Melton landowners must apply for a planning permit to demolish, remove or alter dry stone walls under new interim laws.
The law, which was approved by Planning Minister Richard Wynne last month, is an interim control while Melton council seeks to apply a heritage overlay to 140 dry stone walls in the municipality.
The walls were identified through the Melton Dry Stone Walls study in August 2011, which surveyed more than 300 walls at She-Oak Hill, Mount Kororoit, Plumpton Road, Selection Wall, Greigs Road, Mount Cottrell and Mount Atkinson.
Council’s planning and environment manager Bob Baggio said the council sought permission from the state government for an interim control while considering amendment C100 to the Melton planning scheme.
“This interim control will expire once amendment C100 is approved by the Minister for Planning and added to the Melton planning scheme,” Mr Baggio said.
“Only those walls identified by a new heritage overlay through amendment C100 will be protected.”
Landowners affected by the amendment, which is out for public comment until August 7, are encouraged to find out more and send a submission to the council.
Mr Baggio said submissions should state why landowners support or oppose the amendment and should indicate what changes they would like to make to it.
“The dry stone walls are an important and distinctive feature of the Melton landscape. They preserve evidence of small rural communities and a way of life that no longer exists,” he said.
“They also have an important environmental role as they provide habitat opportunities for native flora and fauna.”
The council has prepared a brochure to help landowners keep their dry stone walls in good condition, including information about council’s heritage assistance fund that helps with professional repairs and rebuilding dry stone walls.
For more information about the walls, the heritage study and the amendment, call council’s strategic planning unit on 9747 7200.
