Welcome to CCS’s Planning Resources Centre
You have probably found yourself here because of the NIMBY syndrome. That stands for Not In My Backyard. That’s quite OK. It is how most of us have learned about planning and is certainly how we find ourselves reacting in this day and age. Jumping on spot fires, because we can’t keep tabs on everything, and when we find out that our living environment is about to change, we sometimes find out accidentally, and sometimes just in time to feel angry or frustrated. We have been where you are and hope the following information and links will help you out.
Please do read the background, as it may help you understand where you are in terms of rights, before you go too far down the objection path.
Background to the planning of our city:
Maroondah is an amalgamation of a wide variety of areas from the business- city type precinct, Ringwood, to a country town hub, Croydon. It also includes Heathmont, Burnt Bridge, McAdam Square, and a variety of smaller business areas. These are at the core of Living areas, each of which has a very different feel about them. You will have noticed the character of some areas is quite different from others, as you move around our municipality.
View of the Dandenongs
As of March 2025, the State Government has adopted 4 new amendments to fast track increased density, the character of an area is no longer considered, so no more Neighbourhood character provisions apply.
Why was development needing to be structured?
It was vital to the planning process to look seriously at how to absorb 20 thousand new residents in the future, this was a State government directive. Now the entire city is subject to random and often inappropriate development, which will potentially threaten our much valued tree cover, and make a homogenous blend of units, houses, flats etc in every street, up to 5 stories so that all areas will lose individual character. This outcome is due to “as of right” with no requirement for Council application for developers.
Tree Removal
Also you should be aware of illegal tree removal. Be very vigilant of “gung-ho” developers who accidentally bulldoze trees early on Saturday mornings, when Council is shut. Find more detailed information on the Maroondah site – Tree Removal
The emergency number for the ranger, who will attend urgently out of hours is 1300 88 22 33
Habitat corridors
These are pathways across Maroondah that allow fauna, like birds, possums and even koalas to survive in the midst of what is essentially and urban environment. And obviously it is why CCS values our tree canopy so highly and fights constantly to retain what exists and to provide new growth. Follow this link Planning and Building – Planning – Habitat Corridors Study
Significant Landscape Overlays SLO’s
This applies where the vegetation has special significance in terms of it being un infested by weeds and exotic species and truly indigenous to this region, as it was before development. In other words still almost virgin bush. Many rare species to this region are located on these parcels of land. You would know if this applies to your land, because you would have been involved in the identification process and subsequent application for this protection. Department of Environment and Heritage
Vegetation Protection Overlays VPO’s
This is a separate control that covers a specific geographical feature, for example like the ridgeline of the Wicklow hills which transverse our municipality from Heathmont through Ringwood East to Birts hill and into North Croydon. This overlay’s intention is to seriously attempt to retain the significant tree cover that currently shelters our homes and allows for our municipality to be seen as a series of treed hill tops from Mt Dandenong. Other areas are adjacent to the four creeks which are waterway habitat corridors.
These overlays are lodged with the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/ To discover whether your area is under this overlay you will need to contact Council’s planning department. Email [email protected] Attention planning dept!