• Armstrong Creek Urban Growth Plan (Volume 1)
• Urban Growth Zone
• Precinct Structure Plan

Armstrong Creek Urban Growth Plan (Volume 1)

The Armstrong Creek Urban Growth Plan (Volume 1) was adopted by Council on 13 May 2008 and has been approved by the Minister for Planning as a reference document in the Greater Geelong Planning Scheme. The document sets out principles and provides guidance for the development of the seven precincts which make up the urban growth area.

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Urban Growth Zone

The Urban Growth Zone reserves land for future urban development. The zone has been applied to all the growth areas across the state to achieve better, faster developments in the growth areas.

The zoning provisions effectively replicate those of the Farming Zone until such time as a Precinct Structure Plan is approved.

The new zone will also help bring forward basic community services, so families moving into new communities have access to key services a lot earlier.

How does the Urban Growth Zone operate?

The application of the Urban Growth Zone does not, by itself, allow urban use and development to proceed. A precinct structure plan must be prepared and applied to the land before this can occur.

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Precinct Structure Plan

In the Urban Growth Zone, the precinct structure plan is the key document that triggers the conversion of non-urban land into urban land. A precinct structure plan is a long-term strategic plan that describes how a precinct or a series of sites will be developed.

The precinct structure plan, a masterplan for designing a new community, will now be the formal planning requirement for the development of an area. New urban development can proceed if it is consistent with a precinct structure plan that has been approved by the Minister for Planning and incorporated into the Planning Scheme.

Once the Precinct Structure Plan has been approved, planning permits that are consistent with the strategic intent of the precinct structure plan will be able to be issued by Council without further advertising. This is similar to the current provisions under the Development Plan Overlay.

How are precinct structure plans developed?

Precinct structure plans will be developed for each of the seven precincts and the plan must cover all land within the precinct.

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What is a development contribution?

Development contributions are payments or in-kind works, facilities or services provided by developers towards the supply of infrastructure required to meet the future needs of a particular community, of which the development forms part.

Levies can be raised through Development Contributions Plans (DCPs) for a range of State and local government-provided infrastructure including roads, public transport, storm water and urban run-off management systems, open space and community facilities.

An approved developer contribution plan forms part of a planning scheme via a Development Contributions Plan Overlay. A DCP must be incorporated into a planning scheme using a standard amendment process before infrastructure levies can be collected from new development through the DCP.