THE state government has approved the long-awaited implementation of Kingston Council’s housing strategy.
Planning minister Sonya Kilkenny gazetted the planning scheme amendment last Thursday, 2 May. Council submitted the amendment for approval in mid-2023.
The housing strategy outlines height limits across areas in Kingston zoned for residential development. It has been in the works for years – in 2019 council approved a plan which saw around 51.3 per cent of available land zoned “neighborhood residential”, which would limit development to two storeys. It released a new draft in 2020 with 92.91 per cent of land zoned in the NRZ, but this plan was abandoned after state government pushback. The plan was re-worked to classify 77.24 per cent of land available for residential development in Kingston in the NRZ – this plan was adopted by council in 2021 and used as the basis for a planning scheme amendment in 2022.
A planning panel assessed the proposed planning scheme amendment, and published its findings in early 2023. Kingston Council adopted some of the recommendations before sending the planning scheme amendment to the planning minister for final approval (“Housing height limits sent to planning minister”, The News, 16/8/2023).
Kingston mayor Jenna Davey-Burns said the final changes will help address the housing shortage. “Housing is a critical issue for all levels of government and innovative solutions are needed to deliver much-needed housing supply while retaining all of the things our residents love about Kingston,” she said.
“We know Melbourne can’t keep sprawling outwards and that the Victorian Government requires all councils to take their fair share of growth. We have worked hard to channel this required growth into the right places – near train stations, activity centres and major roads, while protecting quieter residential streets.” The planning scheme amendment will rezone some areas between Mentone and Moorabbin as “substantial change” – developments of up to four storeys are likely to be permitted in those zones.
Kingston Council received more than 500 submissions on the housing strategy while it was conducting community consultation in 2022. To view the full map visit yourkingstonyoursay.com.au/c203
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 8th May 2024
