On 14 November 2024, the Minister for Planning gazetted Amendment C174 to the Banyule Planning Scheme, which gives the Minister the power to approve any plans about the future residential development at 421 Upper Heidelberg Road, Ivanhoe.
This change does not affect plans for the proposed park at 12 Forster Street, Ivanhoe (next to the development site). Council still manages and will approve plans for the park.
The property is currently owned by Development Victoria and was once the location of the old Ivanhoe water tank.
Development Victoria is planning a significant residential project on this site, based on rules set out in Schedule 7 of the Development Plan Overlay (DPO7). These rules guide how the development should look and function.
Until recently, Banyule Council had the responsibility to approve these plans, including reviewing and approving on 15 July 2024 a draft development plan for the site, with some conditions. Details of this meeting are available here.
Amendment C174 allows the Minister for Planning to take over as the decision-maker for this development. The Minister has the legal ability to make this change, which involves modifying the planning rules.
If you’d like to learn more, you can:
If you have any questions, contact the Council’s Strategic Planning Team (visit “Contact Us” on this page).
Drawings of the proposed development and feedback received during Stage 1 and Stage 2 Community Engagement can be found below.
From 8 April to 10 May 2024 we asked the community for their feedback on the draft Plans for redevelopment of the Ivanhoe Water Tank site, including:
49 people provided feedback through an online survey and further feedback was received from in-person community information sessions conducted on site.
On reviewing your feedback, a report to Council considered the following:
Council’s resolution on considering feedback to the draft plans is provided above.
For further details, view a summary of written responses to the Plans for the Ivanhoe Water Tank site (Item 6.2, page 118 - 162)
From 17 July to 7 August 2023 we asked the community about preferred design elements of the new playground. 150 people provided feedback through an online survey and two community pop-up sessions.
View the full consultation report or take a look below at a summary of what we heard below.
All park feature options, in the predetermined list, were appropriate for a local park.
A number of community requests have not been provided
due to the limited size and slope of the park and potential adverse impacts on adjacent residential properties.
View the draft Council park key ideas.
31% of participants requested a small shelter
The park design allows for significant areas of indigenous garden bed plantings as well as substantial taller trees. This excellent canopy of trees will provide shade during the summer and help to reduce the urban heat island effect.
Shading should also be provided in the form of an awning or portico projecting from the residential building. This is to provide weather protection and an appropriate transition between the built form and the park.
17% of participants requested a half court
There has been a focus on the central lawn as a flexible activity space that can accommodate a wide variety of activities. A half court has not been included due to potential conflicts (e.g. excessive noise) that may adversely impact adjacent residential properties (including the development).
15% of participants requested irrigated open grassed area
The design has focused on the central lawn as a permeable, green and flexible activity space that can accommodate a wide variety of activities while avoiding excessive amounts of hard pavement. The intension is to provide enough ‘flexible’ open grassed areas and to not ‘fill’ the park with too many elements.
65% of participants strongly supported nature play elements
The provision of substantial areas of garden bed allows for the integration of nature based play opportunities within the overall park design, including rock stepping stones, tree logs for climbing and planting that can provide materials for play.
The Ivanhoe Water Tank Site is located near the Austin Hospital, on the corner of Bell Street and Upper Heidelberg Road. The existing water tank has not been in use since 2004.
The Site will be redeveloped by Development Victoria, the Victorian Government's property developer, to provide a residential development and a new Council park.
Subject to Amendment C174, which was gazetted on 14 November 2024, the Minister for Planning now has the role of approving plans for the proposed residential development at 421 Upper Heidelberg Road. The Amendment does not alter Council’s role of approving plans for the proposed Council park at 12 Forster Street.
Approximately 2,000 square meters of the former water tank site has been set aside for the new Council Park. Development Victoria is working with Council, Traditional Owners and the community to bring the park to life.
With the existing playground nearing the end of its life, a unique opportunity exists to design a new park which meets the community’s needs and provides ease of access and connectivity – one of Council’s key open space goals.
The current park sits between Forster Street and Upper Heidelberg Road, Ivanhoe. It contains a small playground that is well used by local families. This park is classified as a local park, as outlined in the open space classifications of our Public Open Space Plan 2016 - 2031.
Local Parks are usually small playgrounds designed to cater for residents living within 400 metres. These playgrounds include one to two items of play equipment for a limited number of age groups. Local Parks are usually only used by residents from nearby streets who would normally access the park by foot or bike.
A concept plan for the park has been developed and approved after considering feedback from two rounds of community engagement.
The remainder of the Ivanhoe Water Tank site will be used to deliver a residential development.
A planning provision was placed in the Banyule Planning Scheme by the State Government in 2018, which guides planning for the residential development including but not limited to:
This provision is Schedule 7 to the Development Plan Overlay (DPO7).
On 14 November 2024, the Minister for Planning gazetted Amendment C174 to the Banyule Planning Scheme, which provides the Minister with full decision make authority to approve any plans required by the planning scheme for the future residential development (see the top of the website for more details).
Our community is made up of diverse cultures, beliefs, abilities, bodies, sexualities, ages and genders. We are committed to access, equity, participation and rights for everyone: principles which empower, foster harmony and increase the wellbeing of an inclusive community.
Banyule City Council is proud to acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people as traditional custodians of the land and we pay respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders, past, present and emerging, who have resided in the area and have been an integral part of the region’s history.
