Street rezone plan

By Kath Gannaway
YARRA Ranges Council will request the Minister of Planning to allow a re-zoning of VicTrack land in Green Street, Healesville to allow for retail development.
The vacant, grassed land on the corner of Green Street and River Street is zoned Public Use Zone and is used by the monthly community market which has outgrown the adjoining River Street carpark site.
At the council meeting on 14 December, councillors were told the 1700 square metre site was not needed by VicTrack, who wished to have it rezoned to enable them to sell it.
There is also a current application to re-subdivide the property from three lots to two lots.
VicTrack has been in negotiation with Yarra Ranges Council in relation to VicTrack land associated with the former Healesville railway line.
As part of the re-zoning/subdivision plan it is envisaged some of that land, along with the balance of 9 Green Street and the adjoining public car park would be transferred to Yarra Ranges Council.
Cr Jeanette McRae said the planning scheme amendment and the re-subdividison planning application were separate issues.
She said a report was being prepared on the subdivision and that a final decision would be made shortly after the closing date for submissions of 3 March.
The proposed planning scheme amendment is also in train, on the basis that a Design and Development Overlay is included, and that VicTrack investigates any potential contamination of the site before the amendment goes out for public exhibition.
“VicTrack is currently preparing that information and once we have received it the proposal can be referred to the Minister of Planning to authorise an amendment,” Cr McRae said.
Cr McRae said the proposed amendment would be advertised in the local newspaper and adjoining property owners notified.
Submissions can be made on the re-subdivision application up until 3 March, or until a final decision is made. It is not known at this stage whether that application will go before council, or be dealt with under delegation.
Anyone wishing to make a submission should contact council’s planning department on 1300 368 333.