The Victorian Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) is seeking feedback on draft planning scheme controls proposed to apply to Strategic Extractive Resources Areas (SERAs) in Lang Lang (Shire of Cardinia), Oaklands Junction (City of Hume) and Trafalgar (Shire of Baw Baw). The draft controls can be accessed on the Victorian Government's Engage website.
The draft controls seek to protect current and potential future quarries in areas where state-significant extractive resources are located from incompatible land uses, development and subdivision. These controls have been developed from the Victorian Government's recognition that well-located, quality strategic extractive resources are crucial to securing affordable housing and infrastructure for Victoria's growing population.
This article sets out the background to the draft controls, explores the meaning of SERAs, summarises the draft controls and their implications.
Background to the strategy
Helping Victoria Grow: Extractive Resources Strategy 2018 prepared by the then Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Planning (Strategy) was developed to help ensure the long-term supply of quality and affordable extractive resources. The Strategy recognises these resources need to be secured to ensure adequate supply for building housing and infrastructure to accommodate the significant population growth forecasted in Victoria. This is projected to almost double from an estimated 6.8 million in 2023 to 10.3 million by 2051.
The Strategy identifies the need to improve the protection of extractive resource areas in the planning scheme at page 27:
'Though the Victorian planning system recognises some important extractive resource areas, it has not always been possible to prioritise extraction and effectively prevent encroachment upon these resources to date. The current Extractive Industry Interest Areas, as identified in the land use planning system, are too extensive, not consistent with other Government strategic planning documents, and do not provide a binding mechanism to secure extractive resources of strategic importance.'
To address this key issue, the Strategy identified as a priority action, a pilot Strategic Extractive Resource Area project with the aim of reviewing existing planning mechanisms that could be used to protect existing quarries and safeguard potential extractive resources.
In 2020, the Victorian Government commenced the SERA pilot project which resulted in Planning Scheme Amendment VC196. This Amendment introduced state planning policy which designate SERAs for long-term protection of current and potential future quarries, introduced controls to recognise the Werribee-Little River and the Nyoara West SERAs and implemented protections from conflicting with sensitive land uses.
Concurrent with the pilot program, the Strategic Extractive Industries Roadmap was developed to support the implementation of priority actions related to planning in the Strategy, including the roll-out of the planning controls to identify and protect more SERAs.
What is a Strategic Extractive Resources Area (SERA)?
A SERA is an area known to, or likely to, contain a significant supply of extractive resources (such as hard rock or sand) located close to a large population that will be required for construction.
Key attributes of a SERA comprise:
- It may be a broader area of land with few or no existing quarries (but which is likely to have new long-term supply), or an area covering an existing quarry that has a significant and long-term supply of resources.
- It is well-serviced by roads and close to where extractive resources are needed to reduce transport costs and emissions.
- It is located where a quarry will not have unmanageable impacts on the environment or surrounding land uses.
- It has surrounding environmental attributes that are manageable.
- It does not change any requirements regarding the requirements for a cultural heritage management plan under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 (Vic).
A SERA is identified in the planning scheme by the application of the State Resource Overlay.
Draft planning controls
The proposed changes to the planning scheme applicable to the Trafalgar, Lang Lang and Oaklands Junction SERAs are summarised by issue below.