Planning Application for 1 Raglan Street to be Determined

Council will again consider a planning permit  application for the development of 5 dwellings at 1  Raglan Street, Daylesford, at the regular Council meeting next week (17/10/2023). The site was previously linked to “The Block” television program.

The permit is to be reassessed following the apparent failure of a mediation conference at VCAT on the 5^th October. Discussions at the Compulsory Conference (mediation) at VCAT are confidential. Therefore the reasons for the failure to reach a mediated settlement cannot be disclosed.

Council has also been advised that the Minister of Planning, Sonya Kilkenny, is considering an amendment of section 96A of the Planning act to make herself the responsible authority for the land at 1 Raglan Street, as well as 9 Raglan Street, Daylesford.  These properties are part of the larger Middleton Fields development which also includes the properties located at 17 & 29 Smith St.

Three applications are under consideration by the Development Facilitation Program (DFP) as established by the Minister, including the two multi-lot subdivision applications currently with VCAT and this application for five dwellings on a lot.

Over 100 submissions were received be the Department of Transport and Planning (in support and opposition) by the September 11 cut off.

Although no timeline has been provided for a ministerial determination it will, if made, supersede any determination of Council and does not  guarantee the limits and conditions imposed by Council or those presented before VCAT.

The planning permit before Council has been recommended by officers with a number of conditions which include

• A $100k bank guarantee to ensure trees in the Tree Protection Zone (TPZ) are not damaged during construction.
• All of the Avenue of Honour trees are protected.

Council received 12 objections to the permit application which detailed 32 issues (pages 35-36 of the Council Agenda).

Current Planning applications that affect Daylesford, Hepburn and immediately surrounding communities are included in the table below. Closing dates listed for applications indicate the last date on which objections are guaranteed to be considered. Objections to planning applications will be considered after that date until a decision has been made.