TopBanner02

Home>Planning and permits>Planning studies and planning scheme amendments>Studies and amendments in progress> Plan Harcourt

Printer Friendly

Listen

Plan Harcourt

What is Plan Harcourt?

Plan Harcourt is a Council document that integrates two separate but interrelated projects exploring spatial land use planning, town centre design and activation, and local economic development initiatives. The two projects are:

(1) The Harcourt Framework Plan
(2) Shine Harcourt Leanganook

A Harcourt Development Contributions Plan (DCP) is also being prepared. Further information about the Harcourt DCP will be made available in early 2020.

What is the Harcourt Framework Plan?

The Harcourt Framework Plan is a strategic planning document that forms the basis for future changes to the Mount Alexander Planning Scheme.

The Plan includes policy directions and a graphical map that designates future growth and change in the township, including the rezoning of land and the application of overlays.

The Planning Scheme currently includes policy and a framework (graphical) plan for Harcourt. It is proposed to update the policy and the framework (graphical) plan with the new policy and plan prepared by this process.

Timeline: Where are we now?

Public consultation on the draft Plan Harcourt closed in early January 2020. Feedback on the draft is being considered in the preparation of the final plan. This will be presented to Council for adoption along with a request to seek authorisation from the Minister for Planning to commence a planning scheme amendment that will introduce the new policy and/or the framework plan (graphical plan). A formal public exhibition process will occur separately when a planning scheme amendment has been prepared.

To access the project bulletin (May 2020), a copy of the draft plan, fact sheets and Frequently Asked Questions, please see the links below.

Project bulletin: Update on Plan Harcourt (May 2020) (includes project status, key considerations for the final plan and next steps)

Draft Plan Harcourt

Fact sheet - Draft Plan Harcourt

Frequently Asked Questions 1 - General
Frequently Asked Questions 2 - Shine Harcourt Leanganook
Frequently Asked Questions 3 - The town centre
Frequently Asked Questions 4 - Residents and businesses in the Township Zone
Frequently Asked Questions 5 - Residents in the new residential growth and expansion areas
Frequently Asked Questions 6 - Horticultural land uses
Frequently Asked Questions 7 - About the Planning Scheme

Why is Plan Harcourt needed?

Harcourt has been identified as a small town that can accommodate planned growth in the region. This is recognised in the Loddon Mallee South Regional Growth Plan 2014 and in the Mount Alexander Planning Scheme.

Future growth and change in the township needs to be carefully planned to promote and preserve local place values, and recognise the highly productive agricultural operations around the town. Furthermore, plans for growth in Harcourt should ensure that provisions are made for appropriate infrastructure, and that the existing natural and cultural features of the area are maintained for the benefit of future residents.

What consultation has occurred up until now?

A discussion paper prepared by the Strategic Planning Unit was released for public comment in November 2018. Following this, Council undertook a range of community activities to inform and engage the Harcourt community in discussions about spatial planning, residential and commercial growth and town centre activation. This included two launch events at Harcourt Bowls Club and Goldfields Track Café, drop-in sessions in Harcourt, surveys, an online interactive map that allowed users to share their ideas, a workshop with Grade 5/6 students at Harcourt Valley Primary School, and meetings and conversations with community groups, government agencies and referral authorities.

A ‘What We Heard paper’ was released in April 2019, summarising feedback from the community and stakeholders.

The Shine Harcourt Leanganook consultation process has also informed the preparation of the draft Plan Harcourt, including the Shine Harcourt Ideas-a-thon and the Ideas Lab.

The draft Plan Harcourt was released for public consultation in November 2019. Two community drop-in sessions were held in Harcourt in November and December 2019, and the project team was also available to talk about the plan at the Harcourt Twilight Market in November 2019.

What's next?

The Strategic Planning team is currently reviewing all submissions to the draft Plan Harcourt and considering whether changes should be made to the proposed new policy and/or the framework plan (graphical plan).

Following this, a final Plan Harcourt will be presented to Council for adoption, and an amendment will be prepared to integrate the new policy and framework plan into the planning scheme. A formal public exhibition process will occur separately when a planning scheme amendment has been prepared.