An amended Development Plan (DP/2021/1/A) application was lodged with Council for 89 Ross Watt Road Gisborne on 31 October 2024.

The property is situated between the Rosslynne Reservoir and the Calder Freeway, north-west of the Gisborne town centre.

The original development plan for this site was approved at the direction of the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) on 19 July 2023.

Three applications for review have been made to VCAT for the subject site. These include:

  • DP/2021/1/A – seeking the amendment to an approved development plan. (VCAT number P325/2025)
  • PLN/2024/365 seeking approval for a staged subdivision of 383 lots, construction of dwellings on lots less than 300sqm, the removal of native vegetation and buildings and works within the Land Subject to Inundation Overlay. (VCAT number P323/2025)
  • PLN/2024/378 seek approval of a staged use and development of a residential village, display of business identification signs, removal of native vegetation and associated buildings and works. (VCAT number P324/2025)

The amendment to the approved development plan DP/2021/1/A is seeking the following:

  • A reduction of residential lots from approximately 768 to 641 lots (a reduction of 127 lots).
  • Inclusion of a residential village comprising an area of 8.998ha. This will provide an approximate yield of 220 dwellings, plus a manager’s residence and village facilities/clubhouse facilities.
  • Therefore, the overall dwelling outcomes over the whole development plan area will be approximately 861 dwellings (an increase of 93 dwellings).

There has also been a number of changes within the other supporting documents and plans to reflect the above changes.

As part of the Development Plan application proceeding (P325/2025), the Development Plan Overlay (Schedule 4) of the Macedon Ranges Planning Scheme states the following process requirement:

The development plan and any amendment to the plan must be publicly exhibited for a period of two weeks prior to approval. The responsible authority must take into account any comments received when considering the development plan or any amendment to the plan.

The amended documents can also be viewed in-person at Council’s Gisborne Administration Centre, 40 Robertson Street, Gisborne between the hours of 8.30am–5pm, Monday to Friday.

Council is preparing for a hearing on the proposed amended development plans before the Victorian Civil Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).

Accordingly, VCAT directed the applicant to give notice of the proposed Development Plan and the opportunity to make any comments by Tuesday 24 June 2025 by lodging a submission in relation to the Development Plan.

Regarding the related permit application proceedings (P323/2025 and P324/2025), Clause 43.04-3 of the Development Plan Overlay of the Macedon Ranges Planning Scheme states as follows:

If a development plan has been prepared to the satisfaction of the responsible authority, an application under any provision of this planning scheme is exempt from the notice requirements of section 52(1)(a), (b) and (d), the decision requirements of section 64(1), (2) and (3) and the review rights of section 82(1) of the Act.

The effect of that provision of the Development Plan Overlay is that the Planning Scheme provides an exemption from the giving of notice, and the rights of third parties to file an application for review in VCAT, in relation to the planning permit applications where a Development Plan has been approved for the Land.

Submissions closed on Tuesday 24 June 2025. If you have any questions, contact our Strategic Planning team via the contact details on this page.

Privacy statement

Macedon Ranges Shire Council (Council) is committed to protecting your privacy. Please note that your personal information will be used solely by Council for the primary purpose for which it was collected or a reasonably expected secondary purposes. Council may disclose your information to the applicant, and their representatives, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, neighbouring property owners and/or occupiers and any other parties who may have an interest in the application. If you have included any personal or identifying information about another person in your submission, please ensure you have their consent to provide their information to Council.

Council may make a copy of this submission available for any person to inspect free of charge during the VCAT hearing process. If you fail to provide this information to us, Council will be unable to advise you of any consultation or decision making forums or the decision regarding this matter, but you may access this information by contacting us. The person(s) making a submission understands that personal information provided is for the registration of their submission and the processing and assessment of a planning application. If you make a submission, Council must consider it unless you withdraw it. You can withdraw your submission by writing to Council and requesting it to be withdrawn.

The development plan will also be considered at an upcoming Council Meeting or Delegated Planning Committee to decide on the proposal and inform Council’s position at VCAT.

Council will take into account any comments received when considering the amendment to the development plan.

Council will provide regular updates on this matter via this web page.