Friends of the Barwon (FOTB) has welcomed stronger Victorian planning policies and landscape controls that will now apply to the rivers of the Barwon.
The state government’s Planning Scheme Amendment VC201 aims to provide greater protection for the Barwon River and all its tributaries from inappropriate and
potentially harmful development.
Significant Landscape Overlays (SLO) now include all rivers of the Barwon and cover waterways, lakes, wetlands and billabongs.
“For the past four years, since our inception, FOTB have advocated for much stronger planning controls to ensure inappropriate development did not adversely affect the rivers of the Barwon,” FOTB Chair Trevor Hodson said.
“Through our involvement with the Concerned Waterways Alliance (CWA) and the Barwon River Ministerial Advisory Committee (MAC), FOTB have played a significant role in bringing this amendment to fruition.
“Our engagement with candidates in the recent state election to recommend that the rivers of the Barwon were included in the new Planning Scheme amendment was pivotal in achieving this important outcome.”
FOTB is a catchment wide network of groups and individuals working to protect and restore the long-term health of the Barwon River and its tributaries through building partnerships, empowering communities, and engaging with government.
The Rivers of the Barwon SLO controls apply in the Ballarat, Colac Otway, Golden
Plains, Greater Geelong, Moorabool and Surf Coast planning schemes, focused on the following waterway corridors:
● Barwon (Parwan)
● Moorabool River (Mooroobull)
● Leigh River (Waywatcurtan)
● Yarrowee River (Yarowee)
To ensure that significant landscape and environmental values of waterways are protected, the SLO controls address:
● the siting and design of buildings and fences
● the removal of vegetation
● the undertaking of earthworks.
The amendment is an interim measure until December 31 2026.
“We cannot rest on our laurels,” Mr Hodson said.
“Friends of the Barwon will ask for the amendment to be continued, and also argue for it to be strengthened after the current limit date of 2026.”
