Continued push to 'Keep it Country'

Published on 06 September 2024

The advocacy for protecting the character of our township continues with Council pushing forward the planning scheme amendment which would implement the Mansfield Planning Strategy 2022.

Mayor Cr Steve Rabie said planning for the town’s future was a key priority of this Council.

“We are doing all we can to ‘keep it country’,” said Cr Rabie.

“This is a massive piece of work that introduces character statements for Mansfield and its outlying townships. It would influence how Council can control neighbourhood character now and into the future and protect agricultural land across the municipality,” said Cr Rabie.

The decision to request authorisation from the Minister for Planning to prepare and exhibit Planning Scheme Amendment C60mans was made by Council on 20 August. Council now awaits ministerial authorisation.

“Council consulted with the community in major community engagement during the development of the Mansfield Planning Strategy 2022. This means we are confident that we now have all the information to advocate for the future of our towns – the way our communities say they want them,” said Cr Rabie.

C60mans will implement the Mansfield Planning Strategy 2022 including updating the settlement hierarchy and introducing character statements for both Mansfield and outlying townships. Some positive outcomes of this amendment would be:

• Implementation of neighbourhood character controls across the municipality that can be used to influence future development.
• Implementation of a settlement hierarchy which identifies growth and character parameters for each town and settlement.
• Increased amount of residential land in Mansfield Township for residential purposes, required to provide for sufficient land for housing over the next 15 years.
• Stronger policies to protect agricultural land across the municipality.
• Expansion of exemptions for permits for native vegetation removal where it is required to better manage noxious weeds

“We’re listening. We know our community have strong feelings about the character of their neighbourhoods and this is a push toward making sure we protect the things about our Shire that make it beautiful,” said Cr Rabie.