Riddells Creek

Preparation of a Precinct Structure Plan (PSP) for land north of Amess Road is continuing with new planning and urban design team now on board to lead the project.

The PSP will provide a vision and future urban structure for the site which was rezoned for Urban Growth as part of implementation of the Riddells Creek Structure Plan (2013).

The developer, Sector Advantage has appointed a new consultant team, Echelon Planning.

Echelon Planning are preparing a plan with a ‘place-based’ approach. This identifies the character and defining features of the site and integrates them into future development. The applicants have taken on board community feedback from consultation held in 2019.

A PSP provides a ‘blueprint’ for development and infrastructure investment that will occur over many years

A revised vision for the PSP draws from the natural characteristics of the precinct by capturing key view lines to the Macedon Ranges and east to the farming hinterland. This will provide green spaces which connect with an open waterway and wetland system and design streets and layout housing lots so that they respond to the undulating landscape.

Some of the key elements will be delivering housing choices, infrastructure, and protecting heritage, character, landscape and environment values.

Distinct neighbourhoods will be defined by their location, their vantage point and their relationship with the open space network. These neighbourhoods are designed to offer a variety of housing types. New homes would connect to a green space network linking local parks, wetlands and tree lines. 

The developer, Sector Advantage has been advised to prepare a PSP that responds to the character of Riddells Creek and achieves the best outcome possible for the community, if it is to be approved by Council.

If Council approves the PSP, further community consultation will be undertaken as part of the Planning Scheme Amendment process.

The land north of Amess Road was designated as a ‘priority residential development precinct’ in 2013 as the Riddells Creek Structure Plan was prepared and completed.

The Riddells Creek Structure Plan forms part of Council’s greater Settlement Strategy, which provides overall direction for urban growth consistent with environmental constraints, community aspirations and government policy until 2036.

The site has been zoned for urban growth since 2017 when Council and the Minister for Planning identified two future growth areas to the north and south of the existing town. This followed consultation with the community on the Riddells Creek Structure Plan, and the subsequent Planning Scheme Amendment C100.

In order for the precinct to develop, a Precinct Structure Plan (PSP) must be prepared.

Preparing and finalising the Amess Road PSP is critical to ensuring Riddells Creek has an adequate supply of land to meet the current and future housing needs of the community.

A PSP provides a ‘blueprint’ for development and infrastructure investment that will occur over many years by outlining important features of the precinct for local communities such as roads, parks, key transport connections and areas for housing.

Completing the PSP process is vital to give everyone a clearer idea of the scale of how this, or other future proposals, might fit in with the identity and neighbourhood character of Riddells Creek and its surrounds. 

Consultation on a draft urban framework plan for Riddells Creek in 2019, a prelude to the developer’s PSP, attracted 200 public submissions and concerns were raised by many landowners and residents.

In early 2020, strategic planners advised Council that the top three actions to respond to public submissions made at the time needed to include PSP objectives, requirements and guidelines that: 

• provide a connected, safe and integrated pedestrian, cycling, road and public transport network with sufficient car parking.
• provide for the design, location and delivery of community infrastructure.
• provide an appropriate range of lot sizes that promotes a diversity of housing and respects the neighbourhood character. 

At its meeting of 26 February 2020 Council considered this consultation feedback and resolved to advise Sector Advantage that before lodging a formal request for a planning scheme amendment a draft Precinct Structure Plan be prepared incorporating the following:  

1. A monitoring and review framework.
2. A governance planning statement aligning service providers and agencies regarding their commitments toward infrastructure and services.
3. Objectives, requirements and guidelines. 

A project summary and submissions is available on the closed consultation webpage for review.

View closed consultation page

Interested members of the community are encouraged to sign up for updates on the PSP process to keep directly informed of its progress.

You can register your details to receive regular email updates about the project. 

If you have questions, contact Strategic Planning on (03) 5422 0333 or email strategicplanning@mrsc.vic.gov.au

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