History

Melbourne's planning policies have tried to protect non-urban areas for over 40 years.

1970s

“Land use, resources, terrain, vegetation and habitat vary extensively throughout the non-urban areas. It is intended that the basic attributes and resources contained within the areas shall be preserved to a maximum degree, and that environment management policies shall be specifically oriented towards this objective.”
Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works, page 54 (1971)
  • The Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works introduced Statements of Planning Policy to formally protect the economic, social, environmental and landscape values of key non-urban areas, including:
    • Dandenong Ranges
    • Mornington Peninsula
    • Western Port
    • Yarra Valley.

1980s

  • Policies such as Shaping Melbourne's Future (1987) reinforced protection for non-urban areas.
  • New metropolitan planning schemes were introduced in 1989:
    • the regional component of all metropolitan planning schemes was amended to incorporate a policy statement for non-urban areas.

1990s

  • Living Suburbs (1995) didn't focus on green wedges, but it included objectives to protect the non-urban values of these areas.
  • A standardised framework based on the Victoria Planning Provisions (VPP) was introduceed as part of reforms to the Victorian planning system in the mid 1990s.

2002

  • The term green wedges was formally recognised in the Melbourne 2030: Planning for Sustainable Growth metropolitan strategy.
  • An urban growth boundary was introduced to manage outward expansion.
  • Green wedges were enshrined in legislation and the Victoria Planning Provisions.

2011

  • The government established new localised statements of planning policy for four key special areas within Victoria.
  • Two are located in green wedge areas: Mornington Peninsula and Yarra Valley.

Page last updated: 08/05/19