Richard Wynne, State Planning Minister, has authorised Mornington Peninsula Council’s proposed Planning Scheme Amendment to rezone 10 parcels of land outside the urban growth boundary within the Mornington Peninsula Green Wedge.

The rezoning aims to protect the Shire’s highly valued Green Wedge from inappropriate development, resolve anomalies in the planning scheme, and ensure the zoning of these sites reflects their intended use and location within the Green Wedge.

The 10 sites are:

• 60-70 Kunyung Rd, Mount Eliza which was recently the subject of Ryman Healthcare’s failed bid for a large-scale residential aged care facility and/or retirement village, opposed by the Shire and rejected by VCAT

• the area known as ‘Sunnyside Beach Off Sunnyside Rd Mount Eliza’

• 50A McGregor Ave, Mount Martha

• 60 Hearn Rd, Mount Martha

• 19 Tallis Drive, Mornington (Mornington Golf Course)

• 46 London Bridge Rd, Portsea (Portsea Golf Club)

• 35 Sunnyside Rd, Mount Eliza (Manyung Recreation Camp)

• 3875 Point Nepean Rd (Point Nepean National Park)

• 74-76 Marine Pde, Shoreham (Mentone Grammar Camp)

• 62 Oakbank Rd, Mornington (Padua College)

These sites are proposed to be rezoned from Special Use to either the Green Wedge Zone or Public Conservation and Resource Zone.

The Council sought authorisation to start the rezoning process back in February 2020.

Authorisation of the amendment doesn’t mean approval – rather the Minister is allowing Council to prepare the amendment and start the formal planning scheme amendment process. Council plans to exhibit the amendment for community feedback early in 2022.

Mayor Cr Anthony Marsh said: “Council and community advocacy has succeeded and we can now commence the process to rezone these ten sites to strengthen protections for our valuable green wedge areas and prevent inappropriate development.

“The community will be thrilled with this major step towards rezoning these areas. There has been lots of community support for this proposal and we are looking forward to proceeding as quickly as possible.

“The protection of the Green Wedge and making a clear distinction between the built environment and our natural environment is so important to the Mornington Peninsula’s unique character.”