Maldon Design Guidelines Review

The Maldon Design Guidelines are part of an incorporated document to the Mount Alexander Planning Scheme. The guidelines provide detailed design criteria for new development in Maldon covered by a Heritage Overlay, including the heritage precincts and the areas affected by the Significant Landscape Overlay Schedules 1 and 3.

The guidelines assist permit applicants (including property owners, architects, planners and builders) in preparing designs for new buildings or works or alterations to existing buildings. They also assists Council’s Statutory Planners and Heritage and Urban Design Officer/ Heritage Advisor in assessing planning applications in Maldon.

Over the past 18 months, Council has undertaken an extensive review of the guidelines in collaboration with urban and heritage advisors, and input from the Maldon Design Guidelines Project Advisory Group. This has led to an updated version of the Maldon Design Guidelines.

The Maldon Design Guidelines were originally prepared for the Shire of Maldon Planning Scheme in the 1970s and became an incorporated document in the new format Mount Alexander Planning Scheme in 1998/1999.

No comprehensive review of, or update to, the guidelines had occurred since they were originally prepared. Consequently, the current guidelines in the planning scheme are:
• Outdated in terms of contemporary heritage and planning policy and legislation.
• Contain errors, anomalies and ambiguities for example, repetitive content and contradictions.
• Have issues relating to prescriptive provisions, e.g. no context, objectives or principles to justify prescriptive provisions are provided.
• Are very poorly structured and therefore difficult to navigate.

The revision will bring the guidelines up-to-date in terms of heritage status, planning policy and legislation; remove errors, anomalies, and repetition; and add context to prescriptive provisions. They are consistent with current planning policy and legislation, while making them easier to use for residents, property owners, businesses, architects and builders.

Mount Alexander Shire Council adopted the final updated Maldon Design Guidelines at the Ordinary Meeting of Council on 15 September 2020.

Maldon Design Guidelines (2020) (Adopted by Council)

The updated draft Maldon Design Guidelines were released for public consultation in February 2020, along with a background paper. Over a six week consultation period, Council’s Strategic Planning team undertook a range of community activities to inform and engage the Maldon community in discussions about the draft guidelines. This included two drop in sessions in Maldon, a survey, three guided walks through Maldon’s town centre with Council’s heritage advisor, and meetings and conversations with community groups, government agencies and referral authorities.

In addition to survey responses, Council received a number of written submissions from individuals including Maldon residents, business owners and historians, and design and heritage professionals and the National Trust. Feedback on the updated draft guidelines was also provided by the community at two community drop-in sessions in Maldon.

The Strategic Planning unit has considered and analysed the details of this feedback and key changes were made to the updated guidelines as a result.

A project bulletin (August 2020) is now available that includes details on the key considerations for the final guidelines and other significant feedback.

Project bulletin: Update on Maldon Design Guidelines Review (August 2020)

Council will now seek authorisation from the Minister for Planning to prepare an amendment to incorporate the updated guidelines in the planning scheme (replacing the current guidelines). A formal public exhibition will form part of the planning scheme amendment process.

For further information, please contact Council’s Strategic Planning team on (03) 5471 1700 or email info@mountalexander.vic.gov.au.

Maldon Design Guidelines (2020) (Adopted by Council)
Project bulletin: Update on Maldon Design Guidelines Review (August 2020)
Maldon Design Guidelines – current (PDF, 0.6MB)
Draft Maldon Design Guidelines – proposed revision (PDF, 18.4MB)
Maldon Design Guidelines Background Paper (PDF, 2.4MB)