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 want to:

  • STOP the re-zoning of the East Street farmland as a “housing opportunity” site and more industrial land;

  • PRESERVE productive agricultural land;

  • PROTECT the Smith’s Creek and farmland water catchment, including the Springs and Headwaters;

  • REMOVE Central Springs Road as a freight spine;

  • PREVENT the business centre and traffic drawn eastwards;

  • SUPPORT incremental and distributed housing growth within the town boundaries in line with Daylesford’s and Hepburn’s strengths and character;

  • REAL – not token – consultation with the community about our future vision and growth.

The draft Structure Plan or the published technical studies do not justify rezoning active farmland. and they don’t respond to the community feedback from the survey or community engagement panels.

Daylesford and Hepburn Springs already has over 20 years of housing supply within the existing town boundaries.

Make a submission by 12 June 2024.

We support the plan’s proposals to:

  • Encourage additional commercial development and accommodation in upper levels and behind existing development in the town centre;

  • Facilitate greater housing diversity within walking distance of the town centre;

  • Facilitate housing on potential redevelopment sites; and

  • Maintain a strong emphasis and focus on tree canopy and sensitive architecture for new dwellings.

Make sure you take the time to read the Council’s draft Structure Plan or the “express version” reading guides.