Flooding and Stormwater Management

The Minister for Planning has approved Corrective Amendment C137mann.

The purpose of the amendment was to correct Special Building Overlay 1 (SBO1), as it applies to properties in and around Hillcroft Drive, Templestowe.

Notice of the approval of Amendment C137mann appeared in the Government Gazette on 18 November 2022.

The revised SBO1 mapped area can now be viewed on the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) website.

More information

• Corrective Planning Scheme Amendment C137mann FAQs.
• Contact Manningham Council on 9840 9333, or at manningham@manningham.vic.gov.au

Warrandyte Uniting Church has a peace vision which in part focuses on engaging the community in ways to protect and care for our environment. In keeping with this vision, the church is leading a program around raingardens and caring for the earth.

A feature of the program is a newly constructed raingarden on the church grounds which was financially supported by Warrandyte Community Bank and Manningham Council.

The raingarden will divert and treat rainfall runoff from across the site as an example of what people can do in their own gardens.

Church project lead Ken Keam, said raingardens improve the quality of our waterways by filtering pollutants from stormwater and using stormwater to irrigate plants. They create habitat for local wildlife by promoting vegetation growth. By using stormwater for irrigation, they also conserve drinking water supplies.

“The project also aims to improve community understanding and knowledge about simple opportunities to preserve our natural environment and adapt to the impacts of climate change,” Ken said.

The program has included several information and interactive sessions for the local community and schools. Other contributors have included the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation, as well as other local community groups and Melbourne Water.

Manningham Mayor, Cr Deirdre Diamante, said Council hoped the program would empower locals to consider how they can help build a resilient, liveable and sustainable future for Manningham.

“It’s great to see community members taking action to help secure our water future,” she said.

“Council is currently undertaking a number of flooding and stormwater management initiatives, aimed at building a more resilient and liveable Manningham and to facilitate robust planning for the future,” Cr Diamante said.

Ken also serves as a member on our recently formed Flooding and Stormwater Management Community Reference Panel. When asked about his interests in serving on the Panel, Ken said he is concerned about mitigating and adapting to the impacts of global warming.

“I hope that this opportunity will help to preserve the natural environment and liveability of this municipality by ensuring that the management of stormwater, as far as possible, encompasses the principles of Water Sensitive Urban Design, climate change adaption and community expectations,” he said.

More information

Mendleson Communication has been awarded the contract to facilitate our Flooding and Stormwater Management Community Reference Panel meetings.

Nicola Mendleson has 25 years of experience with advisory groups and facilitation of sensitive and complex engagements relating to flooding management, integrated water management and adaptation to climate change. She is also a member of the International Association for Public Participation as a licensed trainer.

Community Reference Panel meetings for 2022 have been scheduled for 9 November and 15 December 2022.

To receive notifications when the meeting minutes are available, and other project updates, please subscribe via the ‘Stay informed’ box in the right-hand side column of this page.

Council has appointed a Community Reference Panel to help shape flooding and stormwater management in Manningham.

The Panel was selected through an Expression of Interest process and will work with us to better understand and address increasing challenges to water management, including:

• climate change
• development pressure; and
• population growth.

The Panel will help guide the development of the Manningham Flood Mapping Project and Integrated Water Management Strategy.

It will consist of:

• an independent facilitator
• eleven community members with a spread of representation across Manningham and membership reflecting the diversity of our community
• Councillors Stephen Mayne and Geoff Gough
• up to three Council officer representatives; and
• subject matter experts.

The first meeting will be held in late 2022. All meeting minutes will be available on the Your Say Manningham Flooding and Stormwater Management page.

On 26 July 2022, Council resolved to adopt Amendment C137mann. The purpose of the amendment is to correct Special Building Overlay 1 (SBO1), as it applies to properties in and around Hillcroft Drive, Templestowe.

Specifically, Council resolved to:

Adopt Amendment C137mann in accordance with Attachment 1 (to the Council report), pursuant to section 29 of the Planning and Environment Act, 1987 (the Act);

• Refer the adopted Amendment C137mann to the Minister for Planning, pursuant to section 31 of the Act;
• Request that the Minister of Planning approve Amendment C137mann to the Manningham Planning Scheme, in accordance with Attachment 1, pursuant to section 35 of the Act; and
• Notify affected property owners of Council’s decision.

The impacts of the Amendment for individual properties in and around Hillcroft Drive remain unchanged from our original advice. You can find a plan illustrating the changes to the overlay here.

We have now written to the Minister for Planning requesting approval of Amendment C137mann.

Project timing is now at the discretion of the Minister for Planning. With the State Government Election scheduled for November 2022, potential impacts of the caretaker period on finalisation of this process are also yet to be determined.

We will directly notify all affected property owners of the Minister’s decision once received.

More information

• Project timeline
• 26 July 2022 Council meeting minutes
• Contact Manningham Council on 9840 9333, or at manningham@manningham.vic.gov.au

Council has endorsed an Implementation Plan to guide the development of our Integrated Water Management (IWM) Strategy.

IWM is a collaborative approach to the way we plan for and manage water as a valuable resource.

There are mounting pressures on the management of our water resources arising from a variety of drivers, including climate change and population growth.

The Strategy will deliver a proactive approach to address these risks. It will help us secure a resilient, liveable and sustainable future for Manningham.

A Flooding and Stormwater Management Community Reference Panel will be formed in late July. It will provide a community voice to guide the development of the IWM Strategy.

In September, an external IWM consultant will be appointed to further assist us in developing the Strategy.

More information:

• Council Meeting 26 July 2022
• Integrated Water Management Strategy FAQs

Questions?

Please contact Manningham Council on 9840 9333, or at manningham@manningham.vic.gov.au.

In May, Council received authorisation from the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) to prepare Corrective Planning Scheme Amendment C137mann, under delegation from the Minister for Planning.

The purpose of the amendment is to correct Special Building Overlay Schedule 1 (SBO1), as it applies to 39 properties in and around Hillcroft Drive, Templestowe.

Whilst Council was granted exemption from notification, Council was still required to notify all Prescribed Ministers, providing a period of 14 days for submissions on the proposed amendment. No submissions were received.

The details for individual properties contained within Amendment C137mann remain unchanged from those previously provided to property owners.

On Tuesday 26 July 2022, Council will consider adopting Amendment C137mann.

If Council resolves to adopt the Amendment, it will then be forwarded to the Minister for Planning for approval.

26 July 2022 Council meeting

The Council meeting will commence at 7.00pm in the Council Chamber at 699 Doncaster Road, Doncaster.

Members of the public can now attend Council meetings in person or view the live stream on our Facebook page.

The agenda will be available for viewing at the Council Offices, located at 699 Doncaster Road and on our website from Friday 22 July 2022.

Following the meeting, we will inform you of Council’s resolution and next steps in the planning scheme amendment process. The minutes will be available here.

How to submit a question to Council

To ask a question of Council on this proposal, or other matters:

• complete the Public Question Time Form
• submit your question via email to GovernanceTeam@manningham.vic.gov.au by 5.00pm Monday, 25 July 2022.

To view all key timings for the proposed Amendment C137mann process, please refer to this timeline.

Integrated Water Management Strategy

Council will also consider a report on the proposed Integrated Water Management Strategy at the July Council meeting.

The report seeks Council endorsement of the Implementation Plan, which will guide the development of the Strategy.

We will provide an update to inform you of Council’s resolution following the meeting.

Questions?

Please contact Manningham Council on 9840 9333, or at manningham@manningham.vic.gov.au.

Together with the community, we want to better understand Manningham’s flooding and stormwater management challenges and consider the best ways to address them.

We’re calling for expressions of interest (EOI) from community members to join a Community Reference Panel. The closing date for EOIs has now been extended to midnight Friday 17 June 2022.

You can register your interest online or pick up an application form from the Manningham Civic Centre.

Council has received authorisation from the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) to prepare Corrective Planning Scheme Amendment C137mann, under delegation from the Minister for Planning.

The purpose of the amendment is to correct Special Building Overlay Schedule 1 (SBO1), as it applies to 39 properties in and around Hillcroft Drive, Templestowe.

DELWP has also supported an exemption from the public notice requirements of section 19 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987. This exemption however does not apply to the notification of Prescribed Ministers.

Letters have been forwarded to the Prescribed Ministers today to seek their views on the amendment, allowing 14 days for response.

Following this engagement period, a report will be prepared for the Council meeting of 26 July 2022 to consider the adoption of Amendment C137mann. Subject to Council’s resolution, the Amendment will then be forwarded to the Minister for Planning for approval.

We will advise you of when the July Council meeting agenda will be publicly available for viewing.

After the meeting, we will again inform you of Council’s resolution and next steps in the planning scheme amendment process.

Proposed Amendment C137mann process timeline.

More information

Contact Manningham Council on 9840 9333, or at manningham@manningham.vic.gov.au.

Melbourne Water has requested Council support for a corrective amendment to the Manningham Planning Scheme, to be known as Amendment C137mann.

The proposed amendment seeks to remove or amend the flood overlay (Special Building Overlay 1 - SBO1), as it affects 39 properties in and around Hillcroft Drive, Templestowe.

We are pleased to advise that at its meeting of 26 April, Council resolved in summary to:

• Seek ministerial authorisation from the Minister for Planning to prepare an amendment to the Manningham Planning Scheme, to remove or reduce the extent of Special Building Overlay 1 (SBO1), as it applies to properties in and around Hillcroft Drive, Templestowe.
• Apply to the Minister for an exemption from the notice requirements of the Act.

Council officers will now write to the Minister for Planning to seek authorisation and an exemption from public notification of the amendment. Subject to any conditions set by the Minister, we expect to receive authorisation within 10 business days.

We will then need to engage with the prescribed ministers for a period of 14 days to seek their views on the amendment.

Following this engagement period, a report will be prepared for the Council meeting of 26 July 2022 to consider the adoption of Amendment C137mann, before forwarding it to the Minister for Planning for approval.

We will advise you of when the July Council meeting agenda will be publicly available for viewing. After the meeting, we will again inform you of Council’s resolution and next steps in the planning scheme amendment process.

Proposed Amendment C137mann process timeline.

More information

Contact Manningham Council on 9840 9333, or at manningham@manningham.vic.gov.au.