Maribyrnong and Hobsons Bay will be forced to carry more than their fair share of new development under revamped zoning laws, according to critics.
New residential zones in force from next week will allow developments of up to three storeys across more than 80 per cent of Maribyrnong, while Melbourne’s wealthiest suburbs are being locked away.
The state government has introduced three new residential zones to replace the existing residential 1, 2 and 3 zones.
The new general residential zone will apply to 84 per cent of Maribyrnong. Just 16 per cent of the city will have its heritage or strong neighbourhood character protected under the new neighbourhood residential zone.
All Hobsons Bay land zoned residential 1 and 2 will be rezoned to general while community consultation continues into next year.
Councils including Boroondara and Bayside are protecting wealthy suburbs such as Brighton, Hawthorn and Kew with two-storey height limits.
Maribyrnong mayor Grant Miles said the council had worked hard to find the right balance between encouraging sensible growth and protecting heritage values and neighbourhood character.
But he feared other councils failing to accept their share of growth would place extra pressure on areas such as Footscray, where Planning Minister Matthew Guy has approved towers of up to 32 storeys.
“It does mean the slack has to be taken up by other areas,” Cr Miles said.
Mr Guy said the new zones delivered on the government’s policy to direct residential development to defined areas while also protecting suburbs from overdevelopment.
But Footscray resident Jane Rawson said the new zones reinforced the sense that Melbourne’s west was being treated differently.
‘‘Planning shouldn’t just be about protecting character via protecting heritage buildings, it is also about protecting diversity.”
