Minister for Planning Richard Wynne has approved the Quarry Hills precinct structure plan (PSP) for a 285ha plot north of Melbourne, Victoria, between the north-eastern suburbs of Epping and South Morang.
The proposed “leafy” suburb will include 2358 dwellings, a village town centre, sporting fields, community facilities and land set aside for a potential government school.
The PSP was approved by the Minister for Planning on 20 October. The City of Whittlesea Council can now formally consider proposals for subdivision and development on sites identified for urban development.
A 180ha area of Quarry Hills Regional Park, including a creek running throughout the area, will be acquired by the local authority, the City of Whittlesea, as part of the post-PSP process.
A portion of the southern section of the precinct contains part of Boral Wollert Quarry. The site is used for the extraction of hornsfels, which requires blasting, as well as processing and concrete batching.
“Boral supports residential development at the periphery of the current extent of the quarry. However, it is acknowledged that the transition from a quarry to residential development will need to be carefully staged,” a report by the Victorian Planning Authority (VPA) stated.
Applications for the development of land within a “buffer” of 500m will need to be referred to Victoria’s Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources to “determine the likely impacts of the use on the quarry and in turn the impact of the quarry on the future use of surrounding land”.
This requirement will apply for the life of the quarry, although according to the report, “It is known that the quarry is currently nearing the end of its life.”
“The Quarry Hills Precinct Structure Plan contains a set of guidelines and requirements which need to be met prior to any development occurring in proximity to the quarry or its associated buffers,” City of Whittlesea strategic planning manager George Saisanas said. “These are in accordance with state legislation.
“Land which can be developed within the Boral landholding is confined to land which is part of the buffers associated with the quarry use,” Saisanas added.
“The quarry hole itself is located within the footprint of the future Quarry Hills Regional Parkland. Potential re-use of this part of the site will be considered as part of a broader parkland master planning process once the site is transferred into public ownership in the future.”
The VPA stated the plans include several provisions that conserve the area’s environmental features and wildlife, such as the growling grass frog, and protect the area’s Indigenous heritage.
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