WYNDHAM council says changes to Victoria’s planning zones will allow more businesses to call the municipality home.
The reforms, announced by Planning Minister Matthew Guy earlier this month, have been welcomed by the council.
Mr Guy said changes to the industrial zone would open up new areas for small supermarkets up to 1800 square metres and associated shops totalling 500 square metres.
Council’s sustainable development director, Dean Rochfort, said the changes would boost Wyndham’s industrial base.
“Changes to the industrial zone will allow for a broader range of businesses,’’ he said.
‘‘The changes also allow for the provision of improved services for businesses in these zones.”
But Mr Rochfort said activity centre changes meant the council could not ensure residents were serviced by a range of goods and services in commercial centres. Under the reforms, five business zones will be replaced by two commercial areas.
Mr Guy said floor space caps for offices and shops would be removed to provide new opportunities for business growth.
Changes have also been made to residential zones, with three new categories: neighbourhood residential growth and general residential.
Mr Guy said the new zones would limit residential “densification” to defined areas and away from quiet neighbourhood streets.
Mr Rochfort said the zones would provide council, developers and the community with a greater level of certainty about the type of developments that can occur in residential areas.
