Planning Application Advice

 
 
PLANNING FACTS 

Hi all please read this great info about planning and what to do, my biggest advice to you is:

Have a Pre Application Meeting!!prior to submitting your planning permit, this will save so many problems and will also speed up the process too!

Yarra Ranges receives on average 2000 planning permit applications per year. Application types range from urban development, dwellings in rural areas, vegetation removal and tourism uses. More than 75% of planning permit applications require further information to be provided after they have been lodged.
 
Most applications are advertised by sending a notice to neighbouring properties and putting a sign on the site. If people object to the proposal often a consultation meeting is held to try and find ways to address their concerns. Many applications need to be sent to other external authorities (eg Yarra Valley Water, Country Fire Authority, Vic Roads) so they can review the proposal. The majority of applications are approved, although many include permit conditions requiring changes to be made. On average, a planning permit application will take around 2 months to process if we don’t need any more information but around 4 months if we need to ask for further information before we can fully assess your application. More complex applications can take between 6 - 12 months before a decision is made. Some applications need to be considered by the Council at a formal meeting, particularly major projects and applications that have received lots of objections or have a significant environmental impact.


STEPS IN THE PLANNING PROCESS
Step 1: Talk to the Planning Department. Take advantage of free planning advice. Find out if you need a planning permit. Ask for copies of the planning controls for your land or visit www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au to find a link to Planning Schemes Online. Get information about the planning process. Look at an example application under Planning Advice Notes on our website.  
Step 2: Talk to your neighbours and other authorities. By taking the time to have a chat to your neighbours about your proposal you can find out whether they have any concerns or ideas about how a compromise may be reached. It is also good idea to talk to other authorities such as Melbourne Water or South East Water, the Country Fire Authority or VicRoads (if the land is on a main road) to see if they have specific requirements which may require changes to your proposal. 
Step 3: Hire a professional to prepare and lodge your application. Employing a consultant to manage the application on your behalf could save time. Depending on what you are applying for you may need assistance from an architect, draftsperson, landscape designer, arborist (tree expert), heritage expert or geotechnical engineer (if you are in a landslip area). We can provide some guidance about what expertise you need but unfortunately we cannot recommend anyone to you.  
Step 4: Ask for a pre-application meeting with one of our Planners. Bring in sketch plans of your proposal, along with other relevant application documents (such as an arborist report or geotechnical report), so that we have as much information as possible about what you plan to do. The Planner can give advice about whether you have all the information you need to lodge your application. Please note that a Planner will undertake a more detailed assessment of the application when it is lodged and may ask for more information to be provided.  
Step 5: Lodge the Application with all the information we need. To help you understand what information and documentation you need to give us, we have an example application for you to look at. Either call us on 1300 368 333 for a copy or visit our website to access a copy.

Step 6: The Process After Lodgement. All applicants will be given a copy of our guide to the planning process once the application is lodged.  The process is as follows:

Preliminary Assessment - The Planner will undertake a preliminary assessment to identify general issues and if we need more information, which will then be requested in writing. A site inspection will also be undertaken to verify the information provided is accurate, to check if we need to advertise the application and to ensure the Planner is familiar with the site

Referrals & Advertising – we may need to send a copy of the application to other Council departments or to external authorities (eg Yarra Valley Water, Country Fire Authority, VicRoads) for comment.  If required, we will also notify people that have an interest in surrounding properties of the application as they may be affected by what is proposed and may wish to make a written submission.  If there are a number of objections, and there is a chance to find common ground, we may hold a consultation meeting.  For further information, please read our Planning Advice Note on ‘The Public Consultation Process for Permit Applications’.

Final Assessment & Decision – the Planner will consider all written submissions and then write a report assessing the application against the Yarra Ranges Planning Scheme. They will then make a recommendation about whether or not a permit should be issued.  The report will be considered by Planning Services under delegation, or by Council at a full Council meeting.  The decision to grant a Planning Permit, issue a Notice of Decision to Grant a Permit (if there are objections) or issue a Notice of Refusal will then be made either under delegation by a Senior Planner or by Council at a formal Council Meeting. This decision will then be put in writing and sent to the contact person on the Planning Permit Application Form. 

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Olinda Pool Update #4


 
 
 
 
 
This week council officers provided councillors with an updated briefing about the current state of the Olinda Pool.
Since the pool was discussed at Council’s 28 January meeting, further engineering inspections, workshops and site visits with engineers, pool specialists and manufacturers have been conducted to fully explore the range of options available.

The following information was highlighted to councillors at the briefing:

The pool has significant cracks and is porous resulting in significant water leakage

Water leakage has resulted in a high ground water level which is putting pressure on the pool shell, and continues to create significant cracks in the pool floor and wall

Core testing and pipe testing has been undertaken and is currently being analyse.

The pool and buildings on the site do not comply with the current Building Code and other health, disability access and occupational health and safety legislation and regulations.
Council officers will continue their investigations around the possible range of options, both short term and long term, for the pool.

A report will be presented to Council in March, providing a further update on investigations.

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Olinda Pool Update #3




Hi all,  I recently approached relevant council officers regarding some questions the community had and here are those answers to them. Some issues are ongoing and will be followed up soon. Hope this helps in some small way. John Faull of the Save the Olinda Pool Group has been informed of the council's progress and that information will be made public very soon.

1)    Has the pool actually been tested for leaking? I have explained to the group that normal drops in open pools over the winter period vary but average about 100mls - 300mls. When the Olinda pool was inspected for maintennance prior to the 2013/14 season there had been a significant drop of over 1 metre, this along with cracks noted around the pool highly suggested to staff that there was an external leak. If you have any other evidence that can quantify this that would be great. Claims the pictures on our website supplied are misleading by the Olinda Pool group, I dont know how to reassure the group of this, any suggestions?

An Interim Summary Report from the structural engineers has recently been provided identifying leaks in addition to photo evidence of the leaking available on the website.

We (the council staff) reject any allegations that photos on our website of cracks and leaks in the Olinda Pool are not legitimate. These photos were taken when the pool was being prepared for the summer season. This statement has been provided directly to the Save the Olinda Pool group.

2)    Core tests - What "exactly" will the test/report provide us?  When did they start onsite, what is the cost of this testing and what was their quoted timeframe for completion? I understand that this contractor was assigned prior to xmas and that has lead to some delays, but the Olinda community is seeing this as a "tactic" from council to delay the openeing of the pool. I would imagine that this testing doesnt include the inspection of the pool pipelines? Will there be a requirement of further tests after this one? Are any forecasted/invisaged? Were there any reports identifying any cracks prior to this season's ones? If so, were there any plans to fix/repair them?

A core testing company has been engaged and will be conducting testing and analysis over the next 3 weeks. The testing assesses the strength and durability of the concrete; the acidity levels and carbon dioxide  levels of the concrete; and chlorine contamination. Basically, if there are concerns regarding the structure, this will impact on what solutions are available and how much it will cost.

With regards to cracks and maintenance, Council has made repairs to cracks when found previously. This is evidenced by the expansion joint repairers made. The Interim Summary Report has also assessed the previous maintenance works undertaken.

3)    Contractors of the management of Olinda Pool ?Belgravia? Accusations of non-payment at the entrance, refusal of funds for memberships and intentional lack of maintennance leading to the general poor state the pool reserve is in. Has this been put to the contractors? Is there any truth to these claims? Has Belgravia expressed any notion that they would rather not manage the Olinda Pool? I have grave concerns if the pool was to be reopened in the ability of Belgravia to adequately manage this pool.

These issues need to be separated out.

Belgravia Leisure are contracted by Council to manage the Olinda Pool and are happy to manage the pool when operational. We have addressed the allegations made of them relating to “refusal of season pass” (Allegation 1); and “non payment of entry” (Allegation 2). Belgravia Leisure has investigated the allegations and provided the following response. They have not expressed any notion that they would rather not manage the Olinda Pool

From Frank Van Der Kraan – Victoria Regional Management, Belgravia Leisure:
·         Allegation 1 - “I have investigated the query regarding the season pass with the 2012/13 site manager who claims there was no query/incident raised on providing a season pass at Olinda over the last summer season. Belgravia have made season passes available at the outdoor pool sites to attract regular patronage, however, attendance figures from Olinda in the 2012/13 summer season indicate no season pass entries. Belgravia would not deny any patron a season pass if it was requested and was available.”
·         Allegation 2 – “With respect to item two Belgravia are responsible in recording attendance figures upon entry and do not allow free entry for children of families. Attendance figures are accurate. All entry is charged according to Council’s fees and charges as Belgravia reports and performs against a financial budget.”

The allegations regarding “intentional lack of maintenance” has only recently been made. Council is responsible for the maintenance costs for the Olinda Pool, whilst Belgravia Leisure is responsible for servicing the plant and equipment. We regularly inspected, maintained and repaired the pool when needed. The pool is more than 50 years old and is naturally wearing out.

I will be approaching the members who claimed they were refused season passes and also those who witnessed the "open gate" and no charge at the pool at the next Olinda Pool Community meeting. 

4)    The 2007-2017 Yarra Ranges Aquatic Strategy page 13 is quoted in saying - "The immediate works required to bring the pool to a "safe" standard would cost $80,000. Had this been done if so when? If not, how could the council allow the public to use the pool if it is said to be unsafe? 

These works were assessed and undertaken.

5)    There is still some conflict of opinion regarding the facility being a fire fighting tool. Suggestions of tanks being provided (at council's cost) is a inferior one and the local CFA captain believes that they would not be an appropriate supply if the need arises. Why does council have to foot the bill for resources that should be supplied by a state organisation such as the CFA? Yarra Ranges dont fight fires why should we be in the business of supplying tools for another organisation? Was or is the Olinda Pool the "only" option for water supply in Olinda? There has been talk around costs of the tanks being in the $6k range is this true? 

The CFA has advised us that they have interim measures in place for water supply including hydrants – one is located adjacent to the pool site – and a 100,000 litre water tank at the CFA station in Olinda.  Council offered to provide additional water supply in the area for this fire season. The CFA informed us this would not be required given existing supplies in place.

The Olinda CFA brigade has recently advised that they support the retention of the pool as a strategic static water source.

Council only offered tanks because we had them available. Costs of the purchase and installation cost of tanks has not been explored. Nor who would be responsible for footing the bill if this was a requirement of any future development.

6)    The contractor who was approached by the Olinda Group regarding repairing the cracks with a quote of approx $6k been looked into as a viable option for repair. Has or would there be an opportunity to meet with this contractor on site to validate this quote? 

We have been in contact with this contractor and are setting up a site visit with the structural engineer in the coming weeks. This action is in response to Council’s resolution last week.

7)    Is the suggestion from the Olinda Pool group regarding the formation of a "committee of management" that would then manage the pool a viable and realistic option? Im thinking of what we have in place with the Burrinja facility where a "partnership" has been created and funds are supplied to them for running the facility? This needs to be explored as this is something we (councillors) would be open to. 

Various management models will be explored by Council as part of an investigation into future options for the Olinda Pool.  Under the current management arrangements, Belgravia Leisure is responsible for servicing the pools plant and equipment, managing gate fees, providing supervision (lifesaver and first aid qualified) and routine cleaning of the pool and change facilities. This service is funded as part of the contract for managing the pool. Any possible arrangement where another group manages the pool would be subject to them demonstrating the ability to cover all aspects effectively.

I will be meeting with relevant council staff next week to engage in the real future of the Olinda Pool. This is a giant step guys! Your voice has been heard loud and clear and council have now taken notice. Continue the commitment you have shown and hopefully we will see people enjoying this area for years to come.

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Olinda Pool Update #2










Hi all, progress on the status of the Olinda Pool is progressing. There has been an initial report finding from the engineers regarding the pool structure. I will preparing a report and initially advising the president of the "Save the Olinda Pool" it will then be made public shortly after that, it should be this week!

Council have also been progressing with the motion put up but Cr Cliff regarding the feasibility of a pool liner similar to the one used at the Croydon Pool with an onsite meeting planned with Council and the Pool liner company to further inspect this option, along with the contractor who advised that the sealing the pool could be an option. I will be hearing from council officers as soon as this takes place to see what feedback there is about these 2 options.

I want to make it clear to all that I do support the reopening of this pool, I'am encouraged by the official formation of the "save the Olinda pool" group, this is strong evidence that there is community commitment to see this pool continue.

I am being realistic about time frames and other aspects of the pool reserve which also need to be addressed. I don't want to see a quick fix just so we can open it for the last few weeks of the warmer season. I want a proper fix that would see this pool be enjoyed by all for at least another 10 years.

Please be patient and if you are keen to help, make yourself know to the "Save the Olinda Pool" group and become part of a group committed to keeping this great community asset alive.

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