At its most recent Council meeting, Council voted unanimously to request a state government review on coal related planning provisions that are currently enforced in the Latrobe Planning Scheme.
Council will recommend that a Planning Scheme Amendment is undertaken to remove obsolete coal related planning provisions where these provisions are no longer required to deliver coal related projects.
These provisions include planning controls in the Special Use Zone Schedule 1, Environmental Significance Overlay Schedule 1 and State Resource Overlay.
The planning controls exist to preserve and protect brown coal, however some of this land is required for future industry development. In partnership with the state government, Latrobe City Council hope to identify what brown coal resources cannot be used and determine what part of the land has potential for rezoning.
Central Ward Councillor, Councillor Middlemiss, moved the motion at the Council meeting and believes the review is critical to the growth and transition of Latrobe City’s economy.
“From time to time, changes to the Planning Scheme are proposed to reflect new circumstances or to improve the scheme. This is a case where a planning scheme is outdated and needs to be reviewed,” said Cr Middlemiss.
“Further expansion of Traralgon and any expansion of Morwell, as well as any future transition we hope to achieve, is currently inhibited because we are prevented from developing these areas due to the state planning overlays, which are at least 40 years old.”
Mayor of Latrobe City Council, Councillor Darren Howe, was unable to attend the Council meeting, but was pleased to hear the outcome was to support the motion.
“Investment attraction is critical to reshaping the region’s economy. We are committed to fostering economic diversification by attracting new industries and would welcome the increased availability of land for development and industry attraction.”
For more about this Council meeting item, view the agenda here: www.latrobe.vic.gov.au/Council/Our_Council/Minutes_and_Agendas