Consultation

A number of key issues were identified in the background report that will need to be addressed in the management plan. A summary of the key issues from the background report is outlined below.

1. Management of agricultural land which responds to the overall preferred future for the green wedge while acknowledging the significant challenges facing agriculture, including: reduced rainfall, land capability and fragmentation.
2. Exploring other ways that environmental assets and the rural landscape can contribute to sustainable economic development in light of the challenges facing agriculture, including: tourism opportunities and other complimentary uses which do not compromise green wedge values.
3. Pressures on the green wedge for urban related uses to service new and existing residential populations, which creates barriers to establishing agricultural uses as a result of land prices prohibiting the consolidation of lots, or managing the interface between the semi-industrial nature of modern farming and large residential populations.
4. Exacerbation of pressure for urban related uses by the existing uncertainty in the long term alignment of the metropolitan Urban Growth Boundary, where there is a reluctance of some landowners to use their land for the intended purpose under the current zoning in the expectation that this zoning will change in the future.
5. Protection of important remnant ecosystems within the study area, noting grasslands are among the most depleted and most vulnerable of Victoria’s ecosystems.
6. Protection of important woodland areas which are also home to a range of flora and fauna.
7. Improved protection and enhancement of waterways and associated heritage and environmental assets to increase resilience of these important systems from landscape, open space and environmental perspectives.
8. Ensuring an appropriate balance between rural residential development and the threat of bushfire which exists in the northern parts of the study area is achieved.
9. Impact of the Outer Metropolitan Ring Road proposed alignment which will essentially ‘cut off’ the south eastern corner of the study area from the remainder of the green wedge when constructed.
10. Management of broader impacts on the green wedge from people and their actions, including: introduction of pest species and domestic animals, poor land management, control of domestic animals, dumping of rubbish or land fill from nearby urban development.
11. Maximisation of opportunities afforded by the recycled water pipeline by understanding why the take-up of this resource been fairly limited and what may assist in using this resource to support new and existing agricultural uses.
12. Consideration of the constraints and opportunities associated both the Tullamarine Airport and the Melton Airfield, but acknowledging that under State Policy the plans will need to ensure that any plan does not compromise the operations of these areas.
13. Protection of significant landscapes and key vistas to the north of the study area.
14. Protection and enhancement of unique topographical features, which include volcanic cones as the high points in a generally flat landscape.