Draft Green Wedge Management Plan 2023

Background

In 2021 we asked for your feedback on our draft Green Wedge Management Plan. Thank you to everyone that got involved!

Since then, we have been waiting on the State Government's proposed planning system reforms for Green Wedge and Agricultural land, before we can finish our work. These reforms were anticipated to be announced in 2021-22 but have not yet occurred. The Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) have indicated that this could still be some time away.

Given the unresolved time-frame of these reforms, we are getting on with our work to review and update the Kingston Green Wedge Management Plan (KGWMP).

What has changed?
The draft KGWMP has been reviewed and updated to consider the community submissions received and the progress made on several projects. Key changes include:

• The State Government’s decision in relation to 91-185 Kingston Road, Heatherton (Delta site) being identified as the train stabling yard for the Suburban Rail Loop project and the need for a replacement site for sporting recreational facilities in the Green Wedge area of Dingley Village
• Chain of Parks implementation progress
• Progress on the Dingley Recycled Water Scheme
• The completion of the Mordialloc Freeway
• Council’s adoption of the Wayfinding Strategy, Urban Cooling Strategy, Climate and Ecological Emergency Response Plan and development of a draft Urban Forest Strategy
• A statement of priorities for the Green Wedge
• Clarification on the location of the shared path between Kingston Heath Reserve and Pietro Road
• Clarification that the reference to “Allow for additional dwellings in limited instances” is in relation to achieving a public pedestrian/cycle path and an appropriately vegetated habitat link between parkland to the north of Pietro Road and the Kingston Heath Reserve
• Inclusion of names and identification of creeks on the maps
• Edits to maps to correctly display wetlands, potential ecological sites and endangered EVC sites
• Introducing wording to ensure solar/energy parks are not located on or impact the Chain of Parks as well as agricultural land
• Removal of Map 3 Future Public Spaces to clarify that land which had previously been labeled "proposed active and/or passive recreation areas" has not been identified as future open space. The draft KGWMP still acknowledges land beyond the Chain of Parks Master Plan in the Green Wedge may be suitable potential open space.
• Amendments to include consultation with the Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation who are the Registered Aboriginal Party for the Kingston Municipality.
  
  

What is the Green Wedge?

The Kingston Green Wedge is non-urban land that extends roughly from Karkarook Park in the north, to Braeside Park in the south, and includes two small areas of land in Aspendale Gardens and Patterson Lakes. Please see below a map of Kingston's Green Wedge.

The Green Wedge provides:

• Agricultural and horticultural areas
• Open spaces
• Natural habitats for plants and animals
• Recreation opportunities.

What is the Green Wedge Management Plan?

The Kingston Green Wedge Management Plan (KGWMP) was first developed in 2012 and provides a clear 20-year action plan, including regulatory and non-regulatory measures in relation to uses and development likely to be supported in the Green Wedge, environmental enhancements and sustainable practices.

Kingston’s current plan has been a valuable guide for Council since 2012, however, a lot has happened since then and it is time to refresh the plan.

The Agricultural Preservation and Strengthening Strategy was used as background when developing the Draft Green Wedge Management Plan. You can download the strategy in the document library.

The State Government has reinforced that no changes to the Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) will be entertained, therefore the KGWMP 2023 does not seek to identify changes to the UGB (except for including land with environmental values) or make the case for urban conversion of any land located outside the existing UGB.

Have your say

We want to know what you think of the revised draft Kingston Green Wedge Management Plan. If you lodged a submission in 2021, there is no need to resubmit unless you would like to or have new material or information you'd like to share. You can submit your views by:

• Providing us with feedback, below. You have until Monday 30 October to let us know what you think.
• Making a further submission by emailing strategic.planning@kingston.vic.gov.au, or mailing Strategic Planning, PO Box 1000, Mentone 3194.
  
  

Contact us

If you have questions about the project, contact the project team at strategic.planning@kingston.vic.gov.au, phone 9581 4617, or mail Strategic Planning, PO Box 1000, Mentone VIC 3194. If you require the Translating and Interpreting Service, contact 131 450.