Moorabool council has moved to formally protect more than 100 heritage places across the western part of the shire, voting to adopt an amendment to its heritage planning study at the Wednesday 4 February meeting.
The amendment implements the West Moorabool Heritage Study 2A Review, applying the Heritage Overlay to 106 individual properties and seven heritage precincts across Ballan, Blackwood, Bungaree, Gordon, Lal Lal, Millbrook, Mount Egerton and Wallace.
Council unanimously approved the amendment after considering a report from an independent planning panel, which found the proposal had a strong strategic basis and aligned with state and local planning policy.
The amendment attracted 13 submissions during its public exhibition between March and April last year, with four submissions objecting to heritage controls on specific properties. Others sought factual corrections or updates to statements of significance.
The matter was referred to a planning panel, which held a hearing in Ballan in September last year and undertook several site inspections.
The amendment will permanently apply heritage controls through the Moorabool Planning Scheme.
Some works will now require a planning permit, including demolition, major alterations or new development, with some minor works exempt thanks to a new exemptions document designed to avoid unnecessary costs and red tape for landowners.
Once approved by the minister for planning, the protections will become part of Moorabool’s permanent planning controls.
