
provided below.
With regards to ‘Next steps’, Council considers the general public should
also be afforded an opportunity to review and provide feedback on the
MOSS, prior to it being finalised and submitted to the Minister for Energy,
Environment and Climate Change for approval.
Which of the following title options most resonates with you? (Please
select one)
☐ Plan Melbourne: Open Space Strategy; ensuring liveability for future
generations
☐ Shaping Melbourne’s story: a liveable city built on open space
☒ Open space for everyone: planning a more liveable Melbourne
If you had to create a title for the MOSS, what would it be?
Melbourne Metropolitan Open Space Strategy: your green, sustainable and
liveable city
General comments
Council generally supports the proposed vision, goals, principles, key
directions, as well as the ‘short term investment actions’ and ‘longer-term
investment actions’ proposed in the draft MOSS. However, a number of
issues should be addressed, in relation to:
the need for further information on the existing open space network
the need to identify future open space ‘pressure areas’, taking into
consideration the Victorian Government’s population forecast and Plan
Melbourne’s envisaged housing and urban density growth across
Metropolitan Melbourne
the need to identify consistent definitions, hierarchy, classifications, and
design guidelines of open space
guidance on open space provision benchmarks
guidance on a ‘best practice’ assessment methodology and framework for
municipal open space strategy development and/or review in the future
guidance on improving open spaces linkages with adjoining municipalities
2
City of Boroondara Attachment 3.1.1 13Urban Planning Special Committee Agenda 18/11/19
clarification on the relationship of the MOSS to other various Victorian
Government open space related initiatives, strategies and guidelines with
regards to implementation
consideration on the potential amenity impact (e.g. traffic, noise, lighting
etc.) on local residents associated with an increase in the use of existing
open space (i.e. optimisation)
inclusion of a ‘no net loss’ principle to protect open space from incremental
loss of area
recommendations on ongoing governance of metropolitan open space
planning and implementation. In particular clarifications on the roles and
responsibilities of various government agencies and key landholders
the need to undertake broader community consultation
Details are provided below.
Feedback on Chapter 1. Introduction
The draft MOSS lacks content in relation to the existing open space network,
i.e. the provision, availability, quantity, type, distribution and accessibility of
open space in Metropolitan Melbourne. Council considers this information
essential as part of a metropolitan strategy upon which to develop strategies
for future open space planning and actions in Melbourne.
It is noted that page 8 of the draft MOSS includes a map showing an overview
of open spaces in Metropolitan Melbourne. However, the map is difficult to
read, contains limited information and should not replace the need for further
details, analysis and discussions on the existing provisions of open space in
Metropolitan Melbourne.
Although it may not be necessary to provide a comprehensive list of open
spaces across Metropolitan Melbourne, the MOSS is expected to provide
some level of analysis of how the current open space network is distributed
across various municipalities.
Council also notes currently there are no specific benchmarks for open space
provision applicable to established urban areas like Boroondara. Therefore, it
would be helpful if the MOSS can provide some guidance on this matter.
Similarly, benchmarking the existing open space provisions in Metropolitan
Melbourne with some comparable domestic and international cities would also
provide a helpful guide on future open space provision for Victorian
Government investment and land allocation.
Further, this chapter mentions a number of key Victorian Government
strategies which have informed the preparation of the draft MOSS. However,
more importantly, the MOSS should also clarify the relationship of the MOSS
to other various Victorian Government open space related initiatives,
3
City of Boroondara Attachment 3.1.1 14Urban Planning Special Committee Agenda 18/11/19
strategies and guidelines with regards to implementation. Council is aware of
a number of existing strategies that may overlap with MOSS, such as the
Inner South Metropolitan Mayors Forum open space project, the Golf Course
Redevelopment Guidelines, the Yarra Strategic Plan and the Eastern
Regional Trails Strategy, etc.
Feedback on Chapter 2 - A refreshed approach for Melbourne
Developing the network (p.12)
Council supports the three key directions: protect, optimise and grow.
It is also recommended the MOSS identify open space ‘pressure areas’,
taking into consideration the Victorian Government’s population forecast and
Plan Melbourne’s envisaged housing and urban density growth across
Metropolitan Melbourne. This will assist with the identification of areas in
need of open space, and ‘gap areas’ to guide future priority open space
investment should the opportunities arise. This section should provide
strategies and guidance on improving open spaces linkages with adjoining
municipalities.
In addition, Council recommend the MOSS provides guidance on a ‘best
practice’ assessment methodology and framework for municipal open space
strategy development and/or review in the future. It would also be helpful to
apply consistent definitions, hierarchy, classifications, and design guidelines
of open space. This would assist local Councils in the development and/or
review of their respective municipal open space strategies.
It is also important to acknowledge that any increase in the use of existing
open space (i.e. optimisation) is likely to impact on the amenity (e.g. traffic,
noise, lighting etc.) of local residents in the immediate vicinity of those parks
and reserves. This is an ongoing challenge Council faces (i.e. balancing the
needs and aspirations of the broader community with the impacts on the local
community).
Further, the MOSS should include a ‘no net loss’ principle that also
establishes a decision making framework to guide State Government led
infrastructure projects which prioritises the retention of open space over and
above other project outcomes. Council is specifically referring to the impact of
the North East Link development project which will result in the loss of public
open space across a number of local government areas. It is Council’s view
new infrastructure can be designed in such a way to minimise its impact to
existing open space however the loss of open space is more difficult to
recover.
4
City of Boroondara Attachment 3.1.1 15Urban Planning Special Committee Agenda 18/11/19
Open space should be protected from incremental loss of area. If open space
must be reduced in area then this should be based on consideration of the
costs and benefits to the community and on the basis that replacement land
be sought.
Supporting and sustaining the network (p.12)
Council agrees that funding models, information and research,
communications and engagement, legislation, standards and guidelines,
monitoring and evaluation, and governance are all important considerations in
open space planning and implementation.
It is recommended this section be consolidated with Chapter 4. Long-term
Actions, as they relate to the same topics/actions. Comments in relation to
this section are provided below in relation to Chapter 4.
The Strategic Framework (p.15)
Council supports the Strategic Framework proposed in the MOSS, including
the vision, four goals and five principles.
Feedback on Chapter 3. Short term investment priorities
(2020-2023)
Council welcomes the Victorian Government’s commitment of funding and
investment towards short-term priorities. Council’s feedback on some specific
projects are provided below.
Name Description Council’s comments
Yarra River Complete and commence The MOSS could address a
Strategic Plan delivery of a long-term plan to range of issues in relation to
implement the Yarra River Crown land management in
Protection Act general. It could also review
opportunities to improve
existing access and establish
continuous public access along
the river - if not, this should be
addressed via the proposed
Yarra River Strategic Plan.
Metro Parks Continue progressive land The Public Acquisition Overlay
PAO Program acquisition of priority Public is a problematic tool. The public
Acquisition Overlay (PAO) view it as a sledgehammer
parcels – or land reserved for approach (particularly those
public use - for the Sandbelt who own land to which it is
parklands and six metropolitan applied). Perhaps the planning
parklands: Warrandyte, Yarra mechanisms for earmarking
Valley, Lower Yarra, Plenty land as future public open
Gorge, Cardinia Creek and space needs rethinking.
Dandenong Valley. Acquisition
of the PAO-affected parcels will
enable revegetation, protection
5
City of Boroondara Attachment 3.1.1 16Urban Planning Special Committee Agenda 18/11/19
of riparian areas and
connection of trails.
Integrated Link IWF planning to open Council welcomes the
Water Forums space planning to ensure best continued involvement at the
(IWFs) use and sustainability of parks, future Yarra IWF.
waterways, wetlands and areas
of urban vegetation. Identify,
prioritise and oversee
implementation of collaborative
water opportunities from the 5
metropolitan IWF’s
(Maribyrnong, Werribee,
Dandenong, Western Port,
Yarra)
New pocket Establish 25 new pocket parks Council supports the
parks in nominated built up districts establishment of new pocket
parks. However, the MOSS
should include further
information on the potential
locations of new pocket parks
and/or how they will be
prioritised for funding and
development (e.g. assessment
criteria).
Further consultation should be
undertaken with Council on
identifying the need to provide
new pocket parks.
The Victorian Government and
developers need to contribute
to the associated cost.
Existing local Upgrade visitor facilities in Council strongly supports the
parks existing suburban parks to revitalisation of these existing
deliver better playgrounds, assets to support the growing
barbeques, shelters, needs of existing and future
landscaping and other populations.
amenities
However, the MOSS should
include further information on
the potential locations of the
existing parks, and/or how they
will be prioritised for funding
and upgrade (e.g. assessment
criteria).
The Victorian Government and
developers need to contribute
to the associated cost.
New dog Build 16 new dog parks in Council is aware of the
parks underutilised parks and Victorian Government’s
reserves suitable for an proposal to locate an enclosed
off-leash dog park somewhere
6
City of Boroondara Attachment 3.1.1 17Urban Planning Special Committee Agenda 18/11/19
enclosed dog park in targeted in Boroondara as part of their
municipalities Local Parks Program.
Further consultation should be
undertaken with Council on
identifying the need to provide
new pocket parks. The MOSS
should also include further
information on the potential
locations, and/or how they will
be prioritised for funding and
upgrade (e.g. assessment
criteria).
Should a suitable location for a
dedicated dog park in
Boroondara be identified,
officers will consider submitting
an application for funding under
the Local Parks Program.
Metropolitan Work collaboratively with public Council welcomes further
Urban Forest land managers to protect, opportunities to be involved in
Strategy restore and improve the the development of the
connectivity of a Melbourne strategy.
wide urban forest to support
and a cooler, greener city and
the health of communities.
Shared use of Progress delivery of the Council supports this initiative.
school government’s policy to However, consideration should
grounds transform state schools into be given to potential amenity
community facilities. This will impacts. For example, the
include opening more school shared use of education
grounds via shared-use facilities may raise concerns for
agreements and informal after- surrounding residents
hours access for recreation by regarding activity levels beyond
local communities. Investigate current operating hours.
possible co-investment
mechanisms to improve such A recent decision by VCAT also
grounds for both the school and indicates where authorised by
the surrounding communities. the Minister for Education, use
of government school land by
the community does not need a
planning permit. Whilst we
support sharing of facilities with
the community, this has
removed a mechanism for the
appropriate management of
community use to ensure there
is no unacceptable loss of
amenity. The MOSS should
recommend measures to
ensure appropriate oversight of
community use to avoid
unacceptable amenity impacts.
7
City of Boroondara Attachment 3.1.1 18Urban Planning Special Committee Agenda 18/11/19
Air space over Review the use of air rights Council welcomes further
railways over existing railway culverts, discussions on the opportunity
project and the opportunity to develop to design open space above
those spaces for public and railways for public open space.
private outcomes. There could be low scale
development which
complement the open space,
e.g. cafes, community facilities,
etc.
Council does not support the
use of air rights over existing
railway culverts solely for
private development outcomes.
Strategic Complete review of under- Council supports the review of
review of utilised government land, under-utilised government land
Under-utilised including open space reserved for open space opportunities.
government for transport or utilities, and
land frameworks for optimising use MOSS could address a range
and maximised public benefit. of issues in relation to Crown
land management in general.
Local government should be
involved in any assessment of
surplus public land within its
municipality, as this will provide
detailed knowledge about the
needs of the local community
and local government related
issues.
Northern and Complete delivery of key Council supports the
Eastern and priority projects under the establishment of new bike and
Trails network Northern and Eastern Trails walking trails across Eastern
Strategies Metropolitan Councils.
Council notes a strategic
cycling corridor between
Hawthorn and Box Hill along
the railway line would
complement the Box Hill to
Ringwood Trail. Funding was
announced in the 2019/20
Victorian Government budget
for planning a strategic cycling
corridor between Hawthorn and
Box Hill.
Potential projects that should be part of the priority investment funding may
include:
Upgraded highball stadium and sportsground at Fritsch Holzer Reserve,
Hawthorn East (collaboration with Swinburne Senior Secondary College)
8
City of Boroondara Attachment 3.1.1 19Urban Planning Special Committee Agenda 18/11/19
Funding towards ongoing open space tree planting program and the
development of community gardens
Funding towards rooftop sporting facilities, e.g. outdoor basketball and
soccer familities
Feedback on Chapter 4. Long term actions
Council generally supports the long term actions. However, an indicative
timeframe for each of the theme or key tasks identified should be provided in
the MOSS.
As mentioned above, it is also recommended this Chapter incorporates the
content under the sub-heading ‘Supporting and sustaining the network’ (p.
12), as they relate to the same long term actions.
Comments on the specific actions are outlined below:
Funding Models
Council supports the review of funding and financing arrangements for
Melbourne’s open space network. Funding Models need to acknowledge the
Victorian Government and developers need to contribute to the cost of
revitalising these existing assets to support the growing needs of future
populations.
It is recommended the review should also consider:
Greater requirement for developers to pay for the increased use of existing
open space resulting from higher density developments.
Review of existing open space contributions provisions (e.g. the provisions
of the Subdivision Act 1988 and Victoria Planning Provisions) with a view
to providing a consistent framework for mandatory contributions,
particularly in inner and middle municipalities where Plan Melbourne has
envisaged greater need to accommodate additional housing.
Funding mechanisms (e.g. State/Federal financial assistance) for local
Councils to fill “gaps” in the open space network, in particular gaps for
regional open spaces / links.
Information and research
Council strongly supports the development of a accessible ‘one-stop’ open
space mapping system/GIS database, with information such as open space
name, location, categories, primary purpose/use, land size, facilities, and
potential open space opportunity sites (e.g. surplus Victorian Government
land). Further development of the database should be undertaken in
consultation with local governments so that consistent terminologies are used.
9
City of Boroondara Attachment 3.1.1 20Urban Planning Special Committee Agenda 18/11/19
It is also important to ensure ongoing custodianship and updates of the
database. Integration with the planning map may also be explored to allow
effective information sharing for other government projects.
Communications and engagement
It is recommended the revised MOSS be placed on public exhibition before it
is submitted to the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change for
approval. The general public should also be afforded an opportunity to review
and provide feedback on the MOSS.
The Victorian Government and key land owners need to work collaboratively
with councils in engaging their local communities in clarifying the vision and
confirming investment priorities.
Legislation, standards and guidelines
Council supports the review and update of relevant legislation, standards and
guidelines.
However, instead of being a ‘long term’ action, the MOSS should be revised
to provide guidance on:
Design principles to ensure safe, inclusive and accessible spaces for all
community members
Design principles to ensure open space contributes positively to the
amenity and quality of metropolitan Melbourne and neighbourhood
character
Monitoring and evaluation
Council supports the establishment of a pragmatic and cost-effective
benchmarking approach for Melbourne’s open space network to define and
measure performance over time against the vision, goals and principles.
Feedback on Chapter 5. Next steps
Governance and reporting
Council acknowledges the responsibility for future open space planning,
management and delivery rests with many agencies.
Council supports the establishment of the Suburban Parks Program Project
Board to oversee the preparation of a final MOSS, direct future delivery of the
projects as part of the Suburban Parks Program included within the short term
investment priorities, provide cross-government alignment and integration of
the program into urban planning and design, and guide the scoping and
planning for the long term actions.
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City of Boroondara Attachment 3.1.1 21Urban Planning Special Committee Agenda 18/11/19
However, it is important the MOSS be revised to also provide
recommendations on ongoing governance of metropolitan open space
planning and implementation. In particular clarifications on the roles and
responsibilities of various government agencies and key landholders.
Next steps
Council understands the approach to undertake a targeted stakeholder
consultation on the draft MOSS. However, the revised MOSS should be
placed on public exhibition so that the community are afforded an opportunity
to review and provide feedback on the MOSS, before it is submitted to the
Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change for approval.
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City of Boroondara Attachment 3.1.1 22You can also read
