Community
14 February, 2025
Another step forward for Skipton Plan
A PLANNING Scheme Amendment required for the implementation of the Skipton Structure Plan will be out for public exhibition following last month’s council meeting.
Corangamite Shire councillors last month moved to seek authorization from the Minister for Planning Sonya Kilkenny to exhibit Planning Scheme Amendment C64.
The amendment will seek to rezone land in and around Skipton to allow for residential and commercial developments away from the flood prone land towards the centre of town.
In the report presented to council, manager planning and building services Matthew Berry said the amendment:
Rezones all current General Residential zoned land (GRZ1) within Skipton to Neighbourhood Residential Zone - Schedule 1 (NRZ1);
Rezones approximately one hectare of land within the existing town from General Residential (GRZ1) to Commercial 1 Zone (C1Z);
Rezones approximately 14 hectares of land from Farming Zone (FZ) to Neighbourhood Residential Zone (NRZ1);
Rezones approximately 0.5 hectares of land from Rural Activity Zone (RAZ) to Commercial 1 Zone (C1Z);
Rezones approximately six hectares of land from Framing Zone (FZ) to Commercial 1 Zone (C1Z);
Rezones approximately 6.3 hectares of land from Township Zone (TZ) to Industrial 1 Zone (IN1Z); and
Applies the Development Plan Overlay - Schedule 11 (DPO11) to all land which has been rezoned from Farming Zone (FZ) or Rural Activity Zone (RAZ) to NRZ1 or C1Z to ensure growth area development requirements are addressed.
“No changes are proposed to the Floodway Overlay and all future growth and development is planned away from flood prone land, including a new commercial precinct, which will allow for future commercial development that will aid in futureproofing the town centre into the future,” Mr Berry said.
The report noted some zone changes made under the planning scheme amendment could trigger the Victorian Government’s windfall gains tax on land which sees a value uplift of over $100,000.
Cr Nick Cole said the amendment would benefit Skipton as it was a “great little town” with potential to develop.
“It’s only 50km out of Ballarat, so this amendment is a great time to open up some land in Skipton, so we can get some housing built out there,” he said.
“It’s a great little spot out of Ballarat for people to come and have a little lifestyle blocks and still be within the community area and have a great rural lifestyle.
“I wish Skipton all the best because it’s a place that could use some development and deserves it.”
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