Liam McNally
The Green Wedges Coalition has welcomed a decision by Melton council to adopt a plan to properly manage the Western Plains South Green Wedge.
Green wedges are state government-zoned areas that lie outside the urban growth boundary and are designated for a mix of agriculture and low density activity, typically restricting a lot of development.
The Western Plains South Green Wedge spans across the southern area of the Melton municipality and he north-western area of Wyndham. The wedge is characterised by open volcanic plains and scattered native grassland flora and fauna.
The Western Plains South Green Wedge management plan identifies a vision, and actions for the sustainable use and development for the section of the Western Plains South Green Wedge located within Melton.
The Western Plains South Green Wedge Management Plan is defined by six themes, people and consultation, agriculture, irrigation and natural resources, infrastructure and land use, roads and rural amenity while supporting economic activity, environment based around increasing community awareness and knowledge and landscape, which emphasises development must be carefully located to minimise impacts on long views unique to the Western Volcanic Plain and cultural heritage which states both cultural heritage and historic built form will be protected and celebrated.
Green Wedges Coalition is an advocacy group for effective green wedge protection and coordinator Rosemary West said she welcomed the important plan.
“Green wedges are described as the lungs of Melbourne, they help make Melbourne one of the world’s most liveable cities,” she said.
“We’ve seen too much urban use being permitted [in Melbourne’s 12 green wedges] to replace environmental and agricultural land and to blight scenic rural landscapes.
“Melton is in the heart of the western volcanic plains grasslands, and there’s not much of the grasslands left.”
Council received 23 submissions during consultation for the plan.
Four raised concern about farming on their rural-zoned land being restricted, which the council assured will not happen.
Eight submissions requested the rezoning of land in the green wedge from a rural land use to an urban land use, council responded that any rezoning within the green wedge requires ratification by both houses of state parliament.
