Council thanks community for feedback on proposed Planning Scheme Amendment

Community engagement on the implementation of the Mansfield Planning Strategy, through Planning Scheme Amendment C60mans, has now closed and Mansfield Shire Council would like to express its thanks to the community groups and individuals who took the time to share their feedback.

Mayor Cr Steve Rabie said community engagement is integral to capturing local knowledge and making sure the planning scheme works for the community.

“Thank you to everyone who took the time to read the proposed amendment, attend the drop-in sessions at Council and submit their feedback,” he said.

“Council is determined to make sure our local planning scheme works for our community and to do that we have to get feedback from the community. Every piece of feedback we received during the engagement will be carefully considered.” 

The proposed amendment makes changes to the Mansfield Planning Scheme that funnel future development into Mansfield township. It also protects both Mansfield township and outlying communities against inappropriate development by introducing neighbourhood character statements. These are intended to provide further protection for communities such as Merrijig, which objected to rezoning and development during three rounds of community engagement on the recently adopted Delatite Valley Plan. The amendment does not propose any rezoning in Merrijig. 

“These character statements are intended to safeguard Mansfield Shire communities against inappropriate development at a time when the planning landscape is uncertain due to ongoing planning reforms that encourage higher density development from the state government,” Mayor Rabie said.

“With so much change coming from the state government, we want to make sure our communities have clear, locally developed guidance in place that reflects what makes each of our towns and localities special,” he said.

“This work is too important for the future of our shire to rush it; we want to get it right. We welcome conversations with the community and want to keep talking and listening, so that the final planning scheme works for the people who live here.”

Council is currently working through the feedback submitted and speaking with members of the community who have provided feedback. Community members who would like to talk about the amendment can contact Council’s Strategic Planning team at strategic.planning@mansfield.vic.gov.au or on 03 5775 8555.