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This article was published on Tuesday, 20 November, 2018. The information contained within may be out of date or inaccurate. News articles and media releases older than 60 days are archived for future reference.

Notice of Approval of Interim Heritage Controls Greater Shepparton Planning Scheme

The Amendment applies heritage controls on an interim basis to those places of local cultural heritage significance identified in the Greater Shepparton Heritage Study Stage IIC December 2017 available at this link.

Greater Shepparton City Council adopted the Study at the Ordinary Council Meeting held on 19 December 2017. The Study mainly focused on identifying and assessing places in rural areas and the rural townships across Greater Shepparton. These places reflect Greater Shepparton’s rich agricultural and rural industrial history. The Study identified 180 places, including one precinct in Dookie and four precincts in Murchison, as being of cultural heritage significance.

In December 2017, Council resolved to prepare and exhibit a planning scheme amendment to give effect to the findings and recommendations of the Study. This involves applying a Heritage Overlay to each of these places to ensure that they are conserved for future generations.

The Minister for Planning has prepared Amendment C204 to apply heritage controls on an interim basis to these places. Land owners included in the Study should be aware that new heritage controls apply to their land. A further planning scheme amendment, Amendment C205, is currently being prepared. Amendment C205 will seek to apply heritage controls on a permanent basis and land owners may make a submission to this Amendment.

Land owners and occupiers of land included in the Study will be directly notified by Council to inform them of the approval of Amendment C204 and the timeline for the exhibition of Amendment C205. Amendment C205 is expected to be exhibited in early 2019 and all land owners, occupiers of land and other stakeholders will be invited to make a submission at that time.

Greater Shepparton City Council, Director Sustainable Development, Geraldine Christou said “Land owners will be notified in early 2019 and can make a submission to Amendment C205 supporting, objecting or requesting changes to the planning scheme amendment.”

“Council provides a free heritage advisory service to all land owners of properties included in the Heritage Overlay. Land owners can receive expert conservation advice before they undertake any works to their properties. These properties will also be eligible to apply for a grant under Council’s Heritage Grants Program, which is the only such heritage grant program operated independently by a local council in Victoria”.

Land owners with properties in the Study are encouraged to contact Council’s Building and Planning Department before undertaking any works as a Heritage Overlay now applies to their land. If the Heritage Overlay is the only planning permit trigger, planning permit fees will be waived.

For more information please contact the Building and Planning Department on 5832 9730 or via email at council@shepparton.vic.gov.au.