Whilst we are a little behind schedule, work has progressed on the Romsey Structure Plan Project to move towards the next stage of the project – the draft structure plan.
Work by Plan 2 Place has included a review of feedback from past community consultations, liaising with external stakeholders and additional technical work.
At this stage, a date has not been set on the next round of community consultation, but is expected to occur later this year. Council will continue to provide updates on the progress.
2021 Census update
The 2021 census data has been released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and a summary of this snapshot(PDF, 1MB) has been prepared by Plan 2 Place for the Romsey Township.
Further census data can be found at Population profile and more regional specific information on the Macedon Ranges Shire community profile on the .Id Community.
Development Plan application at 2598 Melbourne-Lancefield Road (DP/2022/4)
An application for the approval of a development plan was lodged with Council for land at 2598 Melbourne-Lancefield Road, Romsey (corner Greens Lane). The application was lodged on 17 August 2022.
The subject land was rezoned Commercial 2 Zone and Industrial 1 Zone in October 2012 as part of Amendment C066 which implemented the 2009 Romsey Outline Development Plan. The Development Plan Overlay Schedule 13 – Romsey South Business/Industrial Park was also placed on the land at this time. Council must consider any application lodged. In the case of this development plan application, officers had been in discussions with the applicant about how to progress this application in light of the Romsey Structure Plan process.
The Development Plan shows capacity for:
- a site for a fuel station
- a site for a swim school
- a site for trade supplies
- a number of restricted retail sites (such as large format furniture and electrical retail, equestrian supplies and party supplies)
- a number of tourism/hospitality sites.
Recently the applicant decided to lodge a review with the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) against Council’s failure to make a decision within a reasonable time, which is 28 days from lodgement.
A practice day hearing has been set for 21 April 2023 and at this stage a fast track hearing scheduled in July 2023.
Council has now requested further information from the applicant.
Supreme Court Action against Council
A landowner has initiated proceedings in the Supreme Court against Council, claiming that the Council has made legal errors in the way that it is dealing with the review of the Romsey Structure Plan. Council does not agree that it has made any errors and are confident that we have not. While the matter is before the court, it is not be appropriate to give a running commentary on the case and it is at an early stage still.