We are here to help.
Our team is working behind the scenes to provide the community with as much assistance as possible in writing articulate, compelling, and sound submissions in response to the Draft Strategy Plan.
how to write your submission
The sample documents we have provided here on the website are to help guide you in writing your own submission. Feel free to use these but we don’t recommend just copying and pasting - identical submissions will not be as powerful - reword it in your own language to help create the response that best articulates your response to the Draft Strategy Plan.
Should you get stuck or have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out by clicking the button below.
RESOURCES TO DOWNLOAD
WHO ARE WE?
Pastures NOT Pavements is a grass-roots community-led group made up of farmers, residents, business owners and the wider community of people that are concerned about the Daylesford and Hepburn Spring Draft Structure Plan (April 2024).
We want to preserve active farmland that is essential to maintaining the rural character of our townships and not succumb to unnecessary “greenfield development”. Because once it’s gone, it’s gone!
As a community, we are coming together to articulate our key concerns and opposition to a town boundary expansion, provide resources for the community to use in making individual submissions to Council in response to this draft (by the deadline of 26 June 2024).
And provide Council with innovative, sound and well considered alternative solutions direct from the community, for the future of Daylesford and Hepburn Springs and growth requirements that the community is naturally expected to have in the next coming decades.
To get involved, subscribe to our newsletter below.
MAGNIFICENT FARMLAND IN EAST STREET, DAYLESFORD
WE MADE A MOVIE…
We hosted several events in the past few weeks to screen a short film that was made by the community for the community with incredible assistance from Simon Watts.
letter from the farmer
“I’m part of the family who owns the farm on East Street, Daylesford (called Mayfield) which is being proposed to be rezoned, and I’m currently living on that farm.” - READ MORE
letter from a resident
“My main objection is that it is prime productive farming land which has been farmed for generations and should remain that way into the future.”
letter from a resident
“The most contentious is to extend the town boundary along East Street in what the council officer confirmed could be 100-house suburb.“
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The draft Daylesford and Hepburn Springs Structure Plan must be amended to:
• Retain the existing town boundary in Daylesford and Hepburn Springs.
• Remove the designation of existing farmland on East Street, Daylesford as a future housing site.
• Recognise and protect Smith’s Creek and its springs and headwaters.
• Remove the managed change and minimal change area labels.
• Remove the freight and pedestrian spine along Central Springs Road.
• Identify alternative options to manage future housing demand that do not solely rely on use of agricultural or farmland and adopt planning policies and strategies that promote and permit flexible land use within the town boundary.
• Provide a vision that enhances Daylesford and Hepburn Springs as an innovative, unique, desirable and valuable destination for all residents, visitors, local businesses and the agricultural sector for the next 30 years.
• Provide actions that deal with the next 15 years.
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The SGS Report identifies there is sufficient capacity beyond 2041.
Demand: 680 dwellings
Capacity: 1370 lots (380 vacant lots & 990lots through subdivision
Surplus 2041 - 2051: 690 lots -
There are a number of options for further consideration:
• Utilising vacant land.
• Enabling subdivision, sale and development of existing residential land.
• Facilitating 3-storey and shop-top housing in the town core (for example, along Vincent Street)
• Use of Council and surplus Government land.
• Working with the Office of the Victorian Government Architect or a university to develop a pattern book of housing designs and typologies needed to diversify the housing stock.
• Reviewing subdivision requirements in Low-Density Residential Zone and Rural Living Zone.
• Leveraging the capacity in the release of the second dwelling provisions.
• Council reviewing its process and procedures to develop a fast track process to facilitate housing as needed.
frequent QUESTIONS
Here are some of the most common questions that have been raised by our community.
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The existing farmland in East Street should be preserved for the following reasons:
• It is high-quality agricultural land with continuous, single-family custodianship for over 100 years and should continue to be preserved for food resilience as outlined in the draft Rural Hepburn Strategy.
• The land east of East Street has natural springs and headwater, and these sources should be preserved, restored and not impacted.
• The water table is close to the surface in heavy rain, and any proposed development may impact the hydrology. And existing underground aquifers.
• Local wildlife - birds, hawks, owls, wallabies - coexist on the open field farmland
• To avoid setting a precedent or triggering land speculation in relation to high-quality farmland in the Shire.
• To retain notable sightlines, views and vistas from key viewing points within the town, such as from Wombat Hill (as referenced in the Plan, “Productive agricultural land surrounding the townships’ eastern boundaries is another landscape feature” p174) and the historic Tourist Train lines
• To maintain the integrity, character and history of Daylesford’s commercial core and distinct farming heart: if significant urban development occurs eastwards, this will be detrimental by diluting focus and concentration in the existing township.
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The proposed housing development site in East Street is not suitable for diversifying housing stock in Daylesford and Hepburn Springs because:
• It is not within easy walking distance to the town centre, given the gradients and distance of the street network
• The edge-of-town location is not likely to be divided into smaller lot sizes, whereas the Plan and associated reports identify the need for one and two-bedroom houses.
• The development will not fit the treed canopy character of its adjoining community.
• Providing additional housing at East Street will not solve housing affordability problems, as the Plan does not control price or tenure.
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So far, this is the only point at which the Council is seeking submissions on the proposals and ideas in the draft Plan.
The Council is expected to consider the submissions, determine what changes to make, and then adopt the final Plans.
The final Plan then sets up the strategic justification and future work.
The council will likely then commence preparing changes to the planning scheme to implement the Plans.
If there is something in the Plan you don’t like or do like, it’s important to let Council know. Once it’s in the plan, it’s likely to happen and harder to stop.
have your say
To take action today, protects our townships’ future.
Make sure the Council hears our concerns and takes note of our recommendations. Share your personal views and know we are all in this together!
By joining the Pastures NOT Pavements Facebook group you can also read the outpouring of concerns and healthy debate of the issues presented.
Importantly look out for the announcement of a community run Submission Workshop to assist those less comfortable or unsure how to complete the requirements outlined by Council.
Submissions close 26 June 2024.