In summary:
- Shepparton North Activity Centre (SNAC) to become a fully functional activity centre with clear development guidelines for with retail areas planned.
- Plan addresses issues like car dependency and lack of diverse land uses.
- Improved planning, development, and connectivity expected for the area.
- Landowners and developers will have a clearer direction.
In recent years, Shepparton North has grown beyond its role as an outlying fringe activity centre. However, due to a lack of guidance about the role of Shepparton north and clarity around the application of appropriate zones, the growth of the area has suffered.
An Issues, Opportunities and Emerging Challenges Paper was prepared to guide the development of the Structure Plan, with several issues identified including a lack of diversity for existing land uses, competition between sites for designation as the preferred location of future supermarkets, and increasing car dependency and diminished pedestrian and residential amenity.
The Structure Plan, adopted by Council in March 2023, proposed the creation of a Shepparton North Activity Centre (SNAC) with two retail nodes between Ford Road and Hawkins Street.
The SNAC is an irregularly shaped precinct located on the east and west side of the Numurkah Road/Goulburn Valley Highway. The land includes the Shepparton Sports and Events Centre to the west and includes extensions along the Numurkah Road/Goulburn Valley Highway, north of Wanganui Road and south of Hawkins Street.
Implementation of the Structure Plan will result in improved planning outcomes and community benefit. It acts as a guiding document to support Shepparton north’s future growth, and redevelopment of the existing under-developed and disconnected groups of land uses to become an integrated activity centre with co-ordination and connectivity between sites.
The Amendment to implement the structure plan was placed on exhibition from 14 November until 14 December 2023, with a total of 17 submissions received. As not all submissions could be resolved, Council officers requested the Minister for Planning to appoint an independent planning panel which was held over several days.
The Panel found that the Structure Plan is bold and visionary in guiding the development and redevelopment of the Shepparton north area for the next 20 to 30 years. The Panel recommended that the Greater Shepparton Planning Scheme Amendment C245gshe be adopted as exhibited, subject to seven recommendations.
“At Tuesday’s meeting, Council considered the Panel report and resolved to submit the Amendment with changes to the Greater Shepparton Planning Scheme to the Minister for Planning for approval,” Mayor, Councillor Shane Sali said.
“The Amendment provides clear direction for development in Shepparton north and certainty to landowners and developers regarding areas suitable for development. It will also direct commercial development to provide a compact and vibrant activity centre which will service residents in the northern part of Shepparton.”
