Heritage is what we inherit, appreciate today, and think is important to protect for the benefit of future generations. Heritage can include buildings, archaeological remains, gardens, streetscapes, and landscapes. Our heritage tells our unique story, reflects our community identity, and connects current and future generations to the past.

Council has a legal obligation to conserve and enhance buildings, areas or other places which are of scientific, aesthetic, architectural or historical interest, or otherwise of special cultural value.

We also know that the Wyndham community values our heritage, as reflected in Wyndham’s 2050 Community Vision, which says ”We value and celebrate the First Nations people and take pride in our arts, culture and heritage.”

The Wyndham Heritage Review is an important opportunity to protect places of local heritage significance in the face of unprecedented growth, to strengthen the City’s unique character, and to celebrate the history of Wyndham with our community.We respect, acknowledge, value and celebrate the First Nations People, our heritage, cultural diversity, and multicultural strengths.—Wyndham 2040 Community Vision

The Wyndham Heritage Review is an important opportunity to protect places of local heritage significance in the face of unprecedented growth, to strengthen the City’s unique character, and to celebrate the history of Wyndham with our community.

In 2019, Council commenced the Wyndham Heritage Review with the purpose of reviewing unprotected heritage places in the municipality.

The Wyndham Heritage Review will help Council identify and protect Wyndham’s heritage places and help us better understand our history. The project is being undertaken in stages.

Stage 1 (2019-21) was a gap study to identify and review places and precincts of potential heritage significance.

Stage 2 (2023-24) included a detailed study and documentation of residential heritage places and precincts. The Wyndham Heritage Review, Stage 2: Residential Places and Precincts is the first of several proposed Stage 2 studies looking at different types of heritage across Wyndham.

We are now working to protect residential places and precincts of confirmed significance through a planning scheme amendment to the Wyndham Planning Scheme.

In July 2022, Council engaged Lovell Chen heritage consultants to carry out the Wyndham Heritage Review, Stage 2: Residential Places and Precincts. This study has looked at the residential places and precincts identified in the Wyndham Heritage Review Stage 1 Gap Study, and additional properties nominated by the community during consultation, to confirm if they have heritage significance and whether they should be protected by applying planning controls (the Heritage Overlay).

The heritage consultant has carried out historical research and street surveys to confirm the age, intactness and significance of potential heritage places and precincts, and whether the place or precinct should be protected.

Following a process of community engagement, the Wyndham Heritage Review, Stage 2: Residential Places and Precincts was adopted by Council on 25 June 2024.

The Heritage Overlay is one of many different planning controls that can be applied to land to regulate development, and is a planning tool used by Council to protect places of local heritage significance. The Heritage Overlay is found at Clause 43.01 of the Wyndham Planning Scheme. It can be applied to precincts or individual buildings, land, gardens, trees or other items which are of heritage significance.

The Heritage Overlay ensures that heritage places are protected, and ensures that new development considers the significance of the heritage place.

The Schedule to the Heritage Overlay is a list of places covered by a Heritage Overlay, including requirements for specific places or items. The overlay maps show the area or sites to which the Heritage Overlay applies. The Heritage Overlay also includes a set of Decision Guidelines that need to be considered in planning permit applications.

If your property is covered by a Heritage Overlay, you may need to apply to Council for a planning permit to renovate or develop the property. Heritage controls don’t prohibit development, subdivision or demolition. They just mean you need to apply for a planning permit, so the impact on the site’s heritage values can be properly assessed.

If a place or area is included in a Heritage Overlay, a Statement of Significance detailing what is important will also be included in the Planning Scheme. This provides guidance about what needs to be considered.

A planning permit is required for various types of development including but not limited to:

• Subdivide land
• Demolish or remove a building
• Construct a building or construct or carry out works including: domestic services, a fence, domestic swimming pool or spa, pergola or verandah
• Construct or display a sign
• Externally paint an unpainted surface
• Remove, destroy or lop a tree if tree controls apply to the heritage place
• Carry out works, repairs and routine maintenance that doesn’t changes the appearance of the heritage place or are of the same details, specifications and materials

A planning permit is not required for:

• General maintenance and repairs to a heritage place
• Provision of services such as water tanks, air conditioning units or other dwelling services which are not visible from the street
• Repainting or repairing a building in the same materials and colours

Internal alterations of buildings

Paint controls can be applied to a place in the Heritage Overlay when the external painting of a building may impact on the heritage significance of that place. A permit is required to paint a building identified in the Schedule to the Heritage Overlay as a building where paint controls apply. A permit is also required to externally paint an unpainted surface.

Fence and outbuilding controls may be applied to a heritage place if the fence and/or outbuildings contribute to the significance of the place. A permit is required to demolish or carry out works that change the appearance of a fence or outbuilding identified in the Schedule to the Heritage Overlay as a place where fence and outbuilding controls apply.

A heritage precinct is an area which has been identified as having heritage value. Places that are in Heritage Overlay precincts can be graded either Significant, Contributory or Non-Contributory.

Significant heritage places are individually important places of heritage significance.

Contributory buildings contribute to the significance of the heritage precinct that they are located in. They are not individually significant places, however, when combined with other significant and/or contributory heritage places, they are important in showing the heritage significance of a precinct.

Non-Contributory places in a heritage precinct are places that don’t have heritage significance. They are included in the Heritage Overlay because any development of that place might impact on the heritage significance of the precinct or neighbouring Significant or Contributory heritage places. Landowners may be able to remove, alter or develop non-contributory elements or places, however a permit is still required under the Heritage Overlay to allow Council to consider impacts on the heritage values of the precinct.

Design guidelines have been prepared for the proposed Beamish and Gibbons Streets Residential Precinct to assist landowners with development within the proposed precinct.

The Wyndham Heritage Review, Stage 2: Residential Places and Precincts included a review of Wyndham’s Thematic Environmental History, which sets out the key themes that have influenced the municipality’s historical development. The document, drafted as part of the Stage 1 Gap Study, has been updated to incorporate further historical research on housing and residential heritage themes

In August 2022, Council reached out to the community through letters to landowners, print and social media, and The Loop, and invited residents to provide feedback on places identified in the Stage 1 Gap Study. This information was considered by the consultant and included where relevant.

From December 2023 to February 2024, we sought feedback from landowners and the community on the draft Stage 2 recommendations. This feedback was considered by the consultant and incorporated into the final recommendations considered and adopted by Council in June 2024.

We are now seeking the community’s feedback on the implementation of the adopted recommendations through Planning Scheme Amendment C270wynd.

You can make a submission via the details below. Your submission should state your reasons for supporting or opposing Planning Scheme Amendment C270wynd, and what changes (if any) you want to make.

• Email: Heritage.Review@wyndham.vic.gov.au
• The Loop engagement page: https://theloop.wyndham.vic.gov.au/heritage-review
• Mail: Heritage Unit, Wyndham City Council, PO Box 197, Werribee VIC 3030

Following the exhibition period from 2 October to 2 November, Council will consider submissions at a Council meeting and decide whether to make any changes in response to the issues raised in submissions. If there are unresolved issues, Council will decide whether to refer the amendment to an independent Planning Panel for review.

An independent Planning Panel can be appointed by the Minister for Planning to consider all submissions received. Submitters are invited to speak at the Planning Panel. The Panel will issue a report making recommendations on the amendment.

Council considers the panel report at a Council meeting and can decide whether to adopt the amendment as exhibited, adopt the amendment with changes or abandon the amendment. If Council adopts the amendment, it is submitted to the Minister for Planning for consideration of approval.

The amendment takes effect once notice of approval is published in the Victorian Government gazette.

The recommendations for the Campbells Cove and Baileys Beach Boatshed Precinct are subject to further work and will be presented to Council at a later date.

Council has decided to explore alternative approaches to recognising the heritage values of Werribee South, in line with the recommendations outlined in Volume 4 of the Wyndham Heritage Review, Stage 2: Residential Places and Precincts adopted by Council in June 2024. This recognises the unique identity of Werribee South agricultural area, and its complex and dynamic heritage values including its rich social history. This work will be undertaken in consultation with the community.

Aboriginal cultural heritage is protected under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006. As part of the Wyndham Heritage Review, we are also undertaking consultation with Wyndham’s Registered Aboriginal Parties, including the Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation and the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation, to acknowledge and manage places of Aboriginal cultural heritage significance.