Moreland CC has long been a leader in innovative responses to planning problems. Their development of the STEPS tool, which has been adopted by many other metro Councils and the Moreland Apartment Design Code, which is still in development are two examples.
Our office was surprised to see Moreland has recently incorporated a new policy at Clause 22.07 Development of Four or More Storeys, gazetted under amendment C152 with minimal fanfare on 29 January 2015, which requires as ‘policy’, the following reports as part of any design response;
- Traffic report
- Landscaping plan
- Energy audit
- Stormwater management plan
- Construction management plan
- Waste management plan
- Development plans to AHD
Seasoned applicants will be aware that requests for some or all of this information as part of an RFI is relatively common. Your author questions whether the imbedding of this degree of detail is warranted or necessary, particularly within the MSS which is usually reserved for broad-overarching policy as opposed to specific information requirements.
The latest move from Moreland is in line with the agenda of many Victorian Council’s to mandate draconian information requirements and significantly increases the costs for applicants, regardless of whether or not the circumstances of the application actually warrant the information being prepared and provided.
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