Archive: Heritage - Macedon Ranges
Last Updated 7/10/11
(11/7/11 - P) C33, C76 and C78 begin to pick up on some whopping scheme deficiencies
Three important amendments to Macedon Ranges Planning Scheme that provide long-needed protection for heritage values have been approved/recommended in the last 6 months. These are:
C33 Status: Panel Report to Planning Authority 01/06/2011 Authorisation No A1704 Amend Clause 21.08 Reference Documents and Clause 22.11 Heritage Policy; Amend Clause 22.11 Heritage Policy and amend Planning Scheme Maps Nos 13HO, 15HO, 16HO, 17HO, 19HO, 24HO, 27HO, 29HO, 34HO, 39HO. Briefly, the Panel's Report notes that Amendment C33 to the Macedon Ranges Planning Scheme proposes to introduce the Heritage Overlay over three precincts in parts of the Romsey, Woodend and Lancefield town centres and to ten individual properties. The Report recommends adoption of C33 with additional requirements, and an Incorporated Plan Overlay be created for the Heritage Overlay to be applied to Shirley Park in Woodend.
C76 Status: Amendment process finished 25/11/2010 Amend planning scheme map 19HO to apply the Heritage Overlay to the Lancefield Town Centre Precinct; amend the Schedule to the Heritage Overlay to provide interim heritage protection to the Lancefield Town Centre Precinct.
C78 Status: Amendment process finished 30/6/11 Introduces interim heritage controls to the Romsey Town Centre Heritage Precinct by inserting the area into the schedule to the Heritage Overlay, including the site on Planning Scheme Map No 29HO and including the Romsey Town Centre Heritage Precinct Planning Permit Exemptions, 2011 as an Incorporated Document in the Planning Scheme.
You can access the amendment documentation and changed scheme provisions and maps by going to 'Macedon Ranges' at Planning Scheme Amendments Online:
http://planningschemes.dpcd.vic.gov.au/Shared/ats.nsf/WebViewDisplay?OpenForm&M&Macedon%20Ranges;Manningham;Mansfield;Maribyrnong;Maroondah;Melbourne;Melton;Mildura;Mitchell;Moira;Monash;Moonee%20Valley;Moorabool;Moreland;Mornington%20Peninsula;Mount%20Alexander;Moyne;Murrindindi;
and clicking on the amendment number (e.g. C33). This will take you to exhibited and approved
documentation.
MRRA Says:
Improvement to heritage protection in this Shire is long overdue. Way back when (1999), some 600 heritage overlays that were exhibited with the draft new format planning planning scheme were left out of the approved scheme, but were to be put into the scheme in the FIRST amendment. We are now up to Amendment 78 and regrettably, twelve years later, that still hasn't been done. Lack of action has resulted in some of the Shire' heritage being lost or damaged, while what's left holds its breath. In this Shire, just because a place doesn't have a Heritage Overlay doesn't mean it shouldn't have one!
The progress represented in these latest amendments, while welcome, is but a small part of what is needed if the Shire's heritage is to be properly recognised and protected. Yes, these amendments are definitely an improvement, but MRRA heartily encourages Council to keep those Heritage Overlays rolling out.
(19/11/09 - P) Comments in by 27 November
Macedon Ranges Shire Council has prepared a draft Heritage Review (Stage One) which recommends heritage protection for the town centres of Lancefield, Romsey and Woodend, as well as 10 individual places. Once finalised, the draft Heritage Review will be used as a basis for an amendment to the planning scheme applying heritage protection in these towns.
You can get (download) a copy of the draft Heritage Review from Council's website
http://www.mrsc.vic.gov.au/page/Page.asp?Page_Id=1812&h=-1
or you can inspect a copy at Council's Gisborne, Kyneton, Woodend and Romsey services centres.
Written submissions can be made until 27 November, and addressed to Manager, Planning and Development, PO Box 151, Kyneton, 3444. Inquiries: Strategic Planning Dept, 5421 9672 or strategicplanning@mrsc.vic.gov.au
Heritage Peel Cottages Disappear Beneath A Bulldozer
(10/11/07 - P) So much for 'we've got it in hand'...
Residents on the south west of Woodend will not have been able to avoid noticing that Peel Cottages no longer exist. These two tiny joined cottages that stemmed from the earliest years of Woodend have been demolished. The land they stood on was subdivided about 4 years ago with, it was understood, a permit requirement for the cottages to be retained. Yeah.
Somehow Macedon Ranges council never did get round to putting on a heritage overlay, and if permit conditions were supposed to provide protection, well here's a newsflash: it didn't work.
From One Extreme To Another: Council Now Agrees To Look At Heritage Victoria Protection For All Shire Avenues Of Honour
(19/8/06 - P) Good stuff. It's a positive move away from 'let it die' at Macedon, isn't it?
At Council's 9 August Planning Committee meeting, Cr. Noel Harvey (West) moved and Cr. John Connor (West) seconded a motion to take up Heritage Victoria's invitation to list the Woodend Avenue of Honour on the Victorian Heritage Register. Planted in 1918, and re-dedicated in 1993 on its 75th anniversary, the Woodend Avenue has long been classified as of State significance (which usually means the heritage place has rare significance, often the only or best example of its type in the State of Victoria). Mayor Geoff Neil in the end supported the motion but initially objected, saying the Macedon Honour Avenue and another in Romsey/Lancefield should also be listed. CE Ian Morris advised any requests for additional listings should be considered by Council only after assessment of those Avenue's by Council's Heritage advisor. Cr. Harvey said as the Woodend Avenue is already recognized as immensely important, the Heritage Victoria listing for it should go ahead now, with Council to look at other areas as a separate item. The motion was carried unopposed.
MRRA Says:
Council gets a 'well done' on this one. Woodend's Avenue will turn 88 in September. While all memorial avenues are special, Woodend's perhaps has some features which make it stand out. Each tree represents not just those who died in the Great War, and not just people from Woodend. It honours those from the district who served. Each tree is named, and so each is a dedicated, living memorial to those in the district who went to war. One of the trees represents Nurse Nellie Horan (tree 42, west side), who like all others remembered in the Avenue, served her country. It's a very personal avenue. Many of the names are still represented in the district, or live on in the names of roads familiar to us today - e.g. Shelton, Donald.
The Woodend Star of September 14, 1918 makes much of the substantial community effort to get the Avenue planted and the success of the dedication ceremony, which was attended by 1,200 people! The Star's reporter delivers a deliciously-worded 'back-hander' to the then Acting Prime Minister, Hon. W.A. Watt who, though invited to officiate, declined to attend owing to 'pressure of business'.
Unfortunately, that business was in Bendigo and on the dedication day, the Hon. Watt travelled by 'motorcar' right through the ceremony. The Star said of this unexpected attendance: "The Acting Prime Minister's appearance upon the scene, not to remain for a few minutes to assist in the early afternoon ceremony, but on the way to Bendigo, under "pressure of business" ... caused much surprise to those who recognised him, and some wonderment as to whether the incident was due to design or a strange coincidence. If, at all events, there were any design about it, it failed to work out in accordance with those wishes of the committee which had previously been denied, owing to "pressure of business". For Mr. Watt, after considerately "slowing down" and gazing about him, sped on his way, unable to spare even a few minutes to a function such as ours - though of undoubted moment. But, withal, it was, as already stated, most successfully performed, and will probably live longer in the memories of this community than even Mr Watt."
VicRoads Says It Will Demolish Bluestone Cottage If Council Doesn't Take It Over
(1/3/06 - P) Council to decide tonight but officer recommendation is 'Say No'
Council will tonight consider an officer's recommendation that it refuse VicRoads' "offer" to hand Carinyavale over to the Shire. Many residents will know the property - it's the bluestone cottage, surrounded by cyclone fencing, in the freeway reservation just south of Malmsbury. Listed on the State Heritage Register, the property has high heritage value and VicRoads was not permitted by Heritage Victoria to demolish it during the Kyneton Freeway construction. Although local historical groups have expressed an interest in taking the cottage on and (with funding) maintaining it, VicRoads has advised Council if it rejects the offer, VicRoads will look to demolish Carinyavale.
MRRA Says:
We'd like to know where VicRoads get off! Given Heritage Victoria previously disallowed demolition, given there is enthusiasm from local historical groups, given there is likely to be State or National level funding that can be applied for, and given VicRoads doesn't seem to have a rest stop on this section of the Calder Freeway, what's wrong with putting one here and using the cottage as an information centre for tourism? It makes a damned sight more sense than those horrid, 'blights-on-the-landscape' Freeway Service Centres VicRoads seems to support. Put your thinking caps on VicRoads, and come up with something just a little more constructive than veiled threats and 'demolish'. The cottage means something, and could be a significant asset - if you allow it to survive.
Bulldozers Will Get ‘Day’s Cottage’ As Macedon Ranges’ Mayor Casts Deciding Vote To Demolish Historic House In Woodend
(22/4/05 – P) Woodend’s heritage under assault. Macedon Ranges’ residents should be outraged at Councillors’ ‘get rid of it’ mentality.
At Council’s Planning Committee meeting on 20/4/05, Councillors Gee, Guthrie, Relph and Petrovich supported Council’s Heritage Officer’s recommendation to ask the Minister for Planning to place interim heritage protection on Day’s Cottage in Pyke Street, Woodend. Day’s Cottage is recommended for planning scheme protection and for inclusion on the Register of the National Estate in the Macedon Ranges Cultural, Heritage and Landscape Study (1994), but does not have a heritage overlay. In a disgraceful performance Councillors Henry Bleeck, Alan Todd, Marty Evans and John Connor opposed the motion (NB Cr. Deb Dunn was absent). Locked at 4 all, Mayor John Connor then cast the deciding vote TO NOT SEEK MINISTERIAL PROTECTION. An application to demolish the cottage has been made and this vote condemns the cottage to destruction. In opposing the motion, Cr. Evans said he couldn’t believe people supported keeping the cottage, it was a liability, derelict, and Council should ‘get rid of it’.
MRRA Says:
That four of our nine Councillors are prepared to arrogantly destroy our heritage should strike fear into the hearts of every resident. Macedon Ranges Shire has yet to apply heritage overlays to several hundred heritage structures and places. Without overlay protection, all are vulnerable to demolition or destruction without notice. It is State policy that heritage items and places be conserved. It’s time the State government acted to help us ensure Macedon Ranges’ heritage is protected, not least from our own Councillors.
The Association has written to the Minister for Planning asking for interim heritage protection for Day’s Cottage and Beth Shan. As with Beth Shan (see below) MRRA urges the Macedon Ranges’ community to contact the Minister and ask him to protect Day’s Cottage. The Minister’s contact details are: Hon. Rob Hulls, Minister for Planning, Level 1, 55 St Andrews Place, Melbourne 3002. 9637 8900 (p), 9637 8921 (f), mailto:rob.hulls@parliament.vic.gov.au
No Heritage Protection: While We Continue To Wait For Overlays, Will Bulldozers Get ‘Beth Shan’?
(13/4/05 - P) Woodend residents fear historic Beth Shan, one of the oldest buildings in the town and now for sale as an ‘ideal development site’, could go the way of the historic ‘Butcher’s Shop’ in New Gisborne – demolished without notice.
Will Beth Shan be the next piece of Macedon Ranges’ heritage to be demolished? The cottage, a former maternity hospital, together with neighbouring Islay House, sits on High Street just north of the historic bluestone bridge over Five Mile Creek. Together they are iconic features of Woodend’s town gateway heritage and character. ‘Beth Shan’ has a citation for planning scheme protection, and a recommendation for inclusion on the Register of the National Estate but like so many heritage places in Macedon Ranges, is still waiting for heritage overlay protection. Before Beth Shan becomes the next ‘Butcher’s Shop’ (a key heritage building in New Gisborne’s Station Road heritage precinct) and is demolished to make way for yet more units, MRRA calls upon the Minister for Planning to apply interim heritage protection to Beth Shan before it too becomes just another memory. MRRA also urges the Macedon Ranges community to contact the Minister and ask him to protect Beth Shan. The Minister’s contact details are: Hon. Rob Hulls, Minister for Planning, Level 1, 55 St Andrews Place, Melbourne 3002. 9637 8900 (p), 9637 8921 (f), mailto:rob.hulls@parliament.vic.gov.au