Gaming, Licensed Venues and Student Accommodation

About Amendment C157

Status

On 14 January 2016 the Minister for Planning gazetted Amendment C157 to the Moreland Planning Scheme, which introduced three new local planning policies.

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The approved policies are:

Overview

Amendment C157 introduced three new local planning policies into the Moreland Planning Scheme for:

Licensed Premises and Entertainment Venues (clause 22.09)
Gaming (clause 22.10), and
Student Accommodation (clause 22.11).

The amendment seeks to provide clear guidance for Council, the community, business operators and the development industry, when assessing planning permit applications, as to the appropriate locations, operating hours and internal and off-site amenity impacts of these uses, within the City of Merri-bek.

The Amendment:

Introduces a Local Planning Policy for Entertainment Venues and Licensed Premises into the Moreland Planning Scheme at Clause 22.09. This Policy will guide planning decisions for places of assembly and food and drink premises in the City of Merri-bek. It provides guidance for the consideration of all applications for late night entertainment venues, new licensed premises, the expansion of the licensed area, and the extension of the trading hours of existing licensed premises.
Amends Municipal Strategic Statement at Clause at 21.03-1.1 Implementation to introduce a new dot point to make reference to the use of Clause 22.09 when assessing any new or expanded Entertainment Venues or Licensed Premises.
Introduces a Local Planning Policy for Gaming into the Moreland Planning Scheme at Clause 22.10. This policy will guide planning decisions for the installation and use of a gaming machine or the use of the land for the purpose of gaming in the City of Merri-bek. It provides guidelines to assess the Social and Economic Impact of gaming machines.
Amends Municipal Strategic Statement at Clause at 21.03-3.1 Implementation to introduce a new dot point to make reference to the use of Clause 22.11 when assessing Student Accommodation proposals.
Introduces a Local Planning Policy for Student Accommodation into the Scheme at Clause 22.11. This Policy will guide planning decisions for student accommodation in the City of Merri-bek. It provides guidance for preferred location, internal amenity and the off-site amenity impacts of student housing.

Licensed Premises and Entertainment Venues Policy

The Policy is intended to provide guidance for the consideration of all applications for late night entertainment venues, new licensed premises, the expansion of a licensed area and the extension of the trading hours of existing licensed premises.

Licensed premises and late night entertainment venues can have important social and cultural benefits. Well managed premises can contribute positively to the activity and image of an area. However they have the potential to have detrimental impact on the amenity of the surrounding neighbourhood. The policy seeks to minimise adverse impacts of licensed premises.

The policy will assist in the consideration of the four license types that require planning permission under Clause 52.27 of the Moreland Planning Scheme and is intended to apply equally to applications to vary existing Liquor Licenses (hour/patron numbers) as to new applications.

Gaming Policy

The Policy is intended to ensure that the location, design and operation of venues with electronic gaming machines occur in a way that minimises harm to the community, while recognising that gaming is a legitimate business and recreational activity.

The Policy will provide guidance for the assessment of gaming venues through an understanding of the local context.

Enhancing Council’s planning control over the location of gaming machines within the municipality will provide a more transparent approach and address specific issues relating to:

Location
Vulnerability
Social and economic impact
Net community benefit
Convenience
Alternative entertainment
Operation
Design and layout, and
Amenity.

Receiving approval to operate gaming machines is a two part process. There is a planning approval process through the local government planning scheme, and a licensing approval process through the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation (VCGLR).

Merri-bek has 15 venues that provide a total of 765 Electronic Gaming Machines (EGMs). This equates to a density of 6.43 EGMs per 1000 adults. In comparison to Metropolitan Melbourne and the State average, Merri-bek’s average is marginally higher.

Student Accommodation Policy

The Policy seeks to provide direction for Council, the community and the development industry in considering applications for student accommodation. The policy provides guidance on preferred location, design, internal amenity and the off- site amenity impacts of student housing.

The Policy will encourage purpose-built student housing that is well designed, affordable and meets the practical requirements of students.

Further information about the amendment process

For further information relating to the approved amendment or the amendment process, contact Council's Strategic Planning Unit on 9240 2422 or email Strategic Planning.