Macedon Ranges council will write to the planning minister to offer its support to change the planning scheme for 20 Bowen Street.
At its meeting on May 25, council voted to write to the Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny about enabling development of the site while protecting heritage and biodiversity.
Deputy mayor Jennifer Anderson said the amendment will provide a better heritage and environment outcome for the site.
“This sort of letter of support that says it is a better heritage and environmental outcome to take the five lots on this to four is a good outcome,” Cr Anderson said.
“This restructure overlay was put in place about eight years ago … to make sure that you didn’t have subdivisions or lots that couldn’t be accessed appropriately.
“It’s great that the outcome now is … we can make it to four lots, so the applicant can do what they want to do to protect the heritage but to get a better outcome for the environment.”
To achieve this outcome, council said a change to the restructure plan is required which can only be achieved through a planning scheme amendment.
Council said this amendment would require the minister’s powers to intervene and would require a letter of support from council before the property owner can outline their argument in support of the amendment.
Zoe Moffatt
