THE City of Whittlesea has taken steps to strengthen its protection measures for its northern green wedge, with councillors voting last week to seek approval for new planning controls targeting areas of high environmental value.
At last Tuesday’s meeting, councillors resolved to request authorisation from the Minister for Planning to prepare and exhibit Planning Scheme Amendment C288wsea. If approved, the amendment would introduce an Environmental Significance Overlay across 366 properties, covering about 7.5 per cent of the municipality’s green wedge.
Spanning 490 square kilometres, the City of Whittlesea’s green wedge makes up around 60 per cent of the municipality and includes farmland, conservation zones, natural reserves and national parks.
The proposed controls stem from two major studies—the 2025 Biodiversity Asset Mapping Report and the Habitat Connectivity Study—which identified critical habitat areas and connections that enable animals to breed, forage, and adapt to threats such as climate change and wildfires.
Mayor Councillor Martin Taylor said the green wedge was a vital community asset.
“The City of Whittlesea’s green wedge provides critical habitat for a diverse range of flora and fauna, including a number of threatened species such as the powerful owl,” he said.
“The proposed amendment to the Whittlesea Planning Scheme is crucial to ensuring we protect biodiversity and the natural environment within the green wedge.”
Council stressed the amendment had been designed to minimise the impact on agriculture. Only 10 farming businesses fall within the affected area, and routine activities such as fencing would remain exempt, provided they meet certain conditions like height limits.
Landowners would need a permit for works such as clearing native vegetation or building large sheds within the overlay area. Existing buildings and structures would not be affected, and the requirements would only apply to new developments once the amendment is finalised.
Cr Taylor said affected landowners would be consulted before any final decision was made. It is planned that, should authorisation be received from the Minister for Planning, the amendment will be publicly exhibited to the community and affected property owners and occupiers through a comprehensive consultation process.
“This project is in its very early stages. If the minister supports the proposal to exhibit the amendment, affected landowners will be contacted to provide their feedback, which will inform the proposal as it progresses through the formal amendment process,” he said.
The recommendations were passed unanimously by councillors.
More information is available at engage.whittlesea.vic.gov.au/C288wsea