Rezoning is a “tidy up”

Steps will be taken to rezone more than 150 sites as public use across Baw Baw Shire in a “tidy up” process.

The sites include 130 council properties - including Bellbird Park and Civic Park in Drouin, Neerim South Wetlands, Hollydell Park in Trafalgar and Latrobe St Park in Warragul - as well as 24 sites identified by Gippsland Water.

All of the well-known local parks listed above, or parts of, are currently zoned general residential.

The full list will be sent to Minister for Planning Sonya Kilkenny seeking approval after Baw Baw Shire Council deemed them “inappropriately zoned.”

An officer report stated proposed amendment C153 aimed to rectify historical anomalies in land use zoning, “essentially making it somewhat of a tidy-up amendment.”

“The rezoning of these open space areas will provide better protection for these areas and will align the zoning with the appropriate land use,” the report said. “It will also provide greater flexibility and certainty for council and Gippsland Water in the use and development of this land for public purposes.”

The report said rezoning would “not change the future purpose or use of the reserve” and would not materially affect adjoining land owners.

A list of 145 properties was previously provided to a council meeting in December.

The updated list added extra open spaces, including 24 sites that Gippsland Water had identified, including eight properties at Moondarra and others in Coalville, Longwarry, Neerim South, Rawson, Trafalgar South, Warragul, Yallourn North and Yarragon.

Under the amendment, it is proposed all 145 sites would be re-zoned as public park and recreation zone, public conservation and resource zone, or public use zone one based on their use or location.

Council will also request the public notification requirements be exempt.

Cr Tricia Jones said the amendment would ensure appropriate zoning.

Cr Jones said it would provide better protection for open spaces areas which contain significant environmental assets.

Cr Danny Goss said “it really is just a tidy up of these reserves”.

Cr Goss said he wouldn’t usually support a motion exempting public consultation but, in this case, was prepared to make an exception.

“It’s rezoning them to give more appropriate use,” he said. “There is no detriment to anybody.”

“It won’t change the use or the rights of people to use those spaces. It’s straightforward.”

Cr Michael Leaney said the public would be surprised by how many of our parks are zoned general residential.

“There always was a possibility that those parks could have been sold off for residential use,” Cr Leaney said. “By actually changing these over...they actually have surety into the future, they can’t be sold, they have to be retained for public use.”

“The reason why the rezoning is happening is to, not only to tidy things up, but ensure these spaces remain public spaces in perpetuity,” he said.