Aurora - Part 2 - City of Whittlesea

5.3.4 Habitat Links 385.3.5 Minimising Impacts on Flora and Fauna 385.4 Cultural Heritage Conservation 415.4.1 Objectives 415.4.2 Compliance with Cultural Heritage Legislation and Policy 415.4.3 Minimising Impacts on Places of Cultural Heritage Signifi cance 415.5 Open Space and Recreation 435.5.1 Objectives 435.5.2 Public Open Space - Active / Structured Recreation 435.5.3 Public Open Space - Passive / Unstructured Recreation 455.5.4 Public Open Space - Conservation 455.5.5 Public Open Space Links 475.5.6 Public Open Space Design and Planting 475.6 Community Planning 495.6.1 Objectives and Community Development Strategy 495.6.2 Education 495.6.3 Community Activity Centres 495.6.4 Other Community / Commercial Facilities 495.6.4 Public Art 495.6.5 Fibre to the Home Technology 495.6.6 Community Intranet 495.7 Retail and Commercial 505.7.1 Objectives 505.7.2 Retail and Commercial Facilities 505.8 Transportation System 535.8.1 Objectives 535.8.2 Future Vehicle Traffi c Volumes 535.8.3 Public Transport 545.8.4 Arterial Street Design 555.8.5 Other Street Design 595.8.6 Arterial Street Intersection Management 63

5.8.7 Other Street Intersection Management 655.8.8 Non-Motorised Transport 655.9 Engineering Infrastructure 665.9.1 Objectives 665.9.2 General Engineering Infrastructure Response 665.9.3 Water Supply 665.9.4 Drainage 675.9.5 Sewerage 685.9.6 Other Services 695.10 Linkages and Compatibility with Adjoining Properties 705.10.1 Objectives 705.10.2 Aurora Development Plan: Part 1 705.10.3 Other Adjoining Properties 706 DEVELOPMENT CONTRIBUTIONS 717 IMPLEMENTATION 727.1 Proposed Development Staging 727.2 Clauses 54 and 55 and Building Regulations 737.3 Development Approvals Process 737.4 Design Controls 737.5 Dwelling Delivery Methods 73APPENDIX A AURORA DEVELOPMENT PLAN: PART 2APPENDIX B REFERENCESAPPENDIX C PROJECT TEAMAPPENDIX D ENQUIRIES

1 INTRODUCTION1.1 DEVELOPMENT PLAN1.2 AURORA AND AURORA DEVELOPMENT PLANA Development Plan (DP) is a report and enclosed DP map that providesa general outline of the way land is intended to be developed.The DP designates proposed housing areas and other main landuses, the neighbourhood connector and arterial street network andthe location of community facilities, for a comprehensively planneddevelopment of land.The DP forms the framework for more detailed planning at thesubdivision plan and permit application plan stages. The detail mayvary or ‘fi ne-tune’ the DP provided it does not change its general intent(except to the satisfaction of the responsible authority).Objectives for the development of the land and guidelines relating tothe provision of infrastructure, facilities, services and other matters mayform important parts of the DP.The area north of Epping in the City of Whittlesea (Whittlesea) hasbeen known for some time as Epping North. In the past, a constraint tothe development of Epping North has been the availability and capacityof infrastructure services and the cost of overcoming these servicingconstraints. An associated constraint has been the fragmented landownership, which has made it more diffi cult to plan for and implementthe necessary coordinated approach to overcoming the identifi edconstraints.Whittlesea representatives have acknowledged over time that thesolution would lie with a larger developer becoming involved in EppingNorth and thus having the capability of coordinating the planning anddevelopment of the area.In 2001 and 2002, VicUrban determined to put in place arrangementsto become the developer of a signifi cant (in area and focal location)portion of Epping North. These arrangements have now resulted inVicUrban controlling a large part of the land, known as Aurora.Aurora is approximately 20 kilometres north of the Melbourne centralactivities district and consists of about 630 hectares of land borderedby Craigieburn Road East to the north, O’Herns Road to the southand the Hume Highway (Craigieburn Bypass) to the west. The eastboundary follows existing property titles and is not marked by physicalfeatures of note.Metropolitan Context|1 AURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007

Aurora is approximately 1.5 kilometres north west of existing urbandevelopment in Epping and 3 kilometres from Epping railway station.Aurora is bounded generally by rural properties, several of whichhave had development plans prepared to facilitate the residentialdevelopment of the land. The land south of O’Herns Road is identifi edas the Cooper Street Employment Area. The Craigieburn Grasslandsand Merri Creek are approximately 2 kilometres west of the CraigieburnBypass.The Aurora Development Plan: Part 2 (ADP2) relates to the western592 hectares of Aurora (the subject land). The development of theeastern 37 hectares of Aurora is described in the Aurora DevelopmentPlan: Part 1 (Edition 5, September 2003) (ADP1), which was endorsedby Whittlesea on 19 September 2003.1.3 VICURBAN AND AURORAADP2 has been prepared by VicUrban as the intended developer ofthe majority of the subject land.The functions of VicUrban are to deliver sustainable urbandevelopment, contribute to improving housing affordability, createprosperous communities and promote excellence in design.VicUrban has extensive experience in urban development, rangingfrom comprehensively planned outer suburban estates to complexredevelopments in the established urban area. In its 30 years,VicUrban has developed and sold over 35,000 residential lots.Aurora aims to raise the benchmark within the property developmentindustry by demonstrating new and innovative ways to manage ourfi nite resources. Aurora will be a pioneer in the reuse of water andenergy effi ciency. VicUrban aims through demonstration to encourageprivate industry to replicate its sustainable practices.Regional ContextLike sustainability, Aurora will evolve over time. The goal of Aurora isto push continuously toward more sustainable land, community andbuilt form outcomes. The initiatives that Aurora implements today willcontinue to evolve and change over time as new technology allowsVicUrban to improve its practices. VicUrban is confi dent that Aurorawill be a model development for the future, both now and through itslife.AURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007 2|

2 SITE CONTEXT AND ANALYSIS2.1 PLANNING POLICY AND STATUTORYCONTROLS2.1.1 State Planning Policy Frameworkfor residential, commercial, industrial, recreational,institutional and other public uses” (Clause 14.01 Planningfor urban settlement).• “To facilitate the orderly development of urban areas”(Clause 14.01).• “To assist the protection and, where possible, restorationof catchments, waterways, water bodies, groundwater,effi ciency).• “To promote the provision of renewable energy, includingwind energy facilities, in a manner that ensures appropriatesiting and design considerations are met” (Clause 15.14Renewable energy).• “To encourage:° Subdivisions in locations with access to• “To integrate land use and transport planning aroundexisting and planned declared highways, railways,principal bus routes and tram lines” (Clause 18.01Declared highways, railways and tramways).• “To ensure access is provided to developments inaccordance with forecast demand taking advantage ofall available modes of transport and to minimise impactThe State Planning Policy Framework (SPPF) of the WhittleseaPlanning Scheme (the Scheme) “provides a context for spatial planningand decision making by planning and responsible authorities” (Clause11.01). The SPPF “seeks to ensure that the objectives of planningin Victoria (as set out in Section 4 of the Planning and EnvironmentAct 1987) are fostered through appropriate land use and developmentplanning policies and practices which integrate relevant environmental,social and economic factors in the interests of net community benefi tand sustainable development “ (Clause 11.02).The SPPF contains a number of policies that are relevant to Aurora.The most relevant of the policy objectives are as follows.• “To locate metropolitan growth close to transportcorridors and services and provide effi cient and effectiveinfrastructure to create benefi ts for sustainability whileprotecting primary production, major sources of rawmaterials and valued environmental areas” (Clause 12.02Better management of metropolitan growth).• “To create a strong and innovative economy” (Clause12.04 A more prosperous city).• “To create urban environments that are of better quality,safer and more functional, provide more open space andan easily recognisable sense of place and cultural identity”(Clause 12.05 A great place to be).• “To provide fairer access to and distribution of social andcultural infrastructure” (Clause 12.06 A fairer city).• “To minimise impacts on the environment to create asustainable path for future growth and development “(Clause 12.07 A greener city).• “To create a more sustainable transport system byintegrating land-use and transport “ (Clause 12.08 Bettertransport links).• “To ensure a suffi cient supply of land is availableand the marine environment “ (Clause 15.01 Protection ofcatchments, waterways and groundwater).• “To assist the protection of:° Life, property and community infrastructurefrom fl ood hazard.° The natural fl ood carrying capacity of rivers,streams and fl oodways.° The fl ood storage function of fl oodplains andwaterways.° Floodplain areas of environmentalsignifi cance” (Clause 15.02 Floodplainmanagement).• “To assist the control of noise effects on sensitive landuses” (Clause 15.05 Noise abatement).• “To assist the protection and conservation of biodiversity,including native vegetation retention and provision ofhabitats for native plants and animals and control of pestplants and animals” (Clause 15.09 Conservation of nativefl ora and fauna).• “To assist creation of a diverse and integrated networkof public open space commensurate with the needs ofurban communities and rural areas” (Clause 15.10 Openspace).• “To assist the conservation of places that have natural,environmental, aesthetic, historic, cultural, scientifi cor social signifi cance or other special value importantfor scientifi c and research purposes, as a means ofunderstanding our past, as well as maintaining andenhancing Victoria’s image and making a contribution tothe economic and cultural growth of the State” (Clause15.11 Heritage).• “To encourage land use and development that is consistentwith the effi cient use of energy and the minimisationof greenhouse gas emissions” (Clause 15.12 Energyphysical and community infrastructure andproviding a range of lot sizes, a convenientand safe road network, appropriatepedestrian and cycle paths, suffi cient useablepublic open space and low vulnerability tofi re.° Residential development that is cost-effectivein infrastructure provision and use, energyeffi cient, incorporates water-sensitive designprinciples and encourages public transportuse.° Opportunities for increased residentialdensities to help consolidate urban areas”(Clause 16.01 Residential development forsingle dwellings).• “To encourage the development of well-designed mediumdensityhousing which:° Respects the neighbourhood character.° Improves housing choice.° Makes better use of existing infrastructure.° Improves energy effi ciency of housing”(Clause 16.02 Medium density housing).• “To encourage the concentration of major retail,commercial, administrative, entertainment and culturaldevelopments into activity centres (including stripshopping centres) which provide a variety of land usesand are highly accessible to the community” (Clause17.01 Activity centres).• “To encourage developments which meet community’sneeds for retail, entertainment, offi ce and othercommercial services and provide net community benefi tin relation to accessibility, effi cient infrastructure use andthe aggregation and sustainability of commercial facilities”(Clause 17.02 Business).on existing transport networks and the amenity ofsurrounding areas” (Clause 18.02 Car parking and publictransport access to development).• “To integrate planning for bicycle travel with land useand development planning and encourage cycling asan alternative mode of travel” (Clause 18.03 Bicycletransport).• “To assist the integration of education facilities with localand regional communities” (Clause 18.07 Educationfacilities).• “To plan for the provision of water supply, sewerage anddrainage services that effi ciently and effectively meetState and community needs and protect the environment“ (Clause 18.09 Water supply, sewerage and drainage).• “To facilitate the timely provision of planned infrastructure tocommunities through the preparation and implementationof development contributions plans” (Clause 18.12Developer contributions to infrastructure).• “To recognise the importance of telecommunications toall aspect of modern life and the essential and benefi cialcontribution of modern telecommunications facilities tolocal communities and the State and national economy”(Clause 18.13 Telecommunications).• “To achieve high quality urban design and architecturethat:° Refl ects the particular characteristics,aspirations and cultural identify of thecommunity.° Enhances liveability, diversity, amenity andsafety of the public realm.° Promotes attractiveness of towns and citieswithin broader strategic contexts” (Clause19.03 Design and built form).|3 AURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007

Aurora facilitates the implementation of the above policy objectives asto construct a building or construct or carry out works andcatchments of the public transport stations / interchangesrainwater tank for each dwelling, and signifi cant dwelling diversity andfollows.to subdivide land in DDO2. Any development in DDO2to maximise the dwelling density within the catchments todensities” (page 26, draft Implementation Plan 2: Growth Areas).which is associated with a specifi ed use, including asupport public transport. All of the education centres are• Aurora is within generally the Urban Growth Boundary,dwelling, must include noise attenuation measures to thelocated on the principle walking and cycling network andAurora responds as follows to the specifi c features described inis designated as ‘Future urban’ within the Plenty Valley-satisfaction of the Roads Corporation.adjacent to public open space.Melbourne 2030.Epping North growth area, is identifi ed as ‘Residential -• A fl ora and fauna survey of the subject land has been• All services, including water supply, sewerage, drainage,Future’ in the Municipal Framework Plan and forms part ofcompleted and Aurora has been designed to protect thegas, electricity and telecommunications (including fi bre to• ADP2 incorporates a public transport corridor with athe identifi ed urban development area in the Epping Northsites of greatest ecological value.the home), will be provided to all dwellings at Aurora inproposed station / interchange adjacent to each primaryStrategic Plan (ENSP). ADP2 is the relevant structure• The Aurora open space system protects and enhancesthe manner that is the most economically sustainable andactivity centre. The creation of Aurora as a public transportplan that will facilitate the orderly development of thenatural and cultural features within a series of highlyminimises the impact on the environment.oriented development will be enhanced signifi cantly by thesubject land.accessible and connected open spaces that provide a• VicUrban will continue to work with Whittlesea to developprovision of a rail connection to the suburban passenger• Aurora is opposite the Cooper Street Employment Areadiverse range of recreation opportunities.appropriate development contributions for the provision ofrail network.(on the south side of O’Herns Road). The population of• The Aboriginal and European histories of the subject landphysical and social infrastructure at Aurora and Epping• A minimum six-star energy rating is prescribed for eachAurora creates a potential local labour source to supporthave been investigated and Aurora has been designedNorth.new dwelling at Aurora.this Area.to conserve and retain as much of the evidence of both• All built form at Aurora will express a contemporary• Aurora has been designed to treat sewage locally to• The dwelling density at Aurora will be signifi cantly higherhistories as practicable.aesthetic and aspects of sustainable building design willtertiary standard and to reticulate the recycled water backthan ‘conventional’ subdivisions in growth areas to• The orientation of the Aurora street network and the lotsbecome an integral part of the architecture. VicUrbanto lots for toilet fl ushing and private and public open spacefacilitate opportunities for high quality and sustainablewill maximise the potential for energy effi cient buildings.proposes a number of processes to ensure high quality inirrigation.public transport. Aurora incorporates a public transportA six-star energy rating is a compulsory requirement forthe built form.• Rainwater tanks for capture of roof water for hot water,corridor with a proposed station / interchange adjacenteach new dwelling at Aurora.bathroom and laundry uses are expected to be utilised atto each primary activity centre. ADP2 envisages higher• ADP2 anticipates a typical lot size mix ranging from 180 toSections 2.2 to 7 provide a comprehensive explanation of the responseAurora.density, mixed uses surrounding the two primary activity650 square metres, which will encourage a diverse rangeof Aurora to the key policy objectives of the SPPF.• ADP2 anticipates a typical lot size mix ranging from 180centres.of housing options.to 650 square metres to encourage a range of housing• The Scheme includes Edgars Creek, which traverses• Aurora incorporates two primary activity centres providingoptions.Aurora, in the Floodway Overlay (RFO). A planning permitis generally required to construct a building or constructor carry out works and to subdivide land in a RFO. Aa wide range of retail, commercial, community andresidential opportunities. Each primary activity centre islocated adjacent to a public transport station / interchange,2.1.2 Melbourne 2030 - planning for sustainablegrowth2.1.3 Municipal Strategic Statementplanning permit application is required generally to bereferred to the relevant fl oodplain management authority.• ADP2 retains Edgars Creek within a buffer area 15 metreswide on either side of the Creek and proposes to improveits habitat quality through revegetation, weed control andwetland creation designed to be suitable for the GrowlingGrass Frog, native fi sh and other aquatic species. Adrainage management plan will also be developed tomanage the stormwater runoff from Aurora into EdgarsCreek.• The Scheme includes that part of Aurora within 150 metresof the east edge of the reservation of the CraigieburnBypass in Schedule 2 to the Design and DevelopmentOverlay (DDO2). A planning permit is generally requirednear the intersection of arterial streets and on the principlewalking and cycling network.• The arterial street network of Aurora is a loose grid thatprovides straightforward connections between the activitycentres, education centres and public open spaces withinand outside Aurora.• ADP2 envisages a broad mix of land uses in closeproximity to each other and to a high proportion of thedwellings, to facilitate walking and cycling betweenactivities.• The education centres shown on the ADP2 map havebeen confi rmed by the Department of Education andTraining and independent school providers. Thesecentres are located generally on the edge of the walkableMelbourne 2030 - planning for sustainable growth (Melbourne 2030)“is a 30-year plan to manage growth and change across metropolitanMelbourne and the surrounding region” (page 1).Melbourne 2030 includes Aurora within generally the Urban GrowthBoundary and designates it as ‘Future urban’ within the Plenty Valley-Epping North growth area, including a ‘Potential rail extension’, a‘Potential new rail station’ and a ‘Potential public transport orientedcentre’.Aurora is described specifi cally as providing “best practice design andintegrated community development. Features include a mandatoryfi ve-star energy rating for all dwellings, a pilot project for water reuse, aThe Whittlesea Municipal Strategic Statement (MSS) contained inClause 21 of the Scheme “encapsulates signifi cant planning policydirections for the municipality and in turn provides the strategic basisfor statutory land use controls” (Clause 21.01).The MSS describes the framework for growth area planning inWhittlesea, which, following on from Ministerial Directions and theMSS, includes strategic plans, local structure plans / incorporatedplans / incorporated documents, development plans and permitsfor subdivision. Whittlesea has prepared the ENSP which includesAurora. The Aurora Comprehensive Development Plan is anincorporated document in the Scheme while ADP2 combines the localstructure plan and DP for the subject land required by this framework.AURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007 4|

The vision of Whittlesea for the Municipality is summarised in twelvekey land use planning objectives and the Municipal Framework Plan,which identifi es the subject land as ‘Residential - Future’ with one‘Activity Centre’ on Harvest Home Road and another near O’HernsRoad.The key land use planning objective for Residential Growth Areas is “toplan for a diverse series of residential communities that have a uniqueidentity and sense of place, cater to all segments of the housing marketand respect and incorporate local environmental and cultural features”(Clause 21.06-1).Epping North is identifi ed specifi cally as a growth opportunity. Clause21.06-1 states that investigations “as to the suitability of urban growthoccurring within the Epping North area will continue with the possibilityof short to medium term growth occurring within the fi rst stage ofdevelopment subject to a comprehensive strategic planning process”.The preparation of this ADP2 is the fi nal step in the ‘comprehensivestrategic planning process’ required to demonstrate the suitability of thesubject land for residential development.Clause 21.06-1 summarises the development density, style ofdevelopment, capacity and intended housing market for the EppingNorth (west) growth opportunity as follows.• “Medium to high development density with a target densityacross the entire area of approximately 19 dwellings perhectare.• Comprehensive, permeable style of development whichemphasises; ‘walkability’, high quality and sustainablepublic transport, innovative and sustainable infrastructuresolutions, protection of sites of high ecological and heritagevalue, activity centres with a wide range of commercial,dwellings, close proximity to activity centres, communityfacilities and public open space and the provision of avariety of easily accessible modes of transport. Emphasiswill be placed on the provision of a mix of lot sizes toencourage a range of housing options”.Other relevant key land use planning objectives of the MSS are asfollows.• “To effectively manage urban growth in a manner thatmaximises benefi cial relationships between compatibleland uses and which avoids inappropriate incursions intonon-urban or environmentally sensitive areas” (Clause21.06-2 Managing Urban Growth).• “To promote the establishment of increased diversity andquality in housing provision to meet the needs of existingand future residents of the City of Whittlesea in a mannerwhich contributes positively to local character and senseof place” (Clause 21.06-3 Housing Provision).• “To create a better jobs / housing balance and achievegreater diversity in employment opportunities” (Clause21.06-4 Employment and Economic Development).• “To defi ne the role and extent of a series of activity centreswhich establish a focus for the provision of accessiblegoods and services, employment generation, communitymeeting places and associated land uses” (Clause 21.06-5 Activity Centres).• “To establish an effi cient, interconnected (multi modal)transportation system which increases the level ofaccessibility and choice within and beyond the City ofWhittlesea” (Clause 21.06-6 Transport and Accessibility).• “To actively pursue resolution of provision of key strategicitems of physical infrastructure for unserviced growthImage and Appearance).• “To identify, permanently preserve and promoteopportunities for the enhancement of local environmentalassets which are vital to the maintenance of ecologicalprocesses” (Clause 21.06-10 Environmental Assets).• “To plan for the comprehensive leisure and recreationneeds of existing and future residents and to support theestablishment of tourism enterprises that are compatiblewith the local environment and pattern of land uses”(Clause 21.06-11 Leisure, Recreation and Tourism).• “To increase the level of protection for and opportunitiesfor incorporation of the City’s European and Aboriginalheritage” (Clause 21.06-12 Heritage and Culture).In general, Aurora responds as follows to the key land use planningobjectives of the MSS.• The net dwelling density (around 19 dwellings perhectare) at Aurora will be higher than that identifi ed for theEpping North (east) growth opportunity and ‘conventional’subdivisions in the outer areas of Melbourne in order tofacilitate opportunities for high quality and sustainablepublic transport. It is also intended to provide alternativehousing options such as apartment-style dwellings at adenser level, as well as a small number of larger lots.• The style of development and capacity of Aurora is inaccordance generally with that outlined for the EppingNorth (west) growth opportunity.• The provision of a range of lot sizes at Aurora willencourage a variety of housing options to attract a mixtureof fi rst, second and third home buyers.• Aurora will contribute to the protection of the non-urbanand environmentally sensitive areas of Whittlesea as it is• The two primary activity centres of Aurora are locatedappropriately to attract a signifi cant proportion of theundistributed retail fl oorspace in Whittlesea, as they areadjacent to the public transport stations / interchanges,near the geographic centre of Epping North (northernprimary activity centre) and opposite the Cooper StreetEmployment Area (southern primary activity centre).• ADP2 incorporates a public transport corridor with twonew stations / interchanges and an interconnected streetnetwork that allows for alternative modes of transportincluding convenient bus and car travel, walking andcycling.• VicUrban will continue to work with Whittlesea to agree onappropriate development contributions for the provision ofphysical and social infrastructure at Aurora and EppingNorth.• Existing landscape character elements of the subject landwill be an integral part of the landscape design of Aurorato aid the development of a local sense of place.• A fl ora and fauna survey of the subject land has beencompleted and Aurora has been designed to protect thesites of greatest ecological value. The highest qualityexamples of Plains Grassy Woodland and stony rises areprotected in conservation areas.• The Aurora open space system protects and enhancesnatural and cultural features within a series of highlyaccessible open spaces that provide a diverse rangeof recreation opportunities for both passive and activerecreation.• The Aboriginal and European histories of the subject landhave been investigated and Aurora has been designedto conserve and retain as much of the evidence of bothhistories as practicable.community and residential opportunities, appropriateinterfaces with and connection to adjoining land uses.Edgars Creek, stony rises and River Red-gum stands willareas and to plan for and identify means to fund theestablishment and maintenance of social and physicalinfrastructure in a timely and effi cient manner” (Clausewithin generally the Urban Growth Boundary, is designatedas ‘Future urban’ within the Plenty Valley-Epping Northgrowth area identifi ed by Melbourne 2030, is identifi ed asSections 2.2 to 6 provide a comprehensive explanation of the responseof Aurora to the key land use planning objectives of the MSS.form the basis of the public open space network.21.06-7 Infrastructure Provision).‘Residential - Future’ in the Municipal Framework Plan and• Maximum capacity of approximately 25,000 persons over• “To progressively upgrade the image and appearanceforms part of the ENSP.a development life of approximately 16 years.of the City of Whittlesea focusing on retention of local• The population of Aurora will create a potential local labour• Mixture of fi rst, second and third home buyers seekingenvironmental features, landscape qualities and urbansource to support the Cooper Street Employment Area onmore sustainable urban outcomes, such as energy effi cientand landscape design improvements” (Clause 21.06-9the south side of O’Herns Road.|5 AURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007

2.1.4 Local Planning PoliciesAurora to the objectives and policy directions of this Policy.(e)Telecommunications Conduit PolicyOther key features of the ENSP include the following.(a)Open Space Policy(c) River Redgum Protection PolicyThe River Redgum Protection Policy (Clause 22.10) of the SchemeThe Telecommunications Conduit Policy (Clause 22.13) of the Schemeapplies to subdivision and the construction of dwellings and otherbuildings and works in the Municipality.• Neighbourhood-based planning. Six broadneighbourhoods are identifi ed in the ENSP, each with a‘neighbourhood centre’ that will provide the educational,community, recreational and retail facilities required at aThe Open Space Policy (Clause 22.01) of the Scheme relates to theprovision of open space in the Municipality.The objective of this Policy is “to provide a framework to undertakeplanning, provision, development and maintenance of an integratedopen space system which meets the wide ranging needs of thecommunity”.Section 5.5 describes the response of Aurora to the objective andpolicy directions of this Policy.applies to the protection of River Red-gums located in urban and ruralareas.The objective of this Policy is “to ensure that the development ofurban and rural areas takes into account the presence, retention,enhancement and long term viability of River Red Gums in urbanareas”.Section 5.3 describes the response of Aurora to the objective andpolicy directions of this Policy.The objective of this Policy is “to ensure provision of conduits foroptical fi bre cabling, to facilitate future installation of advancedtelecommunications services”.The engineering infrastructure of Aurora is discussed in Section 5.9 andprovides the general response to the objective and policy directions ofthis Policy. Conduits for an optical fi bre cable will be provided as partof the works associated with the subdivision of the subject land. Theservice provider will run the optic fi bre cable through the conduits inpreparation for the occupation of dwellings.neighbourhood level. The majority of the subject land iswithin Neighbourhoods 2 and 3 and the remainder is withinNeighbourhoods 1 and 4. The neighbourhood centres forNeighbourhoods 2 and 3 are shown to the south west andnorth west of the town centre, respectively.• A main recreational precinct near the intersection ofHarvest Home Road and Epping Road.• An open space network that links areas of conservationvalue, the neighbourhood centres, the main recreationalprecinct and the town centre. Edgars Creek, whichextends through Aurora, forms part of the open space(b) Subdivision Design PolicyThe Subdivision Design Policy (Clause 22.04) of the Scheme appliesto subdivision for residential, rural residential, rural living, industrial andcommercial development.The objectives of this Policy are as follows.• “To achieve appropriate site responsive subdivisiondesign for the creation of new undeveloped allotmentsfor residential, rural residential, rural living, industrial andcommercial development.• To defi ne and evenly apply municipal planning objectivesfor subdivision design.• To create a sense of place and community focus throughsubdivision design.• To promote subdivision that ensures integration, lot sizediversity, effi cient open space provision, movement, and(d) Development Contributions Plan PolicyThe Development Contributions Plan Policy (Clause 22.11) of theScheme applies to new residential and non-residential subdivisionsin the Municipality.The objective of this Policy is “to ensure the provision of basicinfrastructure in a timely fashion to meet the needs generated by newdevelopment “.The development contributions for Aurora are discussed in Section 6and provide the response to the objective and policy directions of thisPolicy. The infrastructure obligations within the ADP2 area are set outin the form of an agreement in accordance with Section 173 of thePlanning and Environment Act 1987. This agreement specifi es theparticular projects, costs and obligations for delivery and was signed bythe relevant parties before the subject land was rezoned.2.1.5 Incorporated Documents(a) Epping North Strategic PlanClause 21.05 of the Scheme describes the ENSP as setting “thebroad directions for urban development within Epping North coveringissues such as the pattern of urban development, a neighbourhoodbased approach to more detailed local structure planning, open space,provision for a broad transport network, protection of environmentalfeatures, servicing, and provision for community, commercial andrecreational facilities”.Integral to the overall layout of the ENSP is the creation of interlinkedcommunities with each having a relationship to the central core or‘town centre’, which is shown in Aurora on Harvest Home Road andnetwork.• A broad grid-based road pattern. Edgars Road, O’HernsRoad and Harvest Home Road are shown as ‘major roads- duplicated’, excluding the section of Edgars Road northof Harvest Home Road, which is shown as ‘major roads- single pavement’. The major road network shown atAurora is arranged in concentric rings around the towncentre with roads radiating out diagonally to link the towncentre and four of the neighbourhood centres. EdgarsRoad is shown extending along the east boundary ofAurora south from Craigieburn Road East before formingthe eastern concentric ring and then continuing due south(to the immediate west of the east boundary of Aurora),south of Harvest Home Road.• The provision for alternative modes of transport. Thisincludes a transport corridor shown extending northfrom O’Herns Road (to the immediate west of the eastboundary of Aurora) to the east side of the town centrebefore continuing in a north west direction.appropriate streetscape design.surrounded by ‘high density residential’.• To defi ne the need for and requirements for site analysisprocedures”.Section 5 provides a comprehensive explanation of the response ofAURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007 6|

Epping North Strategic PlanThe ENSP acknowledges that further studies may be required to informthe preparation of Incorporated Plans. More detailed investigations ofthe subject land have been completed as part of the preparation ofthe Aurora Comprehensive Development Plan (incorporated in theScheme) and ADP2 and are described in Sections 2 and 3. Auroraresponds as follows to the features shown on the ENSP.• Aurora incorporates two primary activity centres providinga wide range of retail, commercial, community andresidential opportunities, including a total of 20,000square metres of retail and commercial fl oor space. Inaccordance with the ENSP, the northern primary activitycentre is positioned on Harvest Home Road between thetransport corridor to the east and Edgars Creek to thewest. ADP2 envisages also higher density, mixed usessurrounding the two primary activity centres.• ADP2 incorporates two local activity centres. Inaccordance with the ENSP, one of the local activitycentres is to the south west of the northern primary activitycentre. Both of the local activity centres are located onhigher order streets and the principal walking and cyclingnetwork. The local activity centre to the north of thenorthern primary activity centre incorporates a communityactivity centre and is adjacent to education centres andpublic open space.• The Aurora open space system protects and enhancesnatural and cultural features within a series of highlyaccessible open spaces that provide a diverse rangeof recreation opportunities for both passive and activerecreation. In accordance with the ENSP, the open spacenetwork connects Edgars Creek, the power easement andthe portion of Plains Grassy Woodland of high regionalconservation signifi cance in the north west of Aurora.• Edgars Road, O’Herns Road and Harvest Home Roadwithin and adjacent to Aurora are intended to be dividedarterial streets in their ultimate confi guration, which is inaccordance with the ENSP. Section 5.8 provides furtherdetail on the design of these streets.• The arterial and neighbourhood connector street networkof Aurora is spaced generally between 600 and 900metres. While it does not match the network of concentricrings of the ENSP, it does achieve the same outcomesby providing straightforward connections between theactivity centres and public open spaces within and outsideAurora. Diagonal neighbourhood connector streets areused however, to facilitate access to the primary activitycentres.• The transport corridor of the ENSP is incorporated close tothe east boundary of Aurora. A new station / interchange isproposed adjacent to each of the primary activity centres.Section 5 provides a more comprehensive explanation of theseresponses. Based on the above, ADP2 is consistent generally withthe ENSP.|7 AURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007

(b)Aurora Comprehensive Development PlanThe purpose of the Comprehensive Development Zone includes “toprovide for a range of uses and the development of land in accordancewith a comprehensive development plan incorporated in this scheme”(Clause 37.02).As required under the Comprehensive Development Zone, the keyfeatures of the Aurora Comprehensive Development Plan (ACDP) areas follows.• Two activity centres - primary at planned transport nodesin the north and south of Aurora.• An activity centre - secondary along the south boundary(O’Herns Road) of Aurora.• An activity centre - tertiary in the south west corner ofAurora.• One activity centre - local to the north of the northernprimary activity centre and one to the south west.• Three possible education centres in the north of Auroraand one possible centre in the south.• Conservation areas spread throughout Aurora.• Indicative main street corridors consisting of predominantlynorth-south and east-west streets.• A north-south indicative public transport corridor close tothe east boundary of Aurora.As outlined above, ADP2 is consistent with the ACDP incorporating allof the key features.Aurora Comprehensive Development PlanAURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007 8|

2.1.6 Zoning and Overlays(a) Comprehensive Development ZoneThe Scheme includes the subject land in Schedule 4 to theComprehensive Development Zone (CDZ4).The purpose of CDZ4 is as follows.• “To designate land suitable for urban development.• To provide for development of land generally in accordancewith the relevant comprehensive development plan.• To pursue a sustainable form of greenfi eld developmentbased on traditional neighbourhood design principles.• To engender a positive sense of place throughincorporation of diverse streetscapes and good urbandesign in the public realm.• To implement a high standard of contemporaryarchitectural and urban design outcomes.• To encourage a reduction in the use of natural resourcessuch as potable water through the provision and utilisationof recycled water provided to future residents of the areato achieve the sustainability objectives identifi ed in theAurora Sustainability Covenant.• To protect, retain and enhance the natural and culturalfeatures of the land.• To facilitate a mix of land uses, including residential,community, retail, commercial and recreational, to supporta sustainable community.• To facilitate a range of lot sizes with generally increaseddevelopment densities and dwelling types to meet adiversity of lifestyle choices and to provide the opportunityfor high quality and sustainable public transport.• To assist in the protecting and enhancing the EdgarsCreek (as part of the larger Merri Creek Catchment) as anenvironmental, conservation and recreation asset of localsignifi cance, through sensitive design and landscaping.• To provide for a range of pedestrian scale retail,commercial and community facilities of appropriate sizesto serve the needs of existing and future residents of thearea.• To provide a safe, effi cient, highly permeable, multi modaland attractive movement network.• To ensure that non-residential uses do not cause lossof amenity to people in areas set aside and used fordwellings”.CDZ4 sets out when a planning permit is required to use land for aparticular purpose and to construct a building or construct or carry outworks, the associated conditions, the application requirements and theexemptions from notice and review. A planning permit is required tosubdivide land within the CDZ4 (Clause 37.02-3).As outlined above, ADP2 incorporates all of the key features of theACDP and is consistent therefore with the purpose of CDZ4. Section5 provides a comprehensive explanation of the response of Aurora tothe purpose of CDZ4.(b) Vegetation Protection OverlayThe Scheme includes the subject land in Schedule 2 (Signifi cantVegetation - River Redgum Grassy Woodland) to the VegetationProtection Overlay (VPO2).The vegetation protection objectives to be achieved in VPO2 are asfollows.• “To protect and enhance the diversity of vegetation typesand communities within Epping North• To maintain and enhance the ecological integrity ofindigenous vegetation within Epping North during itstransition from rural to urban• To allow for faunal movement through the area by themaintenance and enhancement of habitat links• To protect the ongoing viability of vegetation communitiesby allowing for regeneration• To preserve and maintain signifi cant vegetation and thecharacter of the area• Preserve natural habitat for fl ora and fauna”.A planning permit is required generally to remove, destroy or lop nativevegetation in VPO2. A planning permit is not required to remove,destroy or lop vegetation that is not native vegetation.The preparation of ADP2 involved a fl ora and fauna assessment ofthe subject land that considered all of the matters specifi ed in VPO2(refer Sections 2.2.3, 2.2.4 and 2.2.5). The response of Aurora, whichis outlined in Section 5.3, is consistent with the vegetation protectionobjectives of VPO2.(c) Design and Development OverlayThe Scheme includes that part of the subject land within 150 metres ofthe east edge of the reservation of the Craigieburn Bypass in Schedule2 (Hume Freeway - Metropolitan Ring Road to north of Craigieburn) tothe Design and Development Overlay (DDO2).The design objective to be achieved in DDO2 is “to ensure that thedevelopment of land near the future alignment of the Hume Freewaybetween the Metropolitan Ring Road and Mount Ridley Road isundertaken with appropriate noise attenuation measures to minimisethe impact of traffi c noise on noise sensitive activities”.A planning permit is required generally to construct a building orconstruct or carry out works (Clause 43.02-2) and to subdivideland (Clause 43.02-3) in DDO2. Any development in DDO2 whichis associated with a specifi ed use must include noise attenuationmeasures to the satisfaction of the Roads Corporation. The specifi eduses include accommodation (includes a dwelling), child care centre,education centre, indoor recreation facility, offi ce, place of assembly,retail premises and display home.(d) Development Plan OverlayThe Scheme includes the subject land in Schedule 23 (AuroraDevelopment Plan) to the Development Plan Overlay (DPO23).The purpose of the DPO is as follows.• “To implement the State Planning Policy Frameworkand the Local Planning Policy Framework, including theMunicipal Strategic Statement and local planning policies.• To identify areas which require the form and conditionsof future use and development to be shown on adevelopment plan before a permit can be granted to useor develop the land.• To exempt an application from notice and review if it isgenerally in accordance with a development plan” (Clause43.04).The DPO requires that a DP be prepared generally to the satisfactionof the responsible authority before a planning permit is granted to useor subdivide land, construct a building or construct or carry out works(Clause 43.04-1). Once the DP has been prepared to the satisfactionof the responsible authority, any planning permit application thatis generally in accordance with the DP is exempt from noticerequirements, decision requirements and review rights (Clause 43.04-2). Any permit granted must also be generally in accordance with theDP (Clause 43.04-1). The DP may be amended to the satisfaction ofthe responsible authority (Clause 43.04-3).ADP2 is the DP required by DPO23. Sections 2 to 7 address therequired elements of DPO23.(e) Floodway OverlayThe Scheme includes Edgars Creek, which traverses the subject land,in a Floodway Overlay (RFO).The purpose of the RFO is as follows.• “To implement the State Planning Policy Frameworkand the Local Planning Policy Framework, including theMunicipal Strategic Statement and local planning policies.• To identify waterways, major fl oodpaths, drainagedepressions and high hazard areas which have thegreatest risk and frequency of being affected by fl ooding.|9 AURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007

• To ensure that any development maintains the freepassage and temporary storage of fl oodwater, minimisesfl ood damage and is compatible with fl ood hazard, localdrainage conditions and the minimisation of soil erosion,sedimentation and silting.• To refl ect any declarations under Division 4 of Part 10 ofthe Water Act, 1989 if a declaration has been made.• To protect water quality and waterways as naturalresources in accordance with the provisions of relevantState Environment Protection Policies, and particularlyin accordance with Clauses 33 and 35 of the StateEnvironment Protection Policy (Waters of Victoria)”.A planning permit is required generally to construct a building orconstruct or carry out works (Clause 44.03-1) and to subdivide land(Clause 44.03-2) in a RFO. A planning permit application is requiredgenerally to be referred to the relevant fl oodplain managementauthority (Clause 44.03-4).(f) Road Closure OverlayThe Scheme includes part of Vearings Road on the subject land in aRoad Closure Overlay (RXO).The purpose of the RXO is as follows.• “To implement the State Planning Policy Frameworkand the Local Planning Policy Framework, includingthe Municipal Strategic Statement and local planningpolicies.• To identify a road that is closed by an amendment to thisplanning scheme” (Clause 45.04).2.2 NATURAL ENVIRONMENT2.2.1 Topography, Soils and DrainageAurora is typical of the relatively fl at volcanic plains of the north andwest of Melbourne. The subject land is slightly undulating, fallinggenerally from RL 193 metres at the northern end on Craigieburn RoadEast to RL 143 metres in the south east corner at O’Herns Road.From the high point in the north, a number of subtle ridges extendgenerally in a north-south direction, including a number of stonyrises that are important features and add to the topographic relief ofthe subject land and surrounds. Two particularly strong ridgelinesare evident - one in the north west of the subject land, straddling theVearings Road reservation and the other a linear complex of stonyrises between Harvest Home Road and O’Herns Road west of EdgarsCreek. There are a number of other stony rises and locally steepsections of land adjacent to the watercourses however, the subjectland is gently sloping, with the majority grading at less than 3 per cent.The parent geology is basalt, which produces soils that are high inclay content, fertile and often seasonally waterlogged in fl at, low lyingsituations. Although variable across the subject land, there is a highpresence of surface rock as well as indications of shallow sub-surfacerock.Aurora is located in the upper reaches of the catchment of EdgarsCreek which runs north-south through the centre of the subject land.Edgars Creek is part of the larger Merri Creek Catchment. Merri Creekis approximately 2 kilometres to the west of the Craigieburn Bypass.The form and intermittent fl ow rates of Edgars Creek are typical of thewatercourses that run through much of the western volcanic plains.Within Aurora, Edgars Creek is an ephemeral waterway with highlyintermittent fl ow levels resulting from the relatively low rainfall levelsof the district, the location of the subject land at the top of the limitedcatchment of Edgars Creek and the mostly gentle slope characteristicsof the subject land and surrounds. It is only slightly incised into thelandform for most of its length within the subject land and therefore,only a few locations exhibit a strong creek form.Throughout most of the year, Edgars Creek is a dry, shallow and illdefined creek bed with occasional ephemeral pools. Several smalland ill-defi ned tributaries of Edgars Creek are also found in the westernportion of the subject land. Portions of Edgars Creek have beenchannelled and redirected, such as a section south of Harvest HomeRoad where the Creek bed has been channelled into a straight linethrough very fl at land. There are also a number of small dams locatedon the subject land.Generally, the drainage of the subject land is not highly concentratedinto depressions or gullies and consists mostly of ‘sheet fl ow’ to thesouth.The RXO states that a road included in the RXO is closed on thedate that the notice of approval of the amendment is published in theGovernment Gazette (Clause 45.04-1).AURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007 10|

Topography, Soils and Drainage|11 AURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007

2.2.2 Landscape and Visual CharacterThe majority of Aurora has been cleared and grazed. There are anumber of prominent stands and individual specimens of River Redgums(Eucalyptus camaldulensis) and other indigenous tree species,especially in the north west of the subject land. Many of the remnantRiver Red-gums are hundreds of years old and contribute to the senseof place and local character. The recent years of drought however,have caused deterioration in the condition of the trees.The stony rises are important visual elements that also contribute toa sense of place. The stony rises are considered to be the sourcematerial for many of the dry stone walls and stone buildings of thedistrict. Apart from their visual features and importance as fl ora andfauna habitat, some of these stony rises contain sites of Aboriginalimportance.The open character of the subject land provides the following longdistance views from the higher areas:The views to the skyline of the Melbourne central activities district areparticularly attractive, with the rural foreground providing somewhat ofa screen to the industrial land to the south. Many of the above longdistance views will be limited once development of the subject landoccurs. Conservation areas, Edgars Creek and the street alignmentswill then provide important opportunities for distant views.A number of complexes, incorporating a variety of farm buildings, drystone walls and pockets of exotic vegetation, contribute to the historiccharacter of the subject land and can provide strong visual elementsin the landscape. Stands of pines, peppercorns and other large exotictrees create visual highlights around the existing and former farmcomplexes.Powerlines extend east-west through the southern portion of thesubject land. While the towers and cables are visually dominant atclose range, they are less obtrusive when viewed from the north as theforeground to the distant views to the skyline of the Melbourne centralactivities district.• Plenty Ranges to the north.• Quarry Hills to the east.• Dandenong Ranges to the south east.• The skyline of the central activities district to the south.• Macedon Ranges to the west.AURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007 12|

Landscape and Visual Character|13 AURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007

2.2.3 Florafew indigenous ground fl ora species remaining due to grazing andweed invasion. Most of the River Red-gums on the subject land are2.2.4 Fauna55 bird species, fi ve reptiles and three amphibians) and fi fteenintroduced species (six mammals and nine birds).very old. Some of the trees in the north west part of Aurora are showingsigns of extreme stress (loss of foliage cover and dieback of canopyTwo species of national conservation signifi cance - Growling Grass(a)Vegetation Communities (Ecological VegetationClasses)branches) and a proportion have died recently. Primary causes arebelieved to be lack of water during recent years of below average(a)Fauna Habitat TypesFrog (Litoria reniformis) and Golden Sun Moth (Synemon plana) -were recorded during the survey of Aurora. No fauna species of stateThe majority of the subject land supports exotic grassland, mostof which is used for grazing. Remnants of fi ve native EcologicalVegetation Classes (EVC) are present on the subject land - PlainsGrassy Woodland, Plains Grassland, Stony Knoll Shrubland, Stonyrainfall and grazing by Brush-tailed Possums.The Plains Grassland EVC on the subject land includes three subcommunities.While each sub-community contains some of the typicalnative species, exotic species are also found.Fauna habitat types vary in size and quality throughout Aurora. Thefollowing main fauna habitat types are present on the subject landand have the specifi ed habitat quality based on their importance forterrestrial vertebrate and aquatic fauna.conservation signifi cance were recorded or fi sh species were capturedon the subject land. Ten bird species listed as ‘migratory’ under theEnvironment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act1999 were recorded during the survey, including two species that werebreeding on the subject land.Knoll Grassland and Grey Clay Drainage-line Herbland / SedgelandComplex. These EVC are distributed within the landscape accordingto the features of the subject land, such as soil depth, soil structure, soilmoisture, drainage and presence of rock.(b)Flora SpeciesBiosis Research Pty Ltd between October 2000 and January 2006completed a fl ora survey of Aurora and a list of species was compiled.A total of 257 vascular plant species was recorded including 131 (51per cent) indigenous species.One species of national signifi cance (Matted Flax-lily, DianellaThe Stony Knoll Shrubland EVC and Stony Knoll Grassland EVCoccupy the more pronounced stony rises and occur in a mosaic withthe Plains Grassy Woodland EVC and Plains Grassland EVC. Thestony rises are degraded to a varying extent by weed invasion, rockremoval and grazing. The stony rises however, do support the greatestdiversity of native species recorded during the survey including most ofthe signifi cant species.Edgars Creek and its tributaries are likely to have supported theGrey Clay Drainage-line Herbland / Shrubland Complex EVC. Thevegetation is now highly altered and mainly exotic due to grazing andtrampling by stock. Less disturbed and stony sections of Edgars Greekretain small populations of native species.• River Red-gum woodland: medium to high quality.• Stony rises: low to high quality.• Waterways (Edgars Creek and unnamed tributaries): lowto medium quality.• Wetlands (artifi cial): low-medium to high quality.• Agricultural grasslands (predominantly non-rocky): lowquality.• Non-natural rock structures: low to medium quality.• Planted vegetation: low quality.• Other man-made structures: low quality.(b) Wildlife Corridorsamoena), four species of state signifi cance and 56 species of regionalsignifi cance (within the Victorian Volcanic Plains Bioregion) wererecorded at Aurora. The remaining native species that occur on thesubject land are of local signifi cance.The vegetation quality of the subject land has been assessed and theresultant habitat score represents vegetation that retains between 13and 42 per cent of its original habitat quality.Wildlife corridors are habitats that provide a dispersal route for speciesto move between larger areas of habitat. The following are the mainwildlife corridors on the subject land and are important for conservationat least on the local level.(c)Vegetation condition• Dry stone walls.• Edgars Creek and unnamed tributaries.The vegetation structure in all EVC present on the subject land is• Agricultural grasslands.altered signifi cantly from its presumed original state due to disturbancefactors such as grazing, clearing of trees and shrubs, weed invasion(c)Fauna Speciesand removal of surface rock.The Plains Grassy Woodland EVC is represented mainly by overstoreyremnants on the fl attest portions of the subject land. These arepredominantly River Red-gums over largely exotic understorey withBiosis Research Pty Ltd between October 2000 and January 2006completed a fauna survey of Aurora and a list of species was compiled.A total of 81 terrestrial vertebrate fauna species was recorded on thesubject land. These include 66 indigenous species (three mammals,AURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007 14|

2.2.5 Conservation SignificanceBiosis Research Pty Ltd between October 2000 and January 2006completed an assessment of the conservation signifi cance of thefl ora and fauna at Aurora. Due to the substantial modifi cation of theoriginal vegetation and habitats, much of the subject land has verylow conservation signifi cance. Areas of conservation signifi cance atAurora are listed below and the map following shows their location.• Two areas of national signifi cance, containing the followingattributes:° populations of Golden Sun Moth (nationalsignifi cance), Matted Flax-lily (nationalsignifi cance) and Tough Scurf-pea (Cullentenax) (state signifi cance);° relatively large and high quality examplesof the Plains Grassland EVC (endangered)and the Stony Knoll Grassland EVC(endangered);° suitable (but not ideal) stony rise habitatfor Striped Legless Lizard (Delmar impar)(national signifi cance) and other grounddwellingvertebrates of regional and localsignifi cance.• Three areas of state signifi cance comprising a farm dam,a Matted Flax-lily site and a Golden Sun Moth population,containing the following relevant attributes:° one of the largest documented populationsof the Growling Grass Frog (nationalsignifi cance) within the Merri Creek Corridor,which is likely to be a breeding population;° likely to function as a source population forthe Growling Grass Frog from which EdgarsCreek and any associated waterbodies couldbe re-populated;° a spring-fed and therefore permanent wetlandthat may function as a drought refuge for theGrowling Grass Frog;° little or no access by stock that allowsabundant growth of aquatic vegetation;° relatively large population of Matted Flax-lily;° modifi ed example of the Plains GrasslandEVC;° least robust populations of Golden Sun Mothwithin Aurora.• Two areas of high regional signifi cance, containing thefollowing attributes:° high quality examples of the Stony KnollGrassland EVC;° populations of Matted Flax-lily, ArchingFlax-lily (Dianella sp. aff. longifolia) (statesignifi cance) and Pale-fl ower Geranium(Geranium sp. 3) (state signifi cance);° up to thirty plant species of regionalsignifi cance;° suitable stony rise habitat for the StripedLegless Lizard and other grounddwellingvertebrates of regional and localsignifi cance;° multiple old-growth trees with abundanthollows for roosting, nesting and otheractivities by hollow-dependent fauna;° habitat for a range of woodland-dependentfauna, including birds, reptiles andmarsupials.• Three types of areas of regional signifi cance, including:° stony rises and associated grassland thatcontain areas of the Stony Knoll ShrublandEVC and the Stony Knoll Grassland EVC,small populations of Matted Flax-lily, up to30 regionally signifi cant fl ora species andsuitable (but not ideal) stony rise habitat forStriped Legless Lizard, Golden Sun Mothand other ground-dwelling vertebrates ofregional and local signifi cance;° Edgars Creek that provides ephemeralhabitat for aquatic fauna and fl ora, is anexample of the Grey Clay Drainage-lineHerbland / Sedgeland Complex EVC, ishabitat and a wildlife corridor for signifi cantground-dwelling fauna species (includingGrowling Grass Frog) and is suitable (but notideal) habitat for Striped Legless Lizard andother ground-dwelling vertebrates of regionaland local signifi cance along the rocky areasbordering the watercourse;° scattered mature / old-growth trees thatprovide hollows for roosting and breeding byselected hollow-dependent fauna, perchesfor birds of prey (including eagles andfalcons) and other birds (including ravens)and a modifi ed woodland habitat used bysome woodland-dependent fauna.• Three types of areas of high local signifi cance, including:° stony rises and associated grasslandthat provide remnants of the Stony KnollShrubland EVC in poor condition andmodifi ed habitat for some ground-dwellingfauna, particularly reptiles;° dry stone walls that contain abundant loosesurface rock providing protection, breedingand foraging for a range of ground-dwellingvertebrates and potentially a wildlife corridorbetween stony rises by small ground-dwellingvertebrates;° a stand of young River Red-gums on HarvestHome Road that provides woodland habitatfor some woodland-dependent fauna andhas the potential for higher conservationvalue if the trees reach maturity.All other remnant indigenous vegetation and habitat features have atleast local conservation signifi cance. Other areas dominated by nonindigenousplant species (for example, agricultural grasslands) havelittle or no value for fl ora however, they may be used by fauna speciesfor movements between better quality habitat areas and for foragingactivities by other species such as birds of prey.|15 AURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007

AURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007 16|Conservation Significance

2.3 CULTURAL HERITAGE2.3.1 Aboriginal HistoryBiosis Research Pty Ltd completed a fi eld survey and subsurfacearchaeological testing program in consultation with the WurundjeriTribe Land Compensation and Cultural Heritage Council Incorporated.These investigations have demonstrated that Aboriginal archaeologicalsites survive on several stony rises and along water courses inAurora.The subject land lies within the boundary of the Kulin Aboriginalpeople, who identifi ed themselves as members of “a regional block orconfederacy - maintained by intermarriage, a common language andmutual interests” (Barwick, D.E. (1994) ‘Mapping the Past: An Atlas ofVictorian Clans 1835 - 1904’, Aboriginal History, Vol 18 No 1 - 2, pp.100 - 131). The lands of the Kulin people cover much of present daywestern and central Victoria.Within the Kulin Nation, groups identify themselves by a languagename and typically share a common dialect or manner of speaking, aswell as economic and political affi liations. The subject land is locatedin the territory of the Woi wurrung who were composed of a numberof clans that spoke the same language. Their territory extended fromKyneton to West Gippsland and the Werribee River and BacchusMarsh to Mount Baw Baw. The language group occupied most ofpresent metropolitan Melbourne, except for the southern suburbs andareas around Port Phillip Bay.The Wurundjeri balug clan of the Woi wurrung language groupoccupied the region containing the subject land. This clan was dividedinto two patrilineal groups: the Wurundjeri willam and Bulug willam.The Wurundjeri willam, which means ‘white gum tree dwellers’, wouldhave inhabited the region. The campsites of the Wurundjeri willamwere located along the main creeks and rivers although campsitelocation and activity would have been infl uenced by seasonal changes.In summer, base camps were likely to have been established in openlocations in the Plenty Valley. In winter, the stony rises would haveprovided good vantage points and dry campsites in an otherwiseswampy environment.The confl uence of Merri Creek and Edgars Creek and the surroundingvolcanic plains would have provided a diversity and wealth of resourceson which Aboriginal people could depend for food. Permanent freshwater in Merri Creek and rock pools and swampy depressions aroundEdgars Creek combined with an accumulation of fertile, organic soilswould have encouraged an abundance of fl ora and fauna resourcesfor food.No Aboriginal archaeological sites have been recorded previouslyon the subject land. The majority of Aboriginal archaeological sitesfound at Aurora during the survey are on the higher stony rises closeto creeks and former swamps. The sites opposite have been identifi edand are shown on the map following Section 2.3.2.SITE NAME SITE TYPE SIGNIFICANCEDoherty 1 (AAV7822 - 1854) Scarred tree 3 (moderate)Luppino 1 (AAV 7822-0772) Surface artefact scatter 6 (moderate)Mandie 1 (AAV 7822-0684) Isolated artefact 3 (low)Mandie 2 (AAV 7822-0685)Surface artefact scatter and buried 6 (moderate)materialJenkins 2 (AAV 7822-1267) Isolated artefact 5 (moderate)Scaffidi 1 (AAV 7822-0773) Surface artefact scatter 6 (moderate)Shine 1 (AAV 7822-1411) Surface artefact scatter 3 (low)Ceccomancini 1 (AAV 7822-0639)Surface artefact scatter and buried 5 (moderate)materialCeccomancini 2 (AAV 7822-0687)Surface artefact scatter and buried 7 (high)materialKonas 1 (AAV 7822-1265)Surface artefact scatter and buried 6 (moderate)materialKonas 2 (AAV 7822-0688) Isolated artefact 3 (low)Cotters Road 1 (AAV 7822-0686) Surface artefact scatter 6 (moderate)Cotters Road 2 (AAV 7822-1757) Isolated artefact 3 (low)|17 AURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007

2.3.2 European HistoryBiosis Research Pty Ltd has completed a fi eld survey of all features ofhistorical interest.European occupation of Epping North came after Batman’s Treaty(1835) with the local Aboriginal people ceded 600,000 acres, includingWhittlesea, to the Port Phillip Association. The Wollert Pastoral Runextended over Aurora and was fi rst leased by John Pike. CharlesCaldwell Campbell held the run between 1840 and 1850. The earlysquatters and landowners were constantly under threat of governmentdisplacement and the risk of losing capital discouraged them fromdeveloping their properties. These risks, coupled with the effects of the1851 bushfi res, means that traces of early settlement are extremelyrare.The subject land remained pastoral until it was surveyed into modestfarms in the mid 1840s. Many properties went to auction on 27January 1853 and those who purchased were of English, Irish, Scottishor German descent. At this time the village reserve was surveyed andthe name Epping arose. After the land sales in the 1850s, there wasincreasing pressure for small scale farming and most properties werepurchased by absentee landlords who leased them to tenant farmersfor dairy farming and cultivation. The relative fertility of the basalt claysoils made the region a signifi cant agricultural producer.Increasing settlement encouraged the development of roads andvillage-like settlements at key points along transport routes, whichset the pattern of small farms that is still typical of the region today.Occupants began to use the reserves of bluestone in the region whenrebuilding their farms after the 1851 bushfi res.Epping became one of the prime dairy farming districts in Victoria.Part of only one historical site - a dry stone wall (H7822-0239) - on thesubject land is listed on the Victorian Heritage Inventory. The historicalsites below have been identifi ed on the subject land and are shown onthe following map.SITE NAME SITE TYPE YEAR OFHERITAGECONSTRUCTION SIGNIFICANCE(approximately)Pike's homestead Stone foundations, artefact1850sHigh(H7822-0375)scatterLynch Park farmBuilding foundations, brick and 1940s or earlierLow(H7822-0374)rubble scatterEdgars Creek ford Basalt cobbled ford 1880 - 1930s or earlier Low(H7822-0275)Ziebell's dairyBluestone dairy remnants,1901 High(H7822-0260)homestead debrisOld Myee-Ahern's farm Homestead complex 1860s High(H7822-0377)In addition to the above sites, basalt dry stone walls are locatedthroughout the subject land. The main reasons for building walls wereto provide property boundaries and to facilitate stock management,particularly after shepherds left for the gold fi elds and stock neededto be divided. Another reason was to clear the paddocks of rubble toimprove pasture and mobility. Dry stone walling was used extensivelyin England, Ireland, Scotland and Germany, from where many of theearly settlers originated. In the Epping region walls were usually madeof freestone and cut stone was not introduced. As the farms wererelatively small, dry stone walls were used extensively.Along the remaining dry stone walls there are a number of associatedstone features, such as animal enclosures, yards and pens. The drystone walls at Aurora illustrate a pattern of small scale farming thatdeveloped in Epping in the 1850s and is still evident today. In general,the dry stone walls located on the subject land are of medium heritagesignifi cance.In most parts of Aurora there is evidence of very small scale quarrying.This evidence is in the form of numerous depressions where in situbasalt fl oaters appear to have been removed, broken surfaces, rockdrill marks and remaining stones. These features are too numerousto record.Small quarry holes are a feature of most of the stony rises on thesubject land. They are most common on the larger stony rises closestto the sites of former bluestone buildings (for example, 200 metreseast of Old Myee-Alhern’s farm and 100 metres west of Lehmann’sfarm). These quarries are clearly the sources of building stone for thehomesteads and barns of the earliest farm complexes in the 1850sand 1860s.With the discovery of gold (1851 - 1888) to the north, the populationwithin the region rose sharply. Although the region was not mined, itLehmann's farmHomestead ruins, building1860sMediumbecame an important food producer and supplier to the goldfi elds.(H7822-0376)material scattersThe period that followed the Gold Rush and land boom was knownas the 1890s depression (1888 - 1901). A minor boom followed thisdepression and was associated with the opening of the rail link betweenMelbourne and Heidelberg. The rail links also allowed the expansionof dairying to supply Melbourne and from the 1890s to World War Two,Long's house House and garden 1915 MediumAURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007 18|

Aboriginal, Archaeological and Historical Sites|19 AURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007

3 ASSESSMENT OF SERVICES AND FACILITIES NEEDS3.1 LAND BUDGETThe land budget for Aurora is described in the table below. It isacknowledged that the outcomes associated with preparation of fl ora,fauna and habitat hectare assessments may reduce the assumeddevelopment potential of the land holdings not surveyed for fl ora andfauna values.Land area (ha)A - Division Area (All land holdings) 592.37B - Encumbered Land 114.31Power Easement* (includes 2.76ha retarding basins) 13.81Gas Easement* (land within POS) 1.64Edgars Creek* (includes 1.91ha retarding basins) 21.58Retarding Basins 1.11Conservation Areas 57.43Gas Easement (remainder not in POS) 5.96Land for Arterial Road Widenings not required for ADP2 (All) 3.47Transit Corridor 9.31Gross Developable Area 478.06C - Unencumbered Open Space 50.31POS Passive/Unstructured Rec 31.17POS Active/Structured Rec 19.14Net Developable Area 427.75D - Community Facilities 21.05Educational Facilities 20.65Library 0.40E - Community Activity Centres 1.60Gross Residential/Commercial Area 405.10F - Approximate Number of Dwellings 7292G - Approximate Projected Total Population 21,889* land may be developed for public open space purposes subject to theapproval from the responsible authority3.2 POPULATIONAurora (including Section A) has an expected yield of up to 8500dwellings. Based on the population projections of the Departmentof Sustainability and Environment and the demographic trends ofadjoining suburbs, the average household size is anticipated to rangefrom 2.9 to 3.1 people per household. This translates to an expectedmaximum population of approximately 25,000 people at Aurora.VicUrban anticipates that a signifi cant proportion of the population ofthe subject land will be drawn from the primary catchment areas ofPreston, Fawkner, Reservoir, Bundoora, South Morang, Epping, Lalor,Mill Park and Thomastown and has used the demographic trends inthese areas as a partial indicator of the future demographic profi leof Aurora. The sustainability features and range of dwelling typesproposed in Aurora however are also expected to attract peoplefrom outside the primary catchment area. This group will representa wider cross section of the new housing market and provide a morebalanced mix of households than has been the case typically in theouter suburbs.3.3 HOUSINGMelbourne 2030 highlights the need for the growth of Melbourne torespond to changing demographic trends, in particular, to the ageing ofthe population and the rapid increase in the proportion of one and twopeople households. Between 1991 and 1996, the proportion of oneand two people households in Melbourne increased from 18.5 to 22.6per cent and 28.4 to 30.4 per cent, respectively. This general trend isreplicated across the primary catchment area that is likely to providedemand for new housing in Aurora.The proportion of households living under some degree of housingstress continues to grow, with those households living in outer suburbsparticularly subject to such stress. While dwelling prices in the outersuburbs are more affordable than those in the inner suburbs, theaccessibility to services and facilities is generally restricted. The costof transport, in particular running one or more vehicles, to meet basicneeds such as work, education and obtaining food, precludes otheruses for a portion of the household budget and contributes to stress. Adevelopment that provides convenient and attractive walking / cyclingdistances to meet basic needs will reduce the costs associated withtransport and hopefully household stress.There will be a sustained growth in demand for dwellings to meet theneeds of a wide variety of family and individual living arrangements.VicUrban recognises that the downward trend in household size doesnot always translate into a demand for smaller dwellings. For example,a non-custodial parent may form a one person household for themajority of the time but require additional bedrooms to accommodatechildren who visit regularly. Likewise, older adults are likely to preferadditional bedrooms to accommodate for example, alternative uses,visiting grandchildren or to provide for the contingency of a future live-incarer (permanent or respite).Greater dwelling choice, including smaller dwellings, also creates theopportunity for existing family and social networks to remain intact byencouraging the families and friends of the traditional occupiers ofnew developments - young couples and families - to join them. Thiscontributes to the social and cultural diversity aspects of sustainability.3.4 SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE3.4.1 MethodologyThe approach of VicUrban to determining what social infrastructure willbe required for Aurora and where it will be located has been guided bythe following key infl uences and objectives.• Whittlesea key strategic and policy documents includingthe Housing Strategy, Community Activity Centres Reviewand Quantitative Assessment of Social, Leisure and OpenSpace Infrastructure Requirements within the EppingNorth Strategy Plan Area (the ASR report).• The Aurora Visioning Workshop in December 2004.• The Aurora Context Study prepared by The HorneryInstitute.AURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007 20|

• Maximising access to community, commercial andpublic transport services and facilities within walkablecatchments.• Consultation with key service providers including theDepartment of Education and Training (DET) andindependent school providers.• The post occupancy feedback from residents of other° a welcoming foyer space;° small meeting rooms;° a large hall;° suffi cient offi ce and administration space.• Emphasis should be on community development, usingthe CAC as a vehicle for generating resident interactionand community activity.• Whittlesea active and passive public open space shouldbe:° high quality to facilitate heavy use for sport;° accessible places for teenagers° attractive settings for children’s playopportunities.• The public open space network has a key role in shaping• the confi rmed location of an independent primary schoolin Section A of Aurora;• the DET requirement for any school to be a minimum of400 metres from a power easement;• extensive consultation with the education providersconcerning specifi c site and access requirements suchas site area requirements, the number of preferred streetequivalent outer suburbs that highlights the social andthe nature, character and identity of urban development.frontages, proximity to the principal walking and cyclingeconomic costs to residents of not being offered a rangeof community, commercial and public transport facilitieswithin feasible walking distance. These costs include3.4.3 The ASR Report3.4.4 The ASR Report Reviewnetwork and linkages to open space networks, publictransport, primary activity centres and complementarycommunity facilities.social isolation, increased fi nancial burden of additionalvehicle ownership and lack of independent access for keygroups within the community including youth, mothers athome with young children and older adults no longer ableto drive a vehicle.• The experience of community centres within VicUrbandevelopments, such as at The Boardwalk, Roxburgh Parkand Cairnlea.3.4.2 Community Activity Centres ReviewIn 2001, VicUrban and Whittlesea engaged the services of ASRResearch Pty Ltd to prepare a preliminary quantitative assessment ofthe likely social, leisure and open space infrastructure requirementswithin the ENSP area, including Aurora and non-VicUrban land.The ASR report comprised a review of the Whittlesea planningdocuments that have relevance to the provision and design of openspace and community facilities in Epping North and an assessmentof the Epping North service and facility requirements. The ASR reportwas based on a total population of 40,000 people with 25,000 withinAurora and 15,000 in the remainder of Epping North.The ASR report was reviewed in 2004 in order to:• consider the implications of increased population inEpping North, excluding Aurora, from 15,000 to 25,000people;• consider the indicative costs of land required forcommunity infrastructure;• review a draft of ADP2.Aside from the population increase, the ASR report review did not3.4.6 Walking and Cycling NetworkA comprehensive walking and cycling network linking all of the facilitiesand services in the ENSP is required to facilitate accessibility andchoice for residents. The network should be designed to promotewalking and cycling as equally important and attractive modes oftransport to the private car and should meet therefore the actual andperceived safety needs of all potential users.In February 2001, Whittlesea completed a review of its communityThe ASR report identifi ed the following key planning principles.alter the other assumptions or underlying planning principles. TheASR report review did clarify the recommendations for Aurora and has3.4.7 Community Developmentactivity centres (CAC). The purpose of the review was to assess thesuccess of existing CAC and determine their future role and function inboth new and established communities.With regard to the performance of the three multi purpose CAC inoperation within the Municipality in 2000 - 2001, the key fi ndings fromthe review were as follows.• The three CAC were operating well in terms of beingfi nancially healthy and with strong committees ofmanagement.• Future CAC should have the following components /attributes:° located in prominent and attractiveneighbourhood settings;° ample storage areas;° consulting rooms for visiting services;• Whittlesea community centres, where possible, shouldbe:° consolidated into larger multi-functionalcentres (CAC);° equitably distributed throughout the growtharea;° located adjacent to other community facilitiessuch as schools and active and passivepublic open spaces and in areas accessibleby public transport and walking and cyclingpaths to create neighbourhood hubs.• Regional-level components, such as a performing artsspace or adult day care centre, should be located togetherin a central recreation / community services hub. Thishub should be situated within or close to the major retail /commercial area.been used for comparison with the community infrastructure packageproposed by VicUrban.3.4.5 EducationThe provision of education centres at Aurora (including SectionA), including three State government primary schools, one Stategovernment secondary school and two independent primary schools,is planned by the DET and independent school providers. It isunderstood that there may be ultimately some variation in the DETclass components to suit the needs of the community.The location of these schools will be determined having regard to:• the confi rmed location of a DET primary school to the eastof Section A of Aurora in the ENLSP;VicUrban recognises the requirement for a community developmentstrategy (CDS) as an important complement to the provision ofcommunity services and facilities. The Aurora CDS will be preparedin conjunction with Whittlesea and other service organisationsto maximise opportunities for the integration of Aurora with thesurrounding community. The Aurora CDS should facilitate newresidents meeting each other and slowly, over time, developing thenew social support networks that are important to the general wellbeingof the community.|21 AURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007

3.5 RETAIL AND COMMERCIALThe projected Aurora trade area for retail and commercial facilities asdefi ned by Urbis JHD Pty Ltd is bounded generally by DonnybrookRoad to the north, Darebin Creek and the E6 alignment to the east,Childs Road and Cooper Street to the south and High Street and MerriCreek to the west. Urbis JHD Pty Ltd has further defi ned the projectedAurora trade area for retail facilities as comprising four sectors: primary(Aurora is contained within this sector), secondary north, secondaryeast and tertiary.A variety of retail and commercial facilities will be required to serve theresidents of Aurora as there are no existing retail facilities within theprimary sector of the projected Aurora trade area. Strong competitionexists however, on the fringes of the projected Aurora trade area,particularly from Epping Plaza, which is the only sub-regional centrein the trade area and is being expanded to around 51,600 squaremetres of retail fl oor area. Other potential competing centres includethe Greenbrook Shopping Centre, Plenty Valley Town Centre, LalorShopping Centre, Campbellfi eld Kmart Centre, Roxburgh ParkShopping Centre, Craigieburn Plaza and the proposed CraigieburnTown Centre.Despite the advantages of anticipated strong population growth andgood road access in the Aurora location, the quality of retailing, in termsof the physical fabric of the primary activity centres as well as the typeof tenants in the centres, will need to be high for the centres to thriveagainst retail competition located just beyond the projected primarytrade area.Urbis JHD Pty Ltd anticipates that the full development of Aurora willsupport the following hierarchy of retail and commercial facilities.• A northern primary activity (town) centre of approximately6000 square metres of retail and non-retail fl oorspace.This centre is likely to include a supermarket andadditional retail and non-retail specialities. It is anticipatedthat a population of approximately 8000 people in theprimary sector will be suffi cient to support a 3500 squaremetres supermarket and 1000 square metres of specialityshops at the northern primary activity centre. A populationof approximately 10,600 people in the primary sector isexpected to sustain the remaining 1500 square metres ofretail and non-retail specialities.• A southern primary activity (town) centre of approximately14,000 square metres of retail and non-retail fl oorspace.This centre is likely to include a discount department store,a full scale supermarket, a smaller format supermarketand additional retail and non-retail specialities. Apopulation of approximately 21,000 people in the primarysector will support two supermarkets (3500 square metresand 1500 square metres) and 2500 square metres ofspeciality shops in the southern primary activity centre.When the primary sector is fully developed, the populationis expected to sustain a 6000 square metres discountdepartment store and the remaining 500 square metres ofretail and non-retail specialities.• A secondary activity centre (commercial precinct) alongthe north side of O’Herns Road to the east and west ofEdgars Creek. It is diffi cult to estimate the amount ofcommercial fl oorspace that the location and populationlevel will support however, a review of developments ofthis scale and type indicate that the size of the commercialfl oorspace component can vary signifi cantly from 1500 toover 5000 square metres.• A tertiary activity centre (offi ce park precinct) in the southwest corner of Aurora. It is anticipated that this tertiaryactivity centre could be a suitable offi ce location fortechnology-related businesses.• A number of local activity (small convenience) centres toprovide for the convenience-based shopping needs ofresidents in the immediate vicinity. Once a populationbase begins to build around a local activity centre, it isanticipated that it will become viable.• Potentially a freeway service centre along the frontage ofAurora to the Craigieburn Bypass.Although Urbis JHD Pty Ltd anticipates the above hierarchy and acombined fl oorspace of 20,000 square metres in the two primaryactivity centres, the ultimate scale and components of the primaryactivity centres are fl exible as they may organically develop to bedifferent sizes. For example, the northern primary activity centremay develop with 8000 square metres of fl oorspace and the southernprimary activity centre with 12,000 square metres.Aurora Trade AreaAURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007 22|

3.6 TRANSPORTATION3.6.1 Existing Road Network and Traffic VolumesAurora is bounded by Craigieburn Road East to the north, O’HernsRoad to the south and the Craigieburn Bypass to the west. HarvestHome Road, Vearings Road and a number of other minor roadsextend in to or through the subject land. Epping Road is approximately1.6 kilometres east of the east boundary of the subject land. Theabove roads are generally of rural standard and have reservations ofapproximately 20 metres.Craigieburn Road East and Epping Road each have a single, two-lane,two-way carriageway with reservations originally 20 metres wide butwidened to 40 metres wide in some places. O’Herns Road is sealed toa width of approximately 6.5 metres between Epping Road and a pointapproximately 3 kilometres to the west. Harvest Home Road has asealed pavement approximately 7 metres wide between Epping Roadand the subject land approximately 1.6 kilometres to the west. Othersections of these roads and the minor roads within the subject land areunsealed.The existing farming and rural residential uses of the subject landgenerate low volumes of traffi c. There are more intensive land useson nearby land, including the Epping Soccer Stadium and EppingRSL Club at the south west corner of Harvest Home Road and EppingRoad. Uses on the south side of O’Herns Road such as the CasaD’Abruzzo Club, a dog pound and some rural / industrial uses near thesouth west corner of O’Herns Road and Epping Road, also contributeto existing traffi c volumes on O’Herns Road.3.6.2 Existing Planning Framework(a) Epping North Strategic PlanThe ENSP incorporates grid-based design principles to ensure that apositive sense of place is progressively established. Integral to theoverall layout of the ENSP is the creation of interlinked communitieswith each having a relationship to the central core or ‘town centre’. It isintended that the communities / neighbourhoods will each have localvariation and identity but will collectively contribute to the road networkand critical mass required to support the town centre.The concentric rings of the road network combined with offset diagonaltransport links have been designed to enhance physical access andvisual connections between the neighbourhoods and public openspaces. The road network is anticipated to provide convenient anddirect public transport access. The alignment and cross sectionsof the key transport routes will also provide the opportunity for theestablishment of boulevard-style tree planting.(b) Cooper Street Employment AreaThe close proximity of the Cooper Street Employment Area to EppingNorth, including Aurora, is an important component of the Whittleseavision for Epping North as a sustainable urban growth area. Cooper Street Development Plan (Part 1)It is estimated that the traffi c volumes on the roads surroundingand through the subject land generally do not exceed 200 vehiclemovements per day. The exceptions to this are the section of O’HernsRoad east of the dog pound and the section of Harvest Home Roadeast of the Epping RSL Club. On these sections of road, TTMConsulting Pty Ltd (TTM) estimates that the existing traffi c volume isless than 1000 vehicle movements per day.|23 AURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007

('*$565'(c)Epping North Local Structure Plan(d)Extension of Epping Railway Lineramps at the O’Herns Road interchange may be provided before thenorthern ramps.The land to the immediate east of the subject land is included in theEpping North Local Structure Plan (ENLSP). Section A of Auroraforms the north west corner of the ENLSP. The ENLSP anticipatesapproximately 1850 residential lots and a neighbourhood centre,consisting of a DET primary school, retail, community and open spacefacilities.&$&5&+$59(67+20(5'3ULPDU\6FKRRO3656/(SSLQJ1RUWK/RFDO6WUXFWXUH3ODQ(33,1*62&&(567$',80The following two proposals to extend the Epping railway line havebeen considered by the State government.• Extend from Lalor station to Aurora and possibly toDonnybrook.• Extend from Epping station to South Morang and beyondto Mernda.The State government transport blueprint Meeting Our TransportChallenges: Connecting Victorian Communities, states that theextension of the railway line from Epping to South Morang is a longterm project to be developed progressively over 25 years. The Stategovernment also has a policy that prevents new road level crossingsof railway lines.The Department of Infrastructure is preparing a Public AcquisitionOverlay for the public transport corridor to link Lalor station, EppingPlaza, The Northern Hospital, the Cooper Street Employment Area,Aurora and Donnybrook. The reservation is generally 27 metreswide with variations to accommodate stations and topographicalconstraints.(e) Craigieburn Bypass(f) E6 AlignmentThe E6 alignment (4.5 kilometres east of Aurora) forms the eastboundary of the ENSP area. The E6 is a proposed north-south primaryarterial route, which will extend from the Metropolitan Ring Road in thesouth to Bridge Inn Road in the north. It will provide an alternativenorth-south route for both Epping North and Mernda / Doreen that willalleviate pressure on High Street / Epping Road and Plenty Road.A reservation exists for the E6 between the Metropolitan Ring Road andFindon Road. No reservation yet exists north of Findon Road however,north of Harvest Home Road it is proposed that the E6 alignment willutilise the Bindts Road reservation. Bindts Road is an unsealed localroad, which extends from Harvest Home Road to Bridge Inn Road andhas a 15 to 18 metres wide reservation.(g) Edgars RoadEdgars Road provides arterial road access from the Western RingRoad to Cooper Street. Edgars Road is proposed to extend north ofCooper Street to at least Craigieburn Road East.,17(56(&7,21&21752/The Craigieburn Bypass connects the Western Ring Road at(h)Epping RoadCampbellfi eld to the Hume Freeway at Kalkallo.2·+(5165'&)$ &)$127726&$/(:KLWWOHVHDEpping North Local Structure PlanAccess arrangements to the Craigieburn Bypass are as follows.• A fully directional interchange at the Western Ring Road(constructed).• A full diamond interchange at Cooper Street (proposed).• A full diamond interchange at O’Herns Road (proposed).• A south-facing half diamond interchange at CraigieburnRoad East (constructed).• All movements at the Hume Freeway (constructed).The ENLSP specifi es that Epping Road will be upgraded from atwo-lane undivided road to a four-lane divided road with a reservationwidth of 36 metres. This cross section makes provision for a 7 metreswide central median to accommodate a double row of trees and a 5metres wide nature strip on each side to accommodate a single rowof trees. A 2.5 metres wide bike lane is proposed to be included oneach carriageway but no provision is made for parking. Parking willbe accommodated in the service roads required to control access toEpping Road.Based on advice from VicRoads, it is anticipated that the southernAURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007 24|

3.6.3 Traffic ModellingSeveral analyses of future traffi c volumes and road networkrequirements for Epping North were completed for Whittlesea andVicRoads, prior to the commencement of planning for Aurora. Thesestudies were associated with particular projects and were based onthe population and employment trends at the time of the respectivestudies.Grogan Richards Pty Ltd predicted future (ultimate development) traffi cas part of the preparation of the ENSP and ENLSP.The morning peak period traffi c volumes have been modelled by TTMand the outcomes converted to daily volumes for the key streets in thenetwork. Through traffi c on the Craigieburn Bypass was omitted fromthe modelling.The TTM modelling has considered the extent of development thatmay occur north of Craigieburn Road East (in Wollert) based on apossible future scenario provided by Whittlesea. Any possible futuredevelopment north of Craigieburn Road East is dependent on avariety of actions from the State government. Estimates of daily traffi cvolumes have been modelled with and without development north ofCraigieburn Road East.Greg Tucker and Associates Pty Ltd (GTA) completed modelling for theCooper Street Employment Area. The daily traffi c volumes calculatedincluded existing, Epping North and Cooper Street Employment Areatraffi c.Veitch Lister Consulting Pty Ltd (VLC) completed modelling, on behalfof VicRoads, for the ‘Whittlesea ultimate development’. This modellingwas based on the assumption of development north of CraigieburnRoad East. The combination of this land being outside the urbangrowth boundary of the Scheme and used for quarrying, means thatit is unlikely that the development and associated traffi c modellingassumed is a realistic refl ection of the urban outcomes expected in theshort to medium term.Whittlesea has recently completed a ‘future road needs’ study, which ispartly based on traffi c fl ow modelling for the ‘ultimate’ land developmentof Epping North and the surrounding area. This study considers onescenario with development north of Craigieburn Road East and onewithout this development.TTM has prepared a ‘Traffi kplan’ model for Aurora and its surrounds. Inthe studies above, Aurora was not considered with the higher dwellingdensity and fi ne-grain road network now proposed. The arterial streettraffi c volume estimates will be higher therefore in the GTA, VLC andWhittlesea studies than when more numerous and / or lower orderstreet connections are considered, such as in the TTM modelling. Asgrid-based street design places an emphasis on distributing traffi c ontolower order streets, it is important they are taken into account.The following table provides a comparison between the daily traffi cvolumes for the ultimate development of Epping North forecast byTTM and the other studies outlined above. While there is obviouslysome variation between each of the analyses, the TTM modelling mostaccurately refl ects the development proposed at Aurora.STREET LOCATION GROGANRICHARDSPTY LTD(1999)GREG TUCKERANDASSOCIATESPTY LTD(2001)VEITCH LISTERCONSULTINGPTY LTD(2001)WHITTLESEA(2005):No developmentnorth ofCraigieburn RoadEastWHITTLESEA(2005):Developmentnorth ofCraigieburn RoadEastTTMCONSULTINGPTY LTD(2006):No developmentnorth ofCraigieburn RoadEastTTMCONSULTINGPTY LTD(2006):Developmentnorth ofCraigieburn RoadEastO’Herns Road At Craigieburn Bypass ramps 17,900 24,500 41,988 43,600 53,600 41,400 44,600O’Herns Road Scanlon Drive to Edgars Road 20,200 24,500 21,938 24,900 27,500 34,200 35,400O’Herns Road East of Edgars Road 20,100 31,200 28,650 23,400 21,700 26,300 26,600Edgars Road North of O'Herns Road 31,400 32,900 22,386 23,400 17,600 14,200 14,750Scanlon Drive North of O'Herns Road - - 27,109 42,600 60,900 18,500 24,600Scanlon Drive South of Harvest Home Road - - 10,713 - - 12,800 17,500Harvest Home Road East of Edgars Road 12,800 - 19,480 - - 10,050 10,050|25 AURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007

3.7 ENGINEERING INFRASTRUCTURERoad East, west of the Craigieburn Bypass, and associated reticulationwill be of suffi cient capacity to meet the requirements of Aurora.3.7.1 Water SupplyIt is understood that all of the existing dwellings on the subject land relyeither on rainwater tanks or small diameter private main extensionsfor water supply. A new water main in Harvest Home Road will supplyreticulated water to meet the requirements of Aurora. Sewage will bealso treated locally with the recycled water reticulated back to Aurorafor a variety of uses.3.7.4 Other ServicesTelecommunications and electricity are available to the existingdwellings on the subject land but are of limited capacity. Provisionhas been made for telecommunications and electricity to be upgradedto Section A of Aurora. Mains gas is available in O’Herns Road andHarvest Home Road. All of the above services will be of suffi cientcapacity to meet the requirements of Aurora.3.7.2 DrainageAs noted previously, Edgars Creek is an ephemeral stream that fl owsthrough Aurora from north to south. It is ill-defi ned in some sections andhas been badly degraded. There are several natural minor tributaries,the most signifi cant of which are the Edgars Creek Western Tributaryand the Eastern Tributary. Some of the tributaries have been modifi edover time by the land owners to suit specifi c requirements however,none of these works will form part of the proposed drainage scheme.3.7.3 SewerageThe main constraint to the development of Epping North has been thelack of sewerage infrastructure. The metropolitan sewerage systemhas been extended progressively outward from the Melbourne centralactivities district. These extensions, which were planned and designedabout 50 years ago, did not anticipate that urban growth would extendas far as it has done. As a result, the capacity of the system at thefringes of urban growth is limited. The implication of continuing to addmore development to the existing sewerage infrastructure is a higherpotential for sewage spills to the environment.A sewerage infrastructure strategy has been fi nalised for Epping North.The construction of the critical components is underway. The sewageand recycled water treatment facility on the south side of CraigieburnAURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007 26|

1.1 Linkages / Connectivity1.4 Education1.3 Strong Identity1.2 Financial2.3 Materials Management2.2 Flora & Fauna2.1 Water & Energy1.5 Recreation3.1 Range of Builders/Arch2.4 Education3.2 Innovation3.3 Differing lot size/location2.6 Open Space3.4 Flexible Designs2.7 Responsible Living3.5 Different House Types3.6 Affordability2.9 Public Transport Usage4.1 Relationships5.1 Commitments fromother Govt Dept5.2 Subsidies / Investment4.4 Best Practice4.3 Deliver on Time4.2 Control of Design/Costs5.3 Planning & Design5.4 Council Funding5.5 External Private Funding4.7 Marketing4.6 Remain Accountable4.5 Protect Amenity4 GUIDING PRINCIPLESThe VicUrban project team are committed to the following guidingprinciples for Aurora:• prosperous community;• green living;• housing choice;• great value;• early delivery of services.The chart opposite summarises the meanings of the guiding principlesand the actions required to deliver each principle.|27 AURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 20073. HousingChoice4. GreatValue1. ProsperousCommunity2.5 Bicycle / WalkingLife’sBetter atAurora5. EarlyDeliveryof Services2. GreenLiving2.8 Comfort & Amenity

5 DEVELOPMENT PLAN OBJECTIVES AND RESPONSES5.1 SUBDIVISION DESIGN AND LANDSCAPECHARACTER5.1.1 ObjectivesThe functions of VicUrban, as described in the Victorian UrbanDevelopment Authority Act 2003, include “to promote best practicein urban and community design and development, having regard tolinks to transport services and innovations in sustainable development“ (Section 7(1)(d)).The urban design of Aurora is guided by the following principles ofsustainable urban development. The development:• is dense enough to promote mixed use and is walkableenough to support a good, reliable public transportsystem;• provides a range of housing options;• provides accessibility for all ages and abilities andpromotes a healthy lifestyle through design whichencourages walking and social interaction and allows forparticipation by all in the knowledge economy;• provides locally-based employment opportunities;• is sensitive to the local environmental and cultural valuesfrom which it derives its sense of place;• is solar-oriented and uses both passive and active solardesign principles;• has high quality landscape treatment of the public realmincluding ‘streets’ not roads.5.1.2 General Urban Design ResponseThe general urban design response of Aurora to the above principlesis as follows. The detailed design of Aurora will provide more specifi cresponses to those principles.• Different dwelling density targets will apply to differentparts of Aurora. Targets of 14 lots per hectare will applyin conventional residential areas, 20 lots per hectare inmedium density residential areas and 27 lots per hectarein high density residential areas.• The overall dwelling density at Aurora will be signifi cantlyhigher than ‘conventional’ subdivisions in the outer areasof Melbourne. With research showing that the populationdensity required to support high quality public transportis in the order of 50 people per hectare, the overall netdwelling density in Aurora will be around 19 dwellingsper hectare to facilitate opportunities for high quality andsustainable public transport.• Aurora will comprise a number of subtly discernabledistricts based on natural features, open space treatment,plan form, and architectural character. Each district willhave a ‘core’, such as a local activity centre, around whichhigher density development will be constructed.• The urban form will support ‘walkability’ by providing higherdensity development closer to the primary activity centres,as well as being extremely ‘permeable’ to pedestriantravel.• The proposed lot mix will range typically from approximately180 to 650 square metres, with encouragement for arange of housing options. In some particular areas, suchas around activity centres and public open spaces, it isintended to provide alternative dwelling types, includingapartment-style housing, at a denser level than the overallfi gure noted above. A small number of larger lots arealso envisaged. This range of lot sizes and densities willreinforce the range of housing options throughout Aurora.• High levels of accessibility will be provided throughoutAurora, with the permeability and density of the urbanform promoting walking and cycling.• Subject to detailed design and feasibility, it is intended toprovide a fully connected and ‘wired’ Aurora, including itsown community intranet.• Employment opportunities will be available within theCooper Street Employment Area to the south, as well asin the activity centres proposed for Aurora.• The environmental and cultural values of the subject landwill be protected and reinforced. The sites of greatestecological value will be protected. Cultural heritageelements such as Aboriginal archaeological sites, drystone walls, historic buildings and homestead vegetationwill be integrated into the design as far as possible toreinforce the unique sense of place of the subject land.• The north-south grid of streets will maximise the potentialfor solar access, while a commitment to a minimum sixstarenergy rating for dwellings will ensure active andpassive solar technologies are adopted.• The landscape throughout the public realm of Aurorawill be of high quality and incorporate a range ofenvironmentally sensitive initiatives, including a high levelof native species and water sensitive urban design.AURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007 28|

Aurora Development Plan Part 2|29 AURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007

5.1.3 Subdivision DesignThere are two north-south arterial streets - Edgars Road and ScanlonDrive - that connect Craigieburn Road East and O’Herns Road. In theThe only other deviation of access streets from the grid is aroundthe diagonal neighbourhood connector streets that lead towards theWithin these broad parameters, a variety of access street treatmentswill be developed as part of the detailed design of each section andsouthern section, the alignment of Edgars Road facilitates a grade-primary activity centres.stage of subdivision. These treatments, which may include centralseparated crossing of O’Herns Road to allow for a possible futuremedians, angled centre or side parking and wider verges, will create(a)Street Orientationrailway line. North of Harvest Home Road, Edgars Road curves tothe west to avoid a stony rise, to maximise the opportunity for higherThe access street network is generally comprised of 16 metres widereserves (minimum) and is designed to:streetscape diversity in the neighbourhoods.The overall street orientation of Aurora is based on a loosely defi nednorth-south / east-west grid with some key diagonal streets forconnectivity and minor deviations to accommodate a range of natural /cultural features. This approach to the street network provides:density development to support the public transport corridor and tomeet the edge of Edgars Creek to facilitate its integration in the publicrealm. The northern section of Scanlon Drive aligns with the easementassociated with the transmission gas main.• accommodate pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles;• provide for on-street parking;• control vehicle speed by street length, on-street parkingintensity and variation in width and alignment.Closer to the primary activity centres, a wider access street form isproposed within an 18 metres reserve. This street form allows forthrough traffi c while accommodating parking on both sides of thestreet.• strong interconnectedness to allow maximum choice ofroutes through the neighbourhoods;• highly integrated streets to distribute local traffi c;• neighbourhoods that are integrated with surroundingones, creating the opportunity for strong neighbourhoodsocial connections to occur;The east-west neighbourhood connector streets between CraigieburnRoad East, Harvest Home Road and O’Herns Road provideconnections to the future development to the east of Aurora. Thesestreets connect the neighbourhoods, help to distribute traffi c moreevenly through the subject land and provide east-west access to theeducation centres.All access streets within Aurora will provide footpaths on both sides ofthe street.• maximum solar access for the lots and dwellings;• interesting highlights in the urban form where the streetpattern deviates from the grid.In the north west of Aurora, a diagonal neighbourhood connector streetextends along the edge of the conservation area, crosses ScanlonDrive and connects to the northern primary activity centre. An east-The grid proposed provides the framework for a broad range of lotsizes and types, including lots with front and rear vehicle access.west neighbourhood connector street in the north east provides adirect link between Aurora and the Epping North East Local StructurePlan area. An east-west neighbourhood connector street in the southeast of the subject land provides a connection between the futureSmall local open spaces(b)Arterial and Neighbourhood Connector Streetsdevelopment in the ENLSP area and the southern primary activitycentre, through Section A of Aurora.SquaresThe arterial and neighbourhood connector street network of Aurora is aloose grid generally spaced between 600 and 900 metres.(c)Access StreetsThere are three east-west arterial streets - Craigieburn Road East,Harvest Home Road and O’Herns Road. Craigieburn Road East andO’Herns Road provide connections to the regional road network to theeast and west, while Harvest Home Road will terminate east of theCraigieburn Bypass. Harvest Home Road is an important secondaryarterial however, as it will connect Aurora and any development to theeast to the northern primary centre at its intersection with Edgars Road.West of Edgars Road, Harvest Home Road will deviate to the southwest to create a direct connection to the local activity centre at theintersection with Scanlon Drive.The fi ner grain of access streets throughout Aurora reinforces anoverall north-south / east-west grid. Deviation from this grid occursprimarily to facilitate the retention of a number of natural features of thesubject land, including:• existing trees in the north west;• a number of stony rises;• the curved alignment of Edgars Creek;• topographic changes.Generous mediansWidened road reservesAURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007 30|

(d) Access LanesIn a number of locations it is desirable and proposed to have housingWhile the largest (500 to 1000 square metres) lots will be interspersedthroughout Aurora, they will be minimised within the walkablecatchments of the primary activity centres and stations / interchanges.LOT ORIENTATION / TYPEINDICATIVE LOT WIDTH(metres)INDICATIVE LOT DEPTH(metres)forms with garages accessed from the rear of lots and consequentlyaccess lanes. The provision of access lanes creates the opportunityfor higher order streets with streetscapes that are free of garage doorsand driveway crossovers. This form of streetscape has the potentialalso for a higher level of passive surveillance due to the increasednumber of dwellings fronting each length of street.A diversity of lot sizes can assist in providing choice and consequentlyan opportunity for a variety of dwelling and household types.(f) Lot Orientation and DimensionsNorth-south lot with front access(garage at main street frontage)10.5+ 25+ on north side28+ on south sideWhile the density and urban design benefi ts of access lanes are clear,they will be designed carefully to ensure safety and security. Theaccess lanes are relatively short in length and provide no ‘hiding places’that would compromise personal security. Careful attention to lightingwill ensure clear views at night through the access lanes.The creation of garage-top housing, in the form of small studioapartments, will be encouraged along the access lanes, particularlyon corner lots where the dwelling can contribute to the surveillance ofthe lane. These housing forms will provide greater dwelling choice atAurora.The quality of solar access to lots is determined strongly by the lotshape and orientation (and of course by building siting and design).The orientation has already been noted as being generally north-southor east-west but the shape and proportions of the lots will also respondto solar access requirements.The detailed design of dwellings in Section A of Aurora has concludedthat a six-star energy rating is best achieved on east-west lots fordetached dwellings and north-south lots for terrace and semi-detacheddwellings.The broad parameters that have been adopted in the creation of lotsNorth-south lot with rear access(garage at rear on access lane)East-west lot with front access(garage at main street frontage)East-west lot with rear access(garage at rear on access lane)6.5 - 10.5(minimum of 9.5 on corners)12.5+(minimum 10.5 with singlegarages and duplex houses)Minimum 7.5(minimum of 9.5 on corners)30+ on north side32+ on south side25 - 3230 - 32are shown opposite. The fi gures are indicative only and will be refi ned(e)Lot Sizesas part of the detailed design of each stage of subdivision.As noted earlier, dwelling density is a critical issue in relation tosustainability, particularly to achieve high quality public transportprovision. Aurora will aim to provide higher density (180 to 300 squaremetres) lots and apartment-style dwellings (100 to 150 square metres)within the walkable catchments (800 metres) of the primary activityCar parking to all dwellings will be provided in accordance with therequirements of the Scheme. Double garages at the main streetfrontage will be only provided generally where the lot width is 12.5metres or greater. Single garages at the main street frontage will beprovided generally where the lot width is less than 12.5 metres.centres, public transport stations / interchanges and district cores.The dwelling density will decrease generally as the distance fromthe primary activity centres and stations / interchanges increases.The majority of lots will be in the range of 300 to 500 square metreshowever, there will be opportunity for smaller lots (180 to 300 squaremetres) close to public open space or community facilities.|31 AURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007

5.1.4 Landscape Character(b)Arterial Streets(a)General Landscape ResponseThe intent of the landscape approach to arterial streets is to providelegible, clear pathways through and around Aurora for motorists,cyclists and pedestrians.The local character of Aurora is infl uenced greatly by its natural andcultural landscape character elements. These elements will beincorporated into the landscape design, in order to help develop a localsense of place.The sustainability objective of Aurora and the proposed dwellingdensity generate additional opportunities for the landscape characterof the public realm, including the following.Central medians and wide verges provide the opportunity for strongavenue planting of native trees and water sensitive urban design(WSUD) treatments, where practicable. Deciduous trees may be usedin the primary activity centres to provide greater solar access duringwinter. Indigenous shrubs, groundcovers and grass species may beused as accent plantings. In the primary activity centres, a more urbanform of streetscape will include hard-paved or gravel areas and theprovision of street furniture and public art.• The ability to reuse and recycle water on the subject landwill provide the potential for greater species diversity.• Passive solar heating / cooling requires access for sunlightinto rooms in winter and shade in summer. Effectivecapture of solar energy for conversion to electricityrequires uninterrupted access to the sun throughout theday. This requires appropriate built form as well as the useof suitable street trees, which will infl uence the landscapecharacter of the streets.• Some locally indigenous tree species, such as RiverRed-gums, are not appropriate for use as street treesdue to their scale, form and tendency to drop limbs.Other species have not had a proven track record instreetscapes or have not been grown commercially in thenumbers required for a development the size of Aurora.Acknowledging these constraints, it is appropriate to usenon-indigenous native trees in streets.• Recycled or renewable materials and resources willbe used in the landscape construction and representsustainable materials with low embodied energy,low toxicity and the lowest discernable energy costsassociated with transportation.(c) Neighbourhood Connector StreetsThe intent of the landscape approach to neighbourhood connectorstreets is to reinforce the hierarchy of street types at Aurora whileproviding fl exibility to respond to particular circumstances, such asadjacent to education centres where wider footpaths may be required.There is the opportunity for strong avenue planting of native trees andindigenous shrubs, groundcovers and grass species may be used asaccent plantings at key points. WSUD treatments may also requirespace for swales and drainage courses.Arterial StreetNeighbourhood Connector StreetAURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007 32|

(d)Access Streets(e)Access LanesThe majority of streets within Aurora will be access streets. The intentwithin these streetscapes is to provide a comfortable, domestic-scalelandscape treatment where landscape and urban design cues will beused to alert motorists to slow down.A relatively high density of street trees will be used in access streetswith a variety of species to create a sense of neighbourhood identityand infl uence the microclimate. The species will be predominantlynon-indigenous native trees. Shrubs, groundcovers and grassspecies may be used as accent plantings and street furniture may beincorporated at key points.The intent of the landscape approach to access lanes is to provideclear and safe access for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists.The access lanes will be paved predominantly but where space isavailable, small trees with robust ground covers or tufting plants aroundthe base will be introduced to provide shade and visual softening.As with the arterial and neighbourhood connector streets, WSUDtreatments may also require space for swales and drainage courses.Access LaneAccess Street|33 AURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007

(f)Street TreesSTREET TYPE / INDICATIVE PLANT SPECIESEVERGREEN (E)TYPICALSTREET TYPE / INDICATIVE PLANT SPECIESEVERGREEN (E)TYPICALThe selection of particular street trees for each stage of subdivisionwill be refi ned and reviewed over time. An indicative list of species isopposite./ DECIDUOUS (D)HEIGHT AT MATURITY(metres)/ DECIDUOUS (D)HEIGHT AT MATURITY(metres)Arterial streetSpotted Gum (Corymbia maculata) E 20Smooth-barked Apple (Angophora costata) E 15 - 20Neighbourhood connector streetCentral medians and side vergesBlackwood (Acacia melanoxylon) E 15 - 20Spotted Gum (Corymbia maculata) E 15 +River Peppermint (Eucalyptus elata) E 15 - 20Yellow Box (Eucalyptus melliadora) E 15 - 20'Rosea' Red Ironbark (Eucalyptus sideroxylon 'Rosea') E 10 - 20Narrow-leaved Peppermint (Eucalyptus radiata) E 15 - 20Median-divided street(30 metres road reserve)Central mediansRed Spotted-gum (Eucalyptus mannifera ssp.E 10 - 20maculosa)Red Box (Eucalyptus polyanthemos) E 15 - 20Side vergesRed Flowering-gum (Corymbia ficifolia) E 6 - 10Wallangarra White-gum (Eucalyptus scoparia) E 10 - 15Access street(north-south streets with minimal setback todwellings)Lightwood (Acacia implexa) E 6 - 10Blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon) E 6 - 10Coastal Banksia (Banksia integrifolia) E 10 - 15Dawson River Bottlebrush (Callistemon viminalisE 6 - 10'Dawson River')Red Flowering-gum (Corymbia ficifolia) E 6 - 10Yellow Bloodwood (Corymbia eximia) E 6 - 10Silver Gum (Eucalyptus crenulata) E 6 - 10Large-fruited Yellow-gum (Eucalyptus leucocylon ssp.E 6 - 10Megalocarpa)Eukie Dwarf Yellow-gum (Eucalyptus leucoxylonE 5 - 7'Eukie Dwarf')Snow Gum (Eucalyptus pauciflora 'Little Snowman') E 7Coral Gum (Eucalyptus torquata) E 6 - 10Kanooka (Tristaniopsis laurina) E 6 - 10Access laneSmall evergreen treesBottlebrush (Callistemon salignus) E 4 - 6Bottlebrush (Callistemon 'Harkness') E 4 - 6Bottlebrush (Callistemon 'King's Park Special') E 4 - 6Lemon (Citrus limon 'Eureka') E 7Pin Cushion Hakea (Hakea laurina) E 4 - 6Pink Spike Hakea (Hakea coriacea) E 4 - 7Olive (Olea europaea (seedless) E 5 - 7Access street(east-west streets with minimal setback todwellings)Dwarf Apple Myrtle (Angophora hipida) E 6 - 10Rose She-Oak (Allocasuarina torulosa) E 10 - 15Yellow Gum (Eucalyptus leucoxylon spp. Connata) E 10 - 12Eukie Dwarf Yellow-gum (Eucalyptus leucoxylonE 5 - 7'Eukie Dwarf')'Little Spotty' (Eucalyptus mannifera - dwarf form) E 5 - 7Gippsland Manna-gum (Eucalyptus pryoriana) E 12 - 14Pink Gum (Eucalyptus fasciculosa) E 6 - 10Dwarf Yellow-gum (Eucalyptus leucoxylon dwarf) E 6 - 10Wallangarra White-gum (Eucalyptus scoparia) E 10 - 15White Cedar (Melia azaderach) D 6 - 10AURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007 34|

(g)Public Transport CorridorThe intent of the landscape approach to the public transport corridor isto provide an attractive appearance until the railway line is constructed.Signs in the corridor will explain the future use of the land and that thelandscape treatment is an interim solution.The public transport corridor varies in width but is approximately 26metres wide and is abutted on both sides by streets for most of itslength. An avenue of trees will be planted on each side of the streetswith a grass ‘median’ in the centre.The railway line is expected to be constructed approximately 2 metresbelow the abutting street levels. The landscape approach outlinedabove anticipates the retention of the avenues of trees, which maybe quite mature when the railway line is constructed. The precisearrangement is subject to the agreement of the Department ofInfrastructure in consultation with the Council.Public Transport CorridorTypical Heavy Rail Cross Section(Reproduced from ‘Reservation of Land for the Epping North Public Transport Corridor’, Department of Infrastructure, February 2007)|35 AURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007

5.2 HOUSING5.2.2 Built FormThe VicUrban Sustainability Charter outlines the role of VicUrbanin demonstrating initiatives that will contribute to improvements inThe Aurora CDS to be prepared in conjunction with Whittlesea andother service organisations will include a housing diversity plan that will5.2.1 ObjectivesThe proposed more traditional, ‘inner urban’ level of density meansthat the urban character of Aurora will be quite different from otherdevelopments in Whittlesea and on the fringe generally.housing affordability and facilitating the delivery of housing that catersfor the broadest range of households. Relevant objectives include thefollowing.include the following range of actions for Aurora:• preparation of an analysis of housing needs;• provision of a diversity of lot sizes to encourage a rangeThe objectives of housing at Aurora are to:• provide a greater level of housing diversity in order tofacilitate a wider range of dwelling types, styles, forms andcosts appropriate to the needs of the community and tomaximise opportunities for entry into home ownership;• provide a dwelling density to support moresustainable public transport and mixed use, walkableneighbourhoods;• ensure that affordable housing, including rental housing,is integrated into Aurora and is well located to publictransport and other services;• encourage architecture that refl ects the overallsustainability objectives of Aurora while being fl exibleenough to evolve over time to incorporate future advancesin technology;• promote the delivery of well-designed, energy effi cientAnother obvious difference in the urban character of Aurora willemerge from the philosophy that the overall ‘look’ must reinforce thecommitment of VicUrban to sustainability. This will result in all built formexpressing a contemporary aesthetic, avoiding reproduction or perioddesign to reinforce the difference of Aurora from other, less sustainabledevelopment periods.An important component of the urban character will be the creationof ‘sense of place’ and individual identity throughout Aurora. A singlebuilder will not ‘build-out’ Aurora so the built form will be diverse and willensure that neighbourhood identity can develop as the suburb maturesand evolves. Within this variety, it is the intention of VicUrban to ensurehigh quality in the built form. A number of processes (refer Section 7below) will be put in place to ensure a quality outcome.5.2.3 Housing Tenure and Affordability• Demonstrating innovation in subdivision design anddwelling product development.• Facilitating dwellings for purchase at low entry levels.• Increasing the supply of affordable rental housing throughinnovative partnerships with the not-for-profi t socialhousing sector and the Offi ce of Housing.VicUrban intends to achieve these objectives through the followingcontributions to improving housing affordability.• Encouraging environmental design to reduce the cost ofdwelling construction and ongoing operating costs.• Partnering with government to achieve mixed incomecommunities.• Seeking partnerships with fi nanciers to develop SharedEquity Home Loan products that increase access to homeownership.of housing options in response to the housing needsanalysis;• ensuring a proportion of dwelling and land packages areavailable in the lowest quartile of the local market;• development of sustainable models for supply andmanagement of affordable rental housing throughpartnership with at least one accredited not-for-profi thousing provider;• encouraging the application of environmental andadaptable housing design principles to help minimisedwelling maintenance and operating costs.housing that has low maintenance requirements and iscost effi cient through its lifecycle;The Whittlesea Housing Strategy highlights broad housing affordability• ensure that dwellings are fl exible enough to adapt to theconcerns and the need for an expanded rental market and specialistchanging lifestyle preferences of the community;housing, such as aged care accommodation.• explore a range of tenure options with different housingproviders, including the Offi ce of Housing and communityThe functions of VicUrban, as described in the Victorian Urbanhousing providers;Development Authority Act 2003, include “to contribute to improvements• ensure that dwelling siting and design is compatible within housing affordability in Victoria” (Section 7(1)(f)).any Aurora design controls and guidelines.Affordability is not related just to the initial cost of the land and dwellingpackage but also to the ongoing operating costs related to the degreeof energy effi ciency of the dwelling, housing adaptability and householdtransport costs. VicUrban defi nes affordable housing as “well locatedhousing that meets the needs of low to moderate income households(earning up to $60,000) in terms of cost, size, quality, security of tenure,safety and access to employment, services and facilities, and isavailable for purchase or rental without causing the household incomestress”.AURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007 36|

5.3 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATIONSeveral other listed species have been recorded within 5 kilometres ofthe subject land.There is a three-step approach to ensure net gain as follows:fully offset this loss, when the conservation signifi cance of thevegetation is considered.• avoid adverse impacts, particularly through avoidingBased on the above, Aurora will be referred at the appropriate timevegetation clearance;The proposed management of 25.5 hectares of retained5.3.1 Objectivesto the Commonwealth Minister for Environment and Heritage for adetermination under the EPBC Act.• if impacts cannot be avoided, they should be minimisedthrough planning, project design and management;vegetation within the identifi ed offset areas is predicted to yield again of 5.0 habitat hectares over a ten year management period.The objectives of environmental conservation at Aurora are to:• comply with relevant State and Commonwealthgovernment biodiversity legislation and policy;• avoid or minimise adverse impacts on fl ora and fauna.(b) Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988Under the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 (FFGAct), a permit is required from the Department of Sustainability and• for unavoidable vegetation loss, develop appropriateoffset options.Under the Framework net gain losses and offsets are assessed interms of:Woodland reserves within ADP2 and on nearby VicUrban landwill satisfy the tree protection and recruitment requirement forunavoidable removal of indigenous trees..An offset management plan is under preparation. This plan aimsEnvironment (DSE) in some circumstances to ‘take’ listed fl ora species,• ‘habitat hectares’, which is a measurement of habitatto:5.3.2 Compliance with Biodiversity Legislation andPolicy Contextspecies that are members of listed communities or protected fl ora.Plains Grassland and Plains Grassy Woodland are listed communitiesquality and quantity;• tree protection and / or replacement for the removal oflarge and medium trees;Protect retained native vegetation and habitats andindigenous fl ora and fauna species during developmentof Aurora and into the future.and occur on the subject land. Stony Knoll Shrubland (Grassland) may• revegetation for land or water protection.Permanently protect populations of threatened fl orabe considered a listed community under the broad defi nition of Plainsand fauna species.(a) Environment Protection and BiodiversityConservation Act 1999Grassland. Many of the species recorded at Aurora are protected fl oraand one listed fl ora species – Tough Scurf-pea - was recorded. TwoOffsets can be achieved by improvements in the quality or extentof native vegetation in a selected ‘offset area’. The conservationThrough vegetation protection, conservationmanagement and improvement in vegetation quality,listed fauna species - Growling Grass Frog and Golden Sun Moth -signifi cance of vegetation to be removed is taken into account whenachieve a vegetation ‘gain’ in accordance with theThe Commonwealth EPBC Act applies to developments andassociated activities that have the potential to impact signifi cantly onmatters protected under the EPBC Act. Under the EPBC Act, actions(unless exempt) require approval from the Commonwealth Minister forEnvironment and Heritage if they have, may have or are likely to havea signifi cant impact on a ‘matter of national environmental signifi cance’.There are currently seven matters of national environmentalsignifi cance, including two relevant to the subject land - nationally listedthreatened species and ecological communities and listed migratoryspecies.The following species listed under the EPBC Act have been found onthe subject land:• Matted Flax-lily, which is listed as ‘endangered’;• Golden Sun Moth, which is listed as ‘criticallyendangered ‘;• Growling Grass Frog, which is listed as ‘vulnerable’.were recorded at Aurora.All the necessary approvals will be sought from the DSE in accordancewith the FFG Act.(c) Native Vegetation Management Framework inVictoriaBiodiversity policy has been adopted by the State government.Victoria’s Native Vegetation Management: A Framework for Action(the Framework) provides State government policy for the protection,enhancement and revegetation of native vegetation across Victoriaand is an incorporated document in the Scheme. The Frameworkis based on the principle that there should be a net gain in the extentand quality of native vegetation throughout Victoria so that there is “areversal, across the whole landscape, of the long-term decline in theextent and quality of native vegetation, leading to a Net Gain”.offsets are determined. Much of the native vegetation within Aurorameets the defi nition of high to very high conservation value under theFramework.Biosis Research Pty Ltd has completed a net gain (habitathectare) assessment of Aurora, including Section A (January2007). The study identifi ed approximately 33.2 hectares of nativevegetation, comprising Stony Knoll Shrubland/Grassland, PlainsGrassland and Plains Grassy Woodland.Three hundred and eleven ‘medium’ to ‘very large’ indigenouscanopy trees have been identifi ed within the study area.Approximately 308 ‘small’ trees are also present. ADP2 alonecontains 141 ‘medium’ to ‘very large’ indigenous canopy treesand 231 ‘small’ trees. At least 80% of all trees within ADP2 willbe retained.Development of Aurora will necessitate the removal of up to 7.8hectares of native vegetation, which translates to 2.0 habitatprinciples of the Native Vegetation Framework (NRE2002).Key principles of the plan include: The offset areas will be suitably protected to ensuretheir permanent protection by means of on-titleagreement, zoning and/or overlay provisions includingtree protection measures where necessary Perimeter fencing will be established and maintained Grazing will be prevented unless necessary forecological purposes Weed levels will be managed so that cover does notincrease beyond current levels, and high threat weedswill be managed beyond legal duty of care Fallen timber, logs and organic litter will be retained Rabbits and foxes will be controlledhectares. A gain of 3.3 habitat hectares would be required to|37 AURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007

(d) Draft Port Phillip and Westernport Native VegetationPlanThe Draft Port Phillip and Westernport Native Vegetation Plan (thedraft NVP) has been prepared to develop a strategic and coordinatedapproach to maintaining the quantity and quality of native vegetationin the Port Phillip and Westernport region. The draft NVP describesthe biodiversity values of the region and provides guidance to localgovernment on how clearing applications should be assessed basedon regional priorities.Native vegetation on the subject land is included with VegetationManagement Units (VMU) which are a ‘very high priority’ for retention.The draft NVP proposes that applications for clearing in any of the VMUbe refused, except for projects of state signifi cance as determined atMinisterial level.• Protection of reserves during construction works• Threatened fl ora management• Threatened fauna management• Planning, monitoring and reporting on works5.3.4 Habitat LinksAt the local landscape level, the primary habitat link within Aurora isEdgars Creek. Edgars Creek will be developed as a major linear publicopen space ‘spine’ through Aurora. Road crossings will be designedto allow the movement of fauna, particularly the Growling Grass Frog,along the creek corridor. Landscaping works within the open spacewill be designed to complement the habitat and corridor values of thecreek.Where feasible, road reserves, parkland and the power easement willprovide ‘stepping stone’ plantings of indigenous trees and shrubs.(e)Whittlesea Planning SchemeAs outlined in Section 2.1.6 above, the Scheme includes Aurora inVPO2. A planning permit is required generally to remove, destroyor lop native vegetation in VPO2. A planning permit is also requiredgenerally to remove, destroy or lop native vegetation under Clause52.17 of the Scheme. In the circumstances specifi ed in Clause 66 ofthe Scheme, the DSE is a referral authority for such planning permitapplications.5.3.5 Minimising Impacts on Flora and FaunaAurora has been designed to protect the sites of greatest ecologicalsignifi cance in conservation areas. These areas will also be managedto provide net gain offsets for any unavoidable losses of nativevegetation. The range of uses for each area will be determinedaccording to its ecological values and sensitivity to disturbance.Concept Plan Edgars Creek5.3.3 Environmental Management PlanAn Environmental Managment Plan (EMP) will be prepared for eachsubdivision section of Aurora in response to a subdivision permitcondition. Each EMP will include the following items as applicable.• Fencing and control of access by residents• Protection of trees, and management of tree recruitmentareas• Control of biomass• Weed managementThe change from low intensity farming uses to high density urban useswill result however, in a number of potential impacts on biodiversityduring and after the construction phases. Many of the potentialimpacts can be mitigated.The following table summarises the potential impacts, the mitigationmeasures likely to be adopted at Aurora and the probable impacts onconservation signifi cance after the mitigation measures have beenimplemented.AURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007 38|

SITE POTENTIAL IMPACT MITIGATION MEASURES PROBABLE IMPACTS AFTERMITIGATIONHigh quality stony rises Continued degradation prior to construction. Develop and implement interim management plan. Low to moderateAccidental damage during construction phase. Temporary protective fencing around stony rises. Implementation of 'ecological deposit' or fines to contractors for damage. LowActive damage following construction from human activity. Retain as 'no-go' areas, restricting or preventing access by the general public. LowContinued general degradation (for example, weed invasion). Implementation of management plan. 'Friends' groups. Low to moderateLarger, less intact stonyrisesContinued degradation prior to construction. Develop and implement interim management plan. Low to moderateAccidental damage during construction phase.Temporary protective fencing around stony rises. Implementation of 'ecological deposit' or fines to contractorsLowfor damage.Active damage following construction from human activity. Controlled public access. Low to moderateContinued general degradation (for example, weed invasion). Implementation of management plan. 'Friends' groups. Low to moderateStands of mature RiverRed-gumsContinued degradation prior to construction, especially water-stress andover-browsing by possums.Accidental damage during construction phase.Investigate, develop and implement management plan.Temporary protective fencing around stands. Implementation of 'ecological deposit' or fines to contractors fordamage.Active damage following construction from human activity. Controlled public access. LowLow to moderateLowContinued general degradation (for example, weed invasion and pest fauna). Develop and implement management plan (revegetation, regeneration). 'Friends' groups. ModerateSmall, isolated ordegraded stony risesLoss during development design.If practicable, retain within conservation areas. Impacts and mitigation measures then as for high quality andlarger stony rises.If not practicable to retain, investigate and develop plans for targeted flora and fauna salvage.LowModerateGolden Sun Moth habitat Loss of habitat during development design. Adjust conservation areas to encompass habitat around known populations with buffer zone. Further investigateLow to moderatepotential habitat.Disturbance during breeding (mid November to end January). Avoid construction in the vicinity at this time. LowChange to habitat (for example, weeds, chemicals and hydrology). Develop effective management plans including regular monitoring. Low to moderate if successful. High ifunsuccessfulIsolated live and deadtreesLoss during development design. If practicable, retain within conservation areas. Low to moderateIf not practicable to retain, move felled trees to stands of River Red-gums (as ground habitat) or createdModeratewetlands (as a perch).Disruption of breeding of hollow-dependent fauna. Avoid removal of hollow-bearing trees during spring / early summer. Low to moderate|39 AURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007

SITE POTENTIAL IMPACT MITIGATION MEASURES PROBABLE IMPACTS AFTERMITIGATIONDry stone walls Loss during development design. If practicable, retain within conservation areas. LowIf not practicable to retain, move stones to selected stony rises to enhance habitat values.Low to moderateAccidental damage during construction phase.Temporary protective fencing around walls. Implementation of 'ecological deposit' or fines to contractors forVery lowdamage.Removal of stones or damage to the walls following construction. Public education. Possible other techniques developed in conjunction with heritage experts. Low to moderateEdgars Creek Creation of barriers to fauna movement. Minimise number of road crossings. Consideration of the design of each crossing to optimise the passage offauna along the Edgars Creek. Develop bridges that facilitate fauna movements.ModerateAccidental damage during construction phase.Promote best work practices. Develop and implement sediment control plan. Temporary protective fencingaround Edgars Creek. Implementation of 'ecological deposit' or fines to contractors for damage.Low to moderateActive damage following construction from human activity. Controlled public access. Low to moderateContinued general degradation (for example, weed invasion and pest fauna). Develop and implement management plan (weed control, revegetation). Wetland creation. Low to moderateRunoff of polluted water from urban development. Develop drainage management plan. Low to moderateEdgars Creek tributaries Loss during development design. If practicable, retain within conservation areas. Impacts and mitigation measures then as for Edgars Creek. LowIf not practicable to retain, enhance the ecological value of Edgars Creek within Aurora as compensation.Encourage improvements beyond Aurora.ModerateFarm damLoss of population (likely breeding) of nationally significant Growling GrassFrog.If practicable, retain farm dam within conservation area.Low to moderateCreate a series of wetlands designed to provide habitat for the species along Edgars Creek in close proximity todam. Must be established at least two years prior to removal of dam to allow establishment of wetlandvegetation.Low to moderateMostly exotic grasslandsused for agriculturalpurposesLoss of locally common and artificial habitat used by open country speciesand species requiring large areas of habitat. Inevitable loss of someindigenous fauna species from subject land.Enhance retained habitats elsewhere in Aurora as compensation.Low to moderateAURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007 40|

5.4 CULTURAL HERITAGE CONSERVATIONAurora. RAP’s may also assess Cultural Heritage Management Plansand either approve or reject them. Provisions are also made for anappeals process.5.4.3 Minimising Impacts on Places of CulturalHeritage Significanceor appropriate Aboriginal community and a qualifi ed archaeologist willbe present during the disturbance of these sites.Portions of the subject land that are to be developed will be subject5.4.1 ObjectivesThe objectives of cultural heritage conservation at Aurora are to:• comply with relevant State and Commonwealthgovernment cultural heritage legislation and policy;• avoid and minimise adverse impacts on Aboriginal andpost contact places of cultural heritage signifi cance.5.4.2 Compliance with Cultural Heritage Legislationand Policy(a) Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006Where part or all of any Aboriginal archaeological site is not to beretained, the necessary approvals to disturb the site will be soughtfrom the Registered Aboriginal Party or in the absence of a RAP, fromAboriginal Affairs Victoria, before any action is taken.(b) Heritage Act 1995The Victorian Heritage Act 1995 details the statutory requirementsfor protecting heritage items including historic buildings and gardens,historic places and objects and historical archaeological sites andhistoric shipwrecks. A number of historical sites including farm ruins,artefact scatters and dry stone walls at Aurora are listed on the VictorianHeritage Inventory, established under the Heritage Act. Under theHeritage Act, consent is required for particular works or activities,including excavation, associated with an historical archaeological site.Heritage Victoria, part of the DPCD, administers the Heritage Act.(a)Aboriginal SitesThe Aboriginal archaeological survey demonstrated that the mostsignifi cant sites (refer Section 2.3.1 above) are located on the stonysites near watercourses. Very few artefacts were located outside theseareas. The management objectives for Aboriginal sites are to conserveand retain as much as practicable of the evidence of Aboriginaloccupation of Aurora and to conserve sites that demonstrate thispresence. These sites will be retained in conservation areas or publicopen space with primarily passive recreation use.VicUrban will develop and implement an archaeological managementplan for the protection, conservation, interpretation and ongoingmanagement of Aboriginal archaeological sites on the subject land.Where erosion may be an issue, the Aboriginal sites will be revegetatedto an archaeological salvage, monitoring and recording program torecover any further Aboriginal archaeological material. This will takethe form of sub-surface testing or a burn-off, if necessary, in areas ofhigh archaeological sensitivity that have poor ground surface visibilityor where sites may be covered by alluvium. If additional Aboriginalarchaeological sites are identifi ed as result of these processes, they willbe recorded and management recommendations will be formulated.(b) European Farm ComplexesThe management objective for European historical sites is to conserveand retain as much as practicable of the evidence of early Europeansettlement in Epping. These sites will be retained and incorporatedinto public open space, where practicable. Management of someof these sites in conjunction with other uses, such as CAC, may beappropriate.The Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 provides protection for all Aboriginalcultural property (excluding human remains interred after 1834)relating to the past Aboriginal in Victoria. This includes individualartefacts, scatters of stone artefacts, rock art sites, ancient campsites, human burials, scarred trees, ruins and archaeological depositsassociated with Aboriginal missions or reserves. It can also includeplaces with historical associations with Aboriginal people or groups.All the necessary approvals will be sought from Heritage Victoria inaccordance with the Heritage Act.with indigenous species. If artefacts are exposed, topsoiling will occur.This will be best achieved by using relocated turf from areas of nativegrasslands that may otherwise be destroyed. Construction of pathsthrough the Aboriginal sites will be avoided or only constructed bybuilding up on top of the natural surface - as opposed to excavating intothe surface. Introduced materials such as scoria, crushed bluestone orgranitic sand will be used to raise the paths above the natural surface.Management plans will be prepared by VicUrban for the Europeanfarm complexes on the portion of the subject land owned by VicUrban,based on their level of signifi cance and suitability for conservation.Management objectives for the following complexes on VicUrban landare proposed in the Cultural Heritage Survey of Aurora, Epping,Victoria prepared by Biosis Research Pty Ltd.The Aboriginal Heritage Act also establishes administrative proceduresfor archaeological assessments and the mandatory reporting of thediscovery of Aboriginal sites and approval processes for disturbance ordamage to Aboriginal places or objects through either cultural HeritagePermits, or Cultural Heritage Management Plans. Aboriginal AffairsVictoria (AAV) part of the DPCD administers the Aboriginal HeritageAct.Interpretation of the cultural history of the area will be carried out.This will be managed carefully so as not to identify the locations ofAboriginal artefacts, in order to prevent possible unauthorised removalor disturbance.Both site restoration and interpretation programs will be completed inclose consultation with Aboriginal communities.• Pike’s homestead.• Lynch Park farm.• Old Myee-Aherns farm.• Lehman’s farm.• Ziebell’s DairyThe Aboriginal Heritage Act also provides for the establishment ofRegistered Aboriginal Parties (RAPs), who have the role of advising onmatters of Aboriginal cultural heritage. The Wurundjeri Land Tribe andCompensation Cultural Heritage Council Incorporated has applied tobe registered as the Aboriginal Party for the Melbourne Area, includingAs noted earlier, where part or all of any Aboriginal archaeological siteis not to be retained, all necessary approvals to disturb the site will besought from the Registered Aboriginal Party or Aboriginal Affairs beforeany action is taken. A representative of the Registered Aboriginal Party|41 AURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007

(c)Dry Stone WallsA number of dry stone walls have been identifi ed at Aurora. Despitethe varying condition and intactness of the walls, they contribute to thehistoric and visual character of the subject land. As the detailed designfor each portion of Aurora occurs, a comprehensive concept plan forthe incorporation of appropriate dry stone walls into the developmentwill be prepared as part of the landscape design. This concept plan willbe formalised in a stone wall management plan.The general approach to the integration of the dry stone walls in thedevelopment of Aurora can be summarised as follows.• The retention and reconstruction of dry stone walls intheir current location. These walls will be fully groutedon concrete footings and will be fi nished with deep, rakedjoints to maintain their visual quality.• Dry stone walls that cannot be retained in their currentlocation will be salvaged. The rocks from these walls maybe returned to the lower quality stony rises or used in theconstruction of new stone walls.• Where dry stone walls occur in large conservation areas,the walls will be retained in their current construction style.Access to these spaces will be controlled and will notendanger therefore the longevity of the walls.(d)Evidence of QuarryingSmall quarry holes are a feature of most of the stony rises in Aurora.They are most common on the larger stony rises closest to the sitesof former bluestone buildings. As the sources of building stone for thehomesteads and barns of the earliest farms in the 1850s and 1860s,they assist in interpreting the land use history of the subject land andthe character of the buildings and the people who lived in them. Quarryholes in areas retained as undeveloped public open space will be leftAURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007 42|

5.5 OPEN SPACE AND RECREATION5.5.2 Public Open Space - Active / StructuredRecreation5.5.1 ObjectivesThe objective of the provision of open space and recreation at Aurorais to create an open space system that:• provides a diversity of recreation opportunity within thecontext of Epping North;• protects sites of greatest ecological and cultural value;• provides a wide range of public open spaces, ranging fromlocal to neighbourhood to district;• complies with the Scheme requirements.The public open space strategy for Aurora responds directly to theforecast number and needs of the expected population. Provision, interms of quality, quantum, variety and distribution will be in accordancewith Scheme requirements. An open space system is proposed thatprotects and enhances natural and cultural features within a seriesof highly accessible open spaces that provide a diverse range ofrecreation opportunities for both passive / unstructured and active /structured recreation.The open space network within Aurora comprises active open space,passive open space and conservation areas, which preserve sites ofcultural and ecological signifi cance. These spaces are linked by thelocal and regional walking and cycling network.Recreation facilities established on active open spaces are stronglyinfl uenced by the principles of co-location and shared use, walking andcycling access, safety, attractive design and maximising opportunitiesfor the community to enhance health through sport and activity.Active open spaces (total of approximately 19 hectares unencumbered)are used primarily for organised sporting activities and include playingfi elds and hard surface courts, including pavilions in some locations.The ovals are located in pairs for ease of match scheduling and tomaximise the use of pavilions and car parking. Active open spaces arelocated to provide an equitable distribution of facilities used at a districtlevel as a minimum. Wherever possible, the peripheral areas of thesespaces will be developed as passive open space to provide for lessformal recreation needs.The ASR report identifi es a range of active / structured recreationfacilities required at Aurora. The following table outlines therecommendations of the ASR report and the provision of facilitiesat Aurora. The costs and obligations for the delivery of the facilitiesare specifi ed in the agreement in accordance with Section 173 of thePlanning and Environment Act 1987 signed by the relevant partiesbefore the subject land was rezoned.|43 AURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007

FACILITYASRPROVISION ATCOMMENTFACILITYASRREPORTPROVISION ATAURORACOMMENTREPORTAURORAActive /structured openspacesCricket / footballovalsMiscellaneoussporting fields5 5 One oval is intended to be provided on the primary /secondary school site in the north of Aurora, inpartnership with DET. One junior shared oval isprovided predominantly on a DET primary school inthe centre of the subject land between Harvest HomeRoad and O’Herns Road. Three ovals are providedon land to be transferred to Whittlesea. Two of theseovals are in the south west portion of Aurora adjacentto the Craigieburn Bypass. The other oval liesbetween the DET primary / secondary school and theindependent primary school. Facilities co-locatedwith DET schools will be subject to a joint useagreement to ensure community access.1.25 0 As only two miscellaneous sporting fields (forexample, for baseball and softball) are proposed inthe entire ENSP area, the ASR report recommendsthat these fields are best located together in the mainrecreational precinct near the intersection of HarvestHome Road and Epping Road.Indoor recreationfacilitiesFitness / aquaticcentreBasketball / netballcourts0.4 0 The regional aquatic centre identified in the ASRreport will be provided at the main recreationalprecinct near the intersection of Harvest Home Roadand Epping Road. A site for a commercial fitness /learn-to-swim centre has been identified adjacent tothe northern primary activity centre with deliverysubject to commercial interest. This facility willrespond to local demand for an indoor fitness facilityand will operate independently from the regionalaquatic centre.5 3 The basketball / netball courts will be provided inconjunction with the DET schools. Facilities colocatedwith DET schools will be subject to a joint useagreement to ensure community access.Sporting pavilions 6 6 One sporting pavilion is proposed to be provided ateach of the south west football / cricket facility andthe south east tennis facility. Two pavilions areassociated with the oval and the tennis courts facilitybetween the DET primary / secondary school and theindependent primary school. One pavilion isprovided at each of the north west soccer facility andthe Scanlon Drive soccer facility.Tennis courts 8 8 The tennis courts will be provided in one group offour courts within active public open space adjacentto Section A of Aurora. An additional four courtsfacility is provided in the active public open spacebetween the DET primary / secondary school and theindependent primary school.Soccer pitches 5 4 One, two-pitch facility is on the west side of ScanlonDrive. The other two-pitch facility is in the north westportion of the subject land, adjacent to theCraigieburn Bypass.Bocce rinks 2 4 Two, two-rink bocce facilities will be incorporated inpublic open spaces within Aurora. Exact locationswill be agreed with Whittlesea officers at a moredetailed planning stage.Lawn bowls facility 1 0 The ASR report nominates the Epping RSL Club onHarvest Home Road as the preferred location for thelawn bowls facility.AURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007 44|

5.5.3 Public Open Space - Passive / UnstructuredRecreationseparate the play areas from the areas formore contemplative recreation./ manage the land as a public asset. Public access, once in publicownership, to some conservation areas will be restricted to protectAn example of this interface treatment is illustrated below.signifi cant habitat or other features. These areas could be designedA number of passive / unstructured recreation spaces (total ofapproximately 31 hectares unencumbered) are proposed at Aurora.This is the dominant type of public open space and can accommodatea variety of spontaneous individual or group activities such as children’splay, walking, picnics, barbecues and bird watching.• District parks (1 to 5 hectares) are primarily along EdgarsCreek. In some locations, these parks overlap or combinewith active / structured public open space. The passive /unstructured component of the district parks will servicethe residents within 800 to 1000 metres. These parks willprovide a higher level of facilities, accommodating use byto allow access at the perimeter, in selected portions or on containedpaths, which combined with an interpretative program, providerecreational benefi t.The conservation areas are located on and around naturally occurringfeatures. Fortunately, these features and thus the areas are wellPassive / unstructured public open space will be distributed throughoutAurora in a hierarchy of sizes, combined with a variety of facilities andrecreation opportunities. The hierarchy and distribution is as follows.larger groups. The typical range of facilities to be providedin the district parks could include:° multiple seating areas;distributed generally throughout Aurora.The landscape, ecological and cultural heritage assessments of Auroraidentifi ed the key sites of landscape, visual, environmental and cultural• Local parks (500 to 2000 square metres) are distributedthroughout Aurora and will be used as a focus for mediumto higher density dwellings. These parks will service theresidents within approximately 200 to 400 metres and arelikely be used for short duration recreation activities. Thelocal parks will be designed to accommodate seating, playareas suitable for small children and informal gatheringspaces.° multiple barbecue facilities;° pergolas / shelters, some suitable for use bylarger groups;° larger playground areas for children up to theages of 10 to 12;° paved areas suitable for basketball / netballrings and / or rebound walls;° informal ball play areas with a minimumdimension of between 60 and 80 metres;signifi cance, which often coincided. The following sites are of greatestvalue and will be protected within conservation areas.• The large stand of River Red-gums in the north west ofAurora - which will be incorporated in an area that will beused to preserve and enhance the trees. Subject to futuremore detailed assessment, design and managementworks, access trails could be provided around theperimeter and through this area with an interpretativeInterface to Conservation Area• Neighbourhood parks (2000 to 5000 square metres)are the most dominant type of passive / unstructuredrecreation public open space at Aurora. These parks willbe within approximately 400 to 500 metres of the majorityof dwellings. The neighbourhood parks will facilitate abroader range of recreation opportunities for a widerrange of potential users. The typical range of facilities tobe provided in these parks could include:° sub-spaces of various sizes that control andseparate the play areas from the areas formore contemplative recreation;° car parking at the edge or perimeter of thepark.District parks will be possible locations for specifi c usefacilities such as tennis courts and bocce rinks and willinclude water features, habitat wetlands and the like.program.• A signifi cant complex of stony rises in the north east ofthe subject land, adjacent to Edgars Creek and betweenCraigieburn Road East and Harvest Home Road.• A small stony rise including remnant vegetation betweenthe Craigieburn Bypass and Scanlon Drive.• A large north-south complex of stony rises west of EdgarsCreek between Harvest Home Road and O’HernsRoad. This area could be crossed by an elevated timber° seating;° barbecue facilities;° pergolas / shelters;5.5.4 Conservation Areasboardwalk and gravel path.• A small stony rise east of Edgars Road and south of thenorthern primary activity centre.° play equipment for children up to the ages of8 to 10;° paved areas suitable for basketball / netballrings and / or rebound walls;° informal ball play areas with a minimumdimension of 50 metres;° sub-spaces of various sizes that control andThere are fi ve main conservation areas (total of approximately 48hectares) at Aurora. The primary purpose of these spaces is toprotect and enhance areas of greatest ecological and / or culturalvalue. Although the conservation areas are included in CDZ4, it isexpected that they will be rezoned in the future to a zone refl ectingtheir conservation signifi cance and the public authority that will ownIt is noted that the easterly extent of the north-west conservation areais pending a detailed fl ora and fauna assessment.As a matter of principle all conservation areas will have a road frontage,however, where Council agrees otherwise a 4 metre paper roadis required, which includes a 1.5 to 2.5 metre path and landscaping.|45 AURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007

AURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007 46|Open Space

5.5.5 Public Open Space Links5.5.6 Public Open Space Design and PlantingAurora contains the following main public open space links, which arein accordance generally with the ENSP.• Edgars Creek, which will be developed as a major linearpublic open space ‘spine’ through Aurora, connectingCraigieburn Road East in the north with O’Herns Roadand potentially the Cooper Street Employment Area in thesouth.• A north-south link from the River Red-gum conservationarea in the north west to the western end of the powereasement in the south. This link comprises a series ofparks and wide vegetated paths.• An east-west link across the northern portion of the subjectland, connecting the Craigieburn Bypass, River Red-gumconservation area, Edgars Creek and the east boundaryof Aurora. This link comprises a series of parks and widevegetated paths, including paths along the edges of thenorth west soccer fi elds and DET primary school, thenorthern local activity centre and tennis courts and theDET primary / secondary school.• An east-west link along the edge of the power easementin the south of Aurora.The detailed design of the public open spaces will be resolved asthe exact size and levels of the spaces are determined through thesubdivision and engineering design process. The landscape designintention for Aurora is to create public open spaces that:• feature predominantly native (including indigenous)species, particularly in the upper canopy;• use exotic trees to refl ect the cultural heritage of aparticular space, create visual highlights or fulfi l specifi csolar access requirements;• include materials that refl ect the cultural heritage of thesubject land, including stone walls and large timbers;• provide an environmental conservation and culturalheritage interpretive program, where appropriate;• incorporate WSUD treatments for stormwater qualityimprovement;• embrace the use of low embodied energy, low toxicity,recycled or renewable materials and resources for theirconstruction.|47 AURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007

The selection of particular trees for public open spaces will be refi nedand reviewed over time. An indicative list of species (excluding theconservation areas) is opposite.INDICATIVE PLANT SPECIESEVERGREEN (E)/ DECIDUOUS (D)TYPICALHEIGHT AT MATURITY(metres)Weeping Myall (Acacia pendula) E 5 - 10Black She-Oak (Allocasuarina littoralis) E 6 - 10Rose She-Oak (Allocasuarina torulosa) E 10 - 15Bottlebrush (Callistemon 'Harkness') E 3 - 6Bottlebrush (Callistemon salignus) E 4 - 6Lemon-scented Gum (Corymbia citriodora) E 15+Spotted Gum (Corymbia maculata) E 15 +Yellow-top Mallee Ash (Eucalyptus luehmanniana) E 5 - 6Whipstick Mallee Ash (Eucalyptus multicaulis) E 6 - 10Brittle Gum (Eucalyptus mannifera ssp praecox) E 10 - 15Narrow-leaved Sally (Eucalyptus moorei) E 3 - 6Snow Gum (Eucalyptus pauciflora) E 10 - 15Red Box (Eucalyptus polyanthemos) E 10 - 15Red Ironbark (Eucalyptus sideroxylon) E 15 +Pin Cushion Hakea (Hakea laurina) E 4 - 6Lilly Pilly (Syzygium paniculatum) E 10 - 15AURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007 48|

5.6 COMMUNITY PLANNINGHome Road and Edgars Road. The primary / secondary school is inthe north of the subject land west of Edgars Creek.• Maternal and child health.• Preschool.5.6.5 Public Art5.6.1 Objectives and Community DevelopmentStrategyForward planning has commenced for the central primary schooland subject to the confi rmation of population growth, potential schoolenrolment and funding from DET, it is anticipated that the school willcommence operation by 2009.• Main hall.• Kitchen and food service centre.• Meeting rooms.• Neighbourhood house space.• Fine arts space.VicUrban is committed to incorporating public art into its public spacesand views this as a key component of ‘place making’. Up to 0.5 percent of the total construction cost will be allocated to integrated publicart at Aurora.The VicUrban Sustainability Charter promotes sustainability throughfi ve core objectives. In accordance with these core objectives,VicUrban projects are required to achieve:• community well-being;• housing affordability;• environmental performance;• urban design excellence;• commercial success.In relation to the above, the Aurora CDS will detail the initiatives toachieve community well-being and housing affordability. The CDSwill be prepared in conjunction with Whittlesea and other serviceorganisations and include:• the community vision;• the community infrastructure package;• a housing diversity plan, including affordable andadaptable housing;• age-specifi c responses, such as residential aged care andchildcare;• the identifi cation of community infrastructure projectpartners and funding responsibilities;• other agreed community building initiatives.One independent primary school is proposed on the subject land to thewest of the DET primary / secondary school. An independent primaryschool is also proposed in Section A of Aurora. The independent schoolprovider has advised that the school in Section A may commenceoperation at the start of 2009.VicUrban will continue discussions with the DET and independentschool providers to ensure that the proposed schools commenceoperation as early as possible in the development of Aurora. Detaileddiscussions regarding co-location and shared use of school facilitiesare also ongoing and will include the use of formal agreements toensure that access and partner responsibilities are clearly articulated.5.6.3 Community Activity CentresThree CAC are planned for Aurora - one in each primary activity centreand one adjoining the DET primary / secondary school. In addition,0.4 hectare of land is available for a fourth CAC adjoining the DETprimary school in the north west. The location of the CAC is based onmaximising the potential local population within a walkable catchmentand co-location with compatible uses including retail / commercial,education and recreation facilities.• Performing arts space.VicUrban aims to attract the broadest possible range of community /government and other agencies into the CAC to complement the localfacilities recommended by the ASR report. The facilitation and deliveryof the CAC will be achieved through liaison with organisations involvedin sectors such as health, education and training in the northerncorridor. The intention of this approach is to maximise the shareduse and co-location of facilities and to improve access to the range ofservices for the local community.The CAC in the northern primary activity centre will be the fi rst tobe provided with the other CAC provided in sequence with the rateof residential development. This CAC is proposed to have an earlychildhood focus, providing the fundamental local services required forthe new community. The specifi c focus of the subsequent CAC will berefi ned in collaboration with Whittlesea.VicUrban and Whittlesea have a commitment to the early provision ofcommunity facilities at Aurora. To achieve this, VicUrban will facilitatedirect provision of the agreed community infrastructure package andwill seek a commitment from Whittlesea to ensure the establishmentand viability of the community services and programs that will operatefrom the CAC .A signifi cant artwork is proposed for the entrance to the northernprimary activity centre with others to be installed in important locations.Smaller, ‘local’ artworks will be incorporated into public spaces suchas local parks and street reservations. The type, location and ongoingmaintenance of the artworks will be negotiated with Whittlesea.5.6.6 Fibre to the Home TechnologyOptic fi bre cable is the highest capacity and best-performingtelecommunications link available. Whittlesea recognises theadvantages that this technology can provide and has a local planningpolicy that requires the provision of additional conduits for optic fi brecables in new subdivisions and development.VicUrban has strongly supported this initiative, working with Whittleseato incorporate its requirements for additional conduits in Aurora andtaking the process to the next level by facilitating the establishmentof a service provider for the subject land to provide a suite of servicesincluding internet protocol (IP) telephony, high speed internetconnection and a range of ‘video-on-demand and ‘payTV’ services.5.6.7 Community IntranetIt is the intention to prepare by 2007 a CDS that will be endorsed jointlyby the VicUrban and Whittlesea and reviewed every fi ve years.5.6.2 EducationThe size of the CAC will be determined by the range of Municipal andcommunity functions required in each location. It is likely however,that the CAC in the primary activity centres will have a higher orderof services than the CAC adjoining the education centres. The fullcomplement of community activities and services that will operate fromthe CAC will ultimately be determined by local need. Experience from5.6.4 Other Community / Commercial FacilitiesThe planning of Aurora activity centres and district cores will include,where appropriate, the provision of suffi cient land for purchase bycommunity / commercial facility operators for a range of uses that mayVicUrban will engage an intranet provider to establish a service forthe residents of Aurora. The community intranet will be funded initiallyby VicUrban with resident subscription fees and advertising revenuesustaining the service in the long term.Two DET primary schools and one DET primary / secondary school areproposed on the subject land. One primary school is in the north westof Aurora and the other in the centre near the intersection of Harvestother VicUrban projects aligns with the recommendations of the ASRreport, suggesting that the following components will be included in oneor more of the CAC at Aurora.be required.|49 AURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007

5.7 RETAIL AND COMMERCIAL5.7.2 Retail and Commercial Facilities• incorporates community facilities and residentialdevelopment;spaces adjacent to the public transport corridor equallyspread either side of the station;5.7.1 ObjectivesThe retail and commercial objectives of Aurora are to:• provide primary activity centres that are destination placeswith their own distinct identity;• provide a mix of retail and commercial opportunities forresidents;• provide community functions and residential developmentwithin the primary activity centres that are complementaryto the retail and commercial uses;• design retail and commercial buildings to encourageactive street frontages and pedestrian activity;• provide a staged delivery of retail and commercial useswith emphasis on the earliest possible provision;• create an energy within the primary activity centres thatAs noted earlier, a variety of retail and commercial facilities will berequired to serve the residents of Aurora. Urbis JHD Pty Ltd anticipatesthat the full development of Aurora will support the following hierarchyof retail and commercial facilities.• A northern primary activity (town) centre at the intersectionof Harvest Home Road and Edgars Road.• A southern primary activity (town) centre on Edgars Roadbetween the power easement and O’Herns Road.• A secondary activity centre (commercial precinct) alongthe north side of O’Herns Road to the east and west ofEdgars Creek.• A tertiary activity centre (offi ce park precinct) in the southwest corner of Aurora.• A number of local activity (small convenience) centres toservice the convenience-based shopping needs of theresidents. Two of these centres are shown on the ADP2map.• integrates into surrounding residential and non residentialdevelopment, as appropriate;• is pedestrian-oriented by encouraging adjacent higherdensity residential development and carefully thesubdivision layout, including roads;• provides an active centre or focal point, such as a plaza orpublic building;• creates active street frontages;• provides a high level of amenity.Higher density residential development will be constructed in andaround the primary activity centres. The density of this developmentwill transition from higher density at the core to a lesser density at theedge. The built form of development is intended to comprise a mixof low-rise apartments and shop-top (where appropriate), attached,semi-detached, and detached dwellings. Heights and setbacks ofbuildings will be consistent with the intention of achieving higher densitydevelopment and are likely to require alternative design parameters.• southern primary activity centre - approximately 500spaces in the power easement spread equally on eitherside of the public transport corridor.The car parking associated with the public transport stations will bedesigned and landscaped appropriately to minimise potential adverseamenity effects on the development surrounding the stations throughvehicle movements, noise and light spillage.supports the viability of retail and commercial uses.Easy pedestrian, bicycle, public transport and private vehicle access(a)General Primary Activity Centres Responsewill be provided in the primary activity centres due to their centralposition in the catchment areas that they serve and the integrationIn accordance with the provisions of Melbourne 2030, it is proposed todevelop primary activity centres that:with the various movement networks. The public transport stations /interchanges are at the edge of each of the primary activity centres,the bus network will provide access to the surrounding residential• are a focus for high quality development, activity and livingfor the whole community;neighbourhoods and appropriate street hierarchies and ground levelswill ensure appropriate circulation throughout the centres.• broaden the base of activity in centres to include a widerrange of services over longer hours and restrict out-ofcentredevelopment;• locate a substantial proportion of new dwellings close tothe activity centres, which offer good access to servicesand public transport.Street design in the primary activity centres will be in accordance withthe detail provided in Sections 5.8.4 and 5.8.5, including the appropriatenumber and design of on-street car parking. Off-street car parking willbe required and will be part of a considered solution that recognises theimportance of active streetscapes and cohesive centres.A ‘main street’ model for primary activity centre development isproposed therefore, which:The Department of Infrastructure (DOI) and Vic Track propose tolocate the car parking for the public transport stations associated withthe primary activity centres as follows:• is located central to the catchment area that it serves;• is convenient to public transport and other infrastructure;• northern primary activity centre - approximately 200AURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007 50|

(b)Northern Primary Activity Centre(c)Southern Primary Activity CentreUrbis JHD Pty Ltd considers that the northern primary activity centreis located appropriately at the intersection of Harvest Home Road andEdgars Road. This location will provide exposure to north-south vehicletraffi c along Edgars Road, which will be largely Aurora residents, aswell as east-west vehicle traffi c along Harvest Home Road, which willinclude residents of future developments to the east.Urbis JHD Pty Ltd anticipates a combined fl oor space of 20,000 squaremetres in the two primary activity centres. The northern primary activitycentre is expected to comprise a total of approximately 6000 squaremetres of retail and non-retail fl oorspace, including a supermarketand additional speciality shops, although the centre may organicallydevelop to a different size.The south west corner of the northern primary activity centreincorporates a CAC and connects to public open space, Edgars Creekand a DET primary school. The walking / cycling paths that lead to theprimary school and extend along Edgars Creek will provide access tothe centre. A public transport station / interchange adjoins the northernprimary activity centre to the east. The sketch opposite shows apotential layout for the northern primary activity centre.Urbis JHD Pty Ltd considers that the southern primary activity centre islocated appropriately for the following reasons.• It is on Edgars Road, which is the main north-south vehicleroute through Aurora and provides convenient access toall Aurora residents.• It is immediately north of O’Herns Road, which will bethe main east-west link through Whittlesea. The passingvehicle traffi c will comprise Aurora residents, CooperStreet Employment Area workers and commuter residentsfrom future developments to the east of Aurora using theinterchange with the Craigieburn Bypass. The centre willhave exposure therefore to a broad population base.• It is served by a public transport station / interchange,which provides an additional reason for people to visit thecentre and increases its potential as a community hub.• It is close to the secondary activity centre on the north sideof O’Herns Road, which provides the opportunity for usersof this to also use the southern primary activity centre inthe same trip.Urbis JHD Pty Ltd expects that the southern primary activity centrewill comprise approximately 14,000 square metres of the anticipatedcombined 20,000 square metres of retail and non-retail fl oorspace inthe two primary activity centres, although the centre may organicallydevelop to a different size. The southern primary activity centre willinclude two supermarkets, a discount department store and additionalspecialty shops.Northern Primary Activity CentreThe form of the southern primary activity centre will develop overtime and in response to market demands however, it is intended thatresidential development will eventually occur above the retail andnon-retail fl oorspace. A walking / cycling path extends along the northboundary of the centre in the power easement and a CAC adjoinsto the south. The sketch opposite shows a potential layout for thesouthern primary activity centre.Southern Primary Activity Centre|51 AURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007

(d) Secondary Activity CentreUrbis JHD Pty Ltd considers that the secondary activity centre islocated appropriately for the following reasons.• O’Herns Road will be the main east-west link throughWhittlesea. The passing vehicle traffi c, including thatassociated with the Cooper Street Employment Area onthe south side of O’Herns Road, will provide the centrewith exposure to a broad population base.• The interchange with the Craigieburn Bypass, whichforms part the major road link between Sydney, Canberraand Melbourne, provides good access and exposure tothe centre.• The proximity to the southern primary activity centre,including the public transport station / interchange,provides the opportunity for users of this centre to also usethe secondary activity centre in the same trip.While it is diffi cult to estimate the amount of commercial fl oorspacethat the location and surrounding population will support, a reviewof developments of this scale and type indicate that the size of thecommercial fl oorspace component can vary signifi cantly from 1500 toover 5000 square metres.The land use in the secondary activity centre is intended to refl ectthe ‘Business / Employment’ uses identifi ed in the Cooper StreetEmployment Area to the south. This approach will reinforce the‘gateway’ role of O’Herns Road, an important regional street, byfl anking both sides with similar land uses. The land uses identifi edin the Cooper Street Development Plan (Part 1) include “corporationheadquarters, offi ces and commercial buildings, high technology,research and development, car showrooms, service uses and lowdensity light industrial with quality facade treatments”.Urbis JHD Pty Ltd anticipates that the uses in the secondary activitycentre will differ east and west of Edgars Creek.uses that will assist the integration of the secondary activity centre, thesouthern primary activity centre and the Cooper Street EmploymentArea.West of Edgars Creek, the uses are expected to be infl uenced by theproximity to the interchange with the Craigieburn Bypass. A servicestation, motor sales and repairs, take away food premises, offi ces andrestricted retail premises are all likely uses.The desired built form for the secondary activity is for multi storey,offi ce-style development that creates a continuous ‘street wall’ as muchas possible. VicUrban will prepare and distribute design controls for alllots in the secondary activity centre to guide buildings and landscapetowards a dense, urban outcome. The design controls will providedetail on the approach to and implementation of building siting anddesign, building materials, vehicle access, car parking and landscapedesign.Vehicle access to the secondary activity centre will be providedgenerally by service roads adjacent to O’Herns Road and the northsouthstreets of Scanlon Drive, Cotters Road and Edgars Road.Access to the mid-block portions of the centre will be provided by thelower order, east-west streets that will separate the secondary activitycentre from the tertiary activity centre and the residential developmentto the north.Car parking for each development within the secondary activity centrewill be provided in accordance with the provisions of the Scheme. Thedesign controls will ensure that ground level car parking is to the sideand rear of buildings to maximise the activation of the O’Herns Roadstreetscape.(e) Tertiary Activity CentreUrbis JHD Pty Ltd considers that the tertiary activity centre is locatedappropriately for the following reasons.• New businesses will have the opportunity to build facilitiesto cater for specifi c requirements.• The Craigieburn Bypass interchange at O’Herns Roadand easy access to the Western Ring Road providesbusinesses with good access to airports, ports, distributioncentres and the required workforce. The visibility of theprecinct from the Craigieburn Bypass may be alsoimportant for some businesses.• The future residents of Aurora and other developments tothe east are expected to provide businesses with accessto an appropriately skilled workforce. The centre is alsoclose to complementary uses in the secondary activitycentre and the Cooper Street Employment Area.• The size of the centre may be suffi cient to attract likeindustries (possibly technology- related), which maycreate advantages in terms of effi ciency of scale, businessincubation and the transfer of new ideas or technologies.(f) Local Activity CentresUrbis JHD Pty Ltd considers that the local activity centres aredistributed appropriately to ensure that all residents have accessto convenience retailing, particularly those further from the primaryactivity centres. The local activity centres are also located generallyon main streets or adjacent to other community uses such as schoolsand public open space.It is not intended that the local activity centres cater for the weeklyshopping requirements of residents, just the everyday convenienceneeds such as newspapers, bread and milk. Urbis JHD Pty Ltdconsiders that the centres should not be large in scale and shouldavoid a major anchor tenant such as a supermarket. Recommendedretailers include a newsagent, small grocery store and take away foodpremises.East of Edgars Creek, the uses are expected to be infl uenced bythe proximity to the southern primary activity centre. A mix of offi ces,restricted retail premises and indoor recreation facilities are possible• There is minimal existing similar offi ce development in thearea to compete with offi ce space at Aurora.AURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007 52|

5.8 TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM5.8.1 ObjectivesThe transportation objectives for Aurora are as follows.• Spread traffi c to a range of streets to provide drivers witha multiple choice of routes for the same trip and to createan environment where it is appropriate for cyclists andvehicular traffi c to share the street carriageway.• Encourage multi-purpose trips.• Promote the health and environmental benefi ts of nonmotorisedtransport.• Early delivery of transport services and infrastructure.• Extend the public transport corridor from Lalor station toprovide a public transport linkage between Aurora andthe Melbourne central activities district, passing close toEpping Plaza and the Northern Hospital.• Provide a street-based transport interchange in theeastern part of the southern primary activity centre.• Construct a highly inter-connected street network withstrong accessibility to the northern and southern primaryactivity centres and public transport stations / interchanges,including many direct neighbourhood connector streetsthat can be used effi ciently as bus routes.• Develop a broad mix of land uses that locates dwellings,retail, educational, employment and community facilitiesclose together for a high proportion of future residents ofAurora, enabling many people to choose to walk or cyclebetween these activities.• Concentrate housing within walking distance of the publictransport stations / interchanges and the non-residentialactivities that are accessed conveniently by non-motorisedtransport.• Limit larger, land extensive educational and recreationalfacilities within the walkable catchments of the publictransport stations / interchanges to maximise residential/ retail / commercial use and thus the potential support forpublic transport.• Incorporate pedestrian-friendly traffi c management.• Create safe and comfortable recreational use of streets forall potential users.5.8.2 Future Vehicle Traffic VolumesThe diagram opposite shows the estimated daily traffi c volumes withdevelopment north of Craigieburn Road East.The table below sets out the estimated daily traffi c volumes (withdevelopment north of Craigieburn Road East) for key streets in thestreet network of Aurora. Other streets within Aurora are not listedbecause the daily traffi c volume is estimated to be less than 3000vehicle movements. These estimates are based on each dwellinggenerating ten vehicle movements per day.STREET LOCATION DAILY TRAFFIC VOLUME(Development north ofCraigieburn Road East)O’Herns Road At Craigieburn Bypass ramps 44,600O’Herns Road Scanlon Drive to Edgars Road 35,400O’Herns Road East of Edgars Road 26,600Edgars Road North of O'Herns Road 14,750Edgars Road North of Harvest Home Road 17,500Scanlon Drive North of O'Herns Road 24,600Scanlon Drive South of Harvest Home Road 17,500Harvest Home Road West of Edgars Road 6,200Harvest Home Road East of Edgars Road 10,050Estimated Daily Traffic Volumes with Development North of Craigieburn Road East|53 AURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007

5.8.3 Public Transportproposed public transport corridor will be designed to accommodategrade separation unless otherwise agreed by the Minister for PublicTransport.(a)RailAny underground structures which affect proposed public transport willbe designed to the satisfaction of the Department of Infrastructure.The DOI has prepared a preliminary concept plan and longitudinalsection of the grades for the extension of heavy rail from Lalor railwaystation to Aurora and possibly to Donnybrook and beyond. VicUrbanhas worked and will continue to liaise with the DOI in relation to thegeneral alignment of the public transport corridor, station locations,car parking provisions, street crossing locations and grades toaccommodate the drainage requirements of Aurora.The preliminary concept plan and longitudinal section create thefollowing outcomes in general.• The rail level close to the existing surface level at O’HernsRoad, which will allow the railway line to pass overO’Herns Road and create an appropriate interface withthe southern primary activity centre.• The rail level slightly below the existing surface level atthe stations, which are to the north of O’Herns Roadand Harvest Home Road. This will allow reasonablyconvenient pedestrian access across the railway line.• The rail level slightly below the existing surface levelthrough the remainder of Aurora. This will allow the bestacoustic outcomes as the major noise source is at the railtrack.• Harvest Home Road and Craigieburn Road East passingover the railway line.• Two additional places - just north of the southernstation and midway between Harvest Home Road andCraigieburn Road East - where a street will pass over therailway line.• Car parking of approximately 500 spaces in the powereasement for the southern station.• Car parking of approximately 200 spaces in wide streetreservations on either side of the railway line.(b) BusA potential bus network plan for Aurora has been developed inconsultation with the DOI, Whittlesea and bus service operators andis shown opposite.The principles behind this network include the following:• all activity centres, education centres, CAC and activepublic open spaces within Aurora and the ENSP area arelinked with bus routes;• bus routes within Aurora have a strong connection to thepublic transport corridor and stations / interchanges;• the majority of dwellings within Aurora are within about fi veminutes walking time of a bus route.The cross sections of the streets that are potential bus routes willbe designed to the minimum standards agreed with the DOI andWhittlesea.The fi rst stage of the bus network plan is already in place with BusRoute 575 operating between Section A of Aurora and Thomastownrailway station, via the Northern Hospital, Epping Plaza and Eppingrailway station.Potential Bus RoutesAll crossings including road, pedestrian and cycle paths of theAURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007 54|

5.8.4 Arterial Street Design(b)Harvest Home RoadThere are fi ve arterial roads or streets within or adjacent to Aurora -Craigieburn Road East, Harvest Home Road, O’Herns Road, EdgarsRoad and Scanlon Drive. Each of these has differing requirementsfor streetscape, traffi c volume and composition, interface with abuttingland uses, vehicle speed environment and access and vehicle parking.A specifi c design approach has been used for each in considerationof these requirements, rather than applying a generic cross sectiondesign.Harvest Home Road is an important internal east-west route in EppingNorth. The forecast traffi c volume for Harvest Home Road fromScanlon Drive to Epping Road is between 5,000 and 10,000 vehiclesper day, depending on location. The appropriate street type includesa clear travel lane in each direction, a wide central median, on-streetparking and cycling lanes adjacent to the parking lanes. A transition willbe necessary from the cross section of Harvest Home Road abuttingSection A of Aurora.The arterial network at Aurora has been designed to providesuffi cient land for any widening required to accommodate the traffi cvolume generated by development north of Craigieburn Road East.Developers within Aurora will only construct streets to accommodatethe traffi c generated by development in the ADP2 area.(a)Craigieburn Road EastCraigieburn Road East is a primary arterial main road and will bemanaged by VicRoads. Any widening required will be on the north sideof the reservation. Aurora will provide an appropriate level of accessmanagement using service roads (12 metres wide reservation) orinternal streets to provide access to the properties abutting CraigieburnRoad East. Intersections will be kept to a reasonable minimum.Harvest Home Road|55 AURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007

(c)O’Herns RoadO’Herns Road is the major east-west arterial and provides an importantconnection to the Craigieburn Bypass. Traffi c volumes are expectedultimately to reach levels in excess of 40,000 vehicles per day at theinterchange and possibly more than 25,000 vehicles per day east ofEdgars Road.As land uses, traffi c volumes and the desirable speed environmentchange along O’Herns Road, it will need to be modifi ed so that it isnot a divisive element in the community. It must still accommodate theexpected traffi c volume at an appropriate level of service. The variouscross sections for O’Herns Road are described below.• Craigieburn Bypass to Scanlon DriveA six-lane cross section is proposed for the segmentof O’Herns Road between the Craigieburn Bypass andScanlon Drive. The median will vary in width betweenthe interchange (to be designed by VicRoads) and theScanlon Drive intersection (14 metres less turning lanes).O’Herns Road - Craigieburn Bypass to Scanlon Drive• Scanlon Drive to east boundary of AuroraO’Herns Road from Scanlon Drive to the east boundaryof Aurora is within the walkable catchment of the southernprimary activity centre and public transport station /interchange. A signifi cant part of the Cooper StreetEmployment Area is also within the walkable catchment ofthese facilities provided that the crossing of O’Herns Roadis encouraged by a pedestrian compatible environment. A60 kilometres per hour speed limit between Scanlon Driveand approximately 600 metres east of Edgars Road isrequired therefore to provide such an environment. Thesection across shows a mid-block design for O’HernsRoad within the walkable catchment of the southernprimary activity centre. The section makes for provisionfor the continuation of six lanes through this segment ofO’Herns Road however, it will be constructed with fourtravel lanes and a median 14 metres wide.O’Herns Road - Scanlon Drive to East Boundary of AuroraAURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007 56|

(d)Edgars RoadEdgars Road is an important north-south arterial through Aurora,although it will be supported strongly by Scanlon Drive and otherparallel routes, particularly near the southern primary activity centre.The traffi c modelling indicates an ultimate daily fl ow of about 17,000vehicle movements within the southern and northern primary activitycentres. This is a deliberate design outcome so that a two-lane mainstreet can be used within the primary activity centres, enabled throughthe supporting, virtually parallel routes that also provide connections toO’Herns Road.• Through southern and northern primary activitycentresThe main street sections of Edgars Road will have amedian 2.2 metres wide, manoeuvre lanes adjacent tothe parking lanes and a reservation width of 24 metres.This form of street design is proposed so that pedestrianscan cross virtually anywhere and so that ambient traffi cspeeds are kept low through disruptions to the fl ow.The travel lane width has been kept narrow deliberatelyto discourage high vehicle speeds. One objective is toenable people on the footpath to see what is on offer in theshop windows on the other side of the street.Edgars Road - Through Southern and Northern Primary Activity Centres• Outside southern and northern primary activitycentresOutside the southern and northern primary activitycentres, a two-lane divided cross section is proposedfor Edgars Road, with a central median 7 metres wideand a lane confi guration to suit a 60 kilometres per hourenvironment. A travel lane 3.3 metres wide markedadjacent to the median will allow a wide kerbside lanethat can accommodate a parking lane (if required) andcycle lane.Edgars Road - Outside Southern and Northern Primary Activity Centres|57 AURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007

(e)Scanlon DriveThe current development potential of the land north of CraigieburnRoad East, which is outside the urban growth boundary, does notnecessitate Scanlon Drive being a four-lane arterial street north of theneighbourhood connector street type 2 that connects Scanlon Driveto the southern primary activity centre south of the power easement.It has been agreed with Whittlesea however, that Aurora will makeprovision for a four-lane divided cross section for Scanlon Drivebetween O’Herns Road and Craigieburn Road East.Unlike Edgars Road, Scanlon Drive is not within the walkablecatchment of the primary activity centres or the public transportstations / interchanges and consequently it is likely that larger lot sizeswill be introduced generally abutting Scanlon Drive. Service roads willprovide appropriate vehicle access, if required. Two 8 metres widecarriageways will allow for 3.3 metres wide travel lanes and 1.4 metreswide cycle lanes.Scanlon Drive - North of O’Herns RoadNorth of Harvest Home Road, Scanlon Drive mostly aligns with thegas easement. This easement is approximately 35 metres wide.Allowance for two lanes on either side of the easement will be madeand consequently the typical mid-block design is as shown in the abovesection however, with a wider median to accommodate the easement.Actual dimensions will be negotiated at the appropriate time.AURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007 58|

5.8.5 Other Street Design(a)Principles of Street DesignWhere streets are predicted to carry more than 3000 vehiclesper day, on-street cycle lanes are proposed including appropriatetreatments at intersections. No carriageway widening for on-streetcycle lanes is proposed in streets having less than 3000 vehicles perday. This approach is in accordance with AustRoads Guide to Traffi cManagement Practice Part 14.Important ingredients in neighbourhood design and character arestreetscape, street design and street diversity with legibility. Streetdesign must evolve from the integration of elements including traffi cfunction, future traffi c volumes, access to abutting land uses, legibilityand permeability, context and attractive setting, car parking provision,vegetation, visibility and safety.The combination and weight given to these elements will vary indifferent situations (for example, in a ‘main street’ compared with anarterial street or in a street abutting a park compared with a rear accesslane). Street design will occur in more detailed subdivision planningpermit application stages including the consideration and balancing ofthe multitude of design elements as appropriate to the particular streetcontext.The diagram over provides the proposed ‘in principle’ street types forthe key streets at Aurora. As noted above however, these ‘in principle’street types may be added to, as Aurora develops, in order to bestmeet particular development context requirements and urban designintentions.In respect of WSUD, VicUrban will continue to investigate and refi neWSUD initiatives and design solutions. In consultation with and theagreement of Whittlesea, WSUD solutions in streets (and beyond) maybe varied by VicUrban over time from those noted in the typical streetcross sections and descriptions following.Generally however, the network of streets at Aurora will distributetraffi c so that volumes on most sections of streets will be under 2000vehicle movements per day. The street network design is basedupon a clear objective to maintain high levels of traffi c-related safetyand amenity for all street users, not just vehicle drivers, so that nonmotorisedtravel and the use of the street for social purposes areencouraged.As a general guide, a street carriageway width of 7.3 metres canaccommodate adequately up to 3000 vehicles per day in conjunctionwith moderate on-street parking demands. A cross section with twolanes clear for travel is preferred when volumes are greater thanaround 2000 vehicles per day. Where parking may be more intensive,a wider street cross section is proposed so that parking and travel ismade easier and streetscape opportunities are enhanced.Key Streets|59 AURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007

(b)Rear Access LanesThe typical ‘rear access lane’ will be 6.4 metres wide although there willbe occasional local variations. This allows for garages with 4.8 metreswide doors and an internal depth of 6 metres to be constructed on theproperty boundary with the lane.(c)Park Edge StreetsThe ‘park edge street’ will carry generally less than 1000 vehiclemovements per day, have a 5.5 metres wide carriageway betweenkerbs in a reservation 11 metres wide and have housing on onlyone side of the carriageway. The verge abutting lots will be typically4.5 metres wide while the verge abutting the public open space willbe typically 1 metre wide. The verge widths may vary depending onWSUD requirements. There will be a minimum of 1 metre clear behindthe kerb face to any trees and poles for emergency vehicle access.Rear Access LaneParked cars will generate a traffi c management benefi t, with passingvehicles potentially needing to pause for on-coming vehicles and alsoto move laterally when cars are parked on opposite sides of the street.Parking can occur on either side of the street without the need forcontrolling signs.Depending on the size and purpose of the abutting public open space,the cross section may need to vary to accommodate parking on bothsides of the street.(d)Service Roads and Wide Median StreetsService roads and wide median streets are designed generally foreach carriageway to operate one-way. A 10 metres wide reservationis appropriate for a service road. The wide median street reservationwidth will be a function of the width of the median. WSUD requirementsmay lead to variations in verge dimensions.Park Edge StreetAURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007 60|

(e) Access Street Type 1An ‘access street type 1’ will have a 7.3 metres wide carriagewaybetween kerbs in a reservation of a minimum of 16.5 metres width,dependent upon requirements for bioretention swales, streetscapedesigns and reticulated services needs. This allows for parallel parkingon both sides of the street plus clear passage for a single lane of traffi cin one direction at a time or for opposing traffi c to pass a single parkedcar. This minimum 16.5 metre reserve width will be subject to ongoingreview and may change. WSUD requirements may lead to variationsin verge dimensions. This street type is the most common throughoutAurora, providing a good balance between the needs of kerbsideparking and moving traffi c.This street type is appropriate typically in areas of traffi c volume upto 2000 to 3000 vehicles per day and the moderate kerbside parkingdemands usually associated with the densities proposed at Aurora.There is no situation however, on the subject land where this streettype is proposed when the traffi c volume will exceed 1500 vehiclesper day.Access Street Type 1(f)Secondary Town Centre StreetsA ‘secondary town centre street’ will have a 10.6 metres widecarriageway between kerbs in a reservation 20 metres wide and isproposed in the northern and southern primary activity centres whereparking needs are expected to be quite high and where commercialvehicle access is anticipated for loading and service. WSUDrequirements may lead to variations in verge dimensions.Secondary Town Centre Street|61 AURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007

(g) Neighbourhood Connector Street Type 1The ‘neighbourhood connector street type 1’ will be used whererelatively high traffi c volumes warrant the use of two clear travel lanesand where AustRoads Guide to Traffi c Engineering Practice suggeststhat on-street cycle lanes are necessary. A reservation width of 25metres will allow for two divided 6.6 metres wide carriageways witha 3.2 metres wide travel lane, parallel parking and an on-street cyclelane. WSUD requirements and specifi c design intentions may lead tovariations in reservation width.(h) Neighbourhood Connector Street Type 2The ‘neighbourhood connector street type 2’ is the ‘lower order’neighbourhood connector street. It will provide a higher level of servicethan the ‘access street type 1’ to assist those travelling longer distancesbut not using arterial streets. A reservation width of 18 metres will allowfor generous verges, travel lanes and parallel parking on both sides ofthe street between trees set into the parking lane. The parking lane willbe marked at 2.1 metres from the kerb face, leaving 5.4 metres of cleartraffi cable pavement. This reasonably tight confi guration is aimed atkeeping vehicle speeds appropriately low.Neighbourhood Connector Street Type 1This street type is suitable where traffi c volumes of up to 3000 vehiclesper day are anticipated, with or without direct vehicle access to lots.WSUD requirements may lead to variations in verge dimensions.Neighbourhood Connector Street Type 2AURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007 62|

5.8.6 Arterial Street Intersection Management(a)Design PrinciplesWhen Epping North, including Aurora, is close to fully built out, it isenvisaged that there will be traffi c signal-controlled intersections atsuitable spacing along all of the arterial streets within or adjacent toAurora. Roundabouts will be avoided generally within the walkablecatchment of the primary activity centres and public transport stations /interchanges of Aurora.In the vicinity of the primary activity centres it is important that signalcontrol is used at a number of intersections to maximise pedestriansafety and amenity and to afford the highest levels of accessibility.Bus movements to and from the public transport interchanges will beassisted also by the proposed traffi c signal strategy.The diagram opposite shows the general strategy for the managementof the arterial street intersections.Arterial Street Intersection Management Strategy|63 AURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007

(b)Craigieburn Road East• At Scanlon Drive• Αt Edgars Road• Other intersectionsTraffi c modelling (with no development north of Craigieburn RoadEast) by TTM indicates a two-way daily traffi c volume of 7000 vehiclemovements on Craigieburn Road East near Scanlon Drive and EdgarsRoad. The modelling also indicates that for right turns onto CraigieburnRoad East, the intersection with Edgars Road has the highest vehiclemovements - approximately 70 movements per hour. Gap analysisindicates a practical absorption capacity in excess of 300 vehicles perhour to turn through 700 vehicles per hour with a critical acceptanceA large signal-controlled intersection is the mostappropriate treatment for the intersection of O’HernsRoad and Scanlon Drive. An indicative design for theintersection is shown in the diagram below.The indicative design concept for the intersection ofO’Herns Road and Edgars Road is similar geometricallyto that proposed for the O’Herns Road-Scanlon Driveintersection, as shown in the diagram below.Other intersections along O’Herns Road are proposedto be controlled by a give-way sign either with or withoutmedian openings.Depending on the development of the Cooper StreetEmployment Area, a signal-controlled cross junctionmay be required at the intersection of O’Herns Road andCotters Road.gap of 6 seconds. A Type C intersection is proposed therefore at thethree intersections of Aurora arterial and neighbourhood connectorstreets with Craigieburn Road East.(d)Edgars Road(c)O’Herns Road• At the Craigieburn BypassSignal-controlled intersections on Edgars Road are likely to be requiredat the centre of the southern primary activity centre, at Harvest HomeRoad and to the north of the northern primary activity centre. Theseintersections have not been designed as they are internal to Aurora.The intersection of O’Herns Road and the CraigieburnBypass is likely to require signal control, which will bedesigned by VicRoads.Intersection - O’Herns Road / Scanlon DriveIntersection - O’Herns Road / Edgars RoadThe performance (with development north of CraigieburnRoad East) of this intersection was assessed usingSIDRA for the morning and afternoon peak hours. It wasconcluded that the peak degree of saturation would be0.900 in the morning peak hour, indicating satisfactoryoperation of the intersection.The performance (with development north of CraigieburnRoad East) of this intersection was assessed usingSIDRA for the morning and afternoon peak hours. Itwas concluded that the peak degree of saturation wouldbe 0.899 in the morning peak hour, which indicatessatisfactory operation of the intersection.AURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007 64|

5.8.7 Other Street Intersection Managementmetres of intersecting kerb alignments and across driveways andintersections. This assumption establishes the kerb return radius ateach intersection.activity levels will be higher, footpaths will be wider generally.(b)Off-Street Paths(a) Design PrinciplesThe design of intersections in Aurora is based generally upon thefollowing three fundamental objectives:• safe entry and exit to / from the major street from / to theminor street;• the capacity to accommodate expected vehicles - inthis case the design vehicle is an 11 metres long rigidtruck throughout the subject land and a 17 metres longsemi-trailer in the streets surrounding the primary activitycentres, along the main access streets and on potentialbus routes;• the intersection treatment is used as a traffi c managementdevice to achieve an appropriate traffi c speed environmentwhere practicable.Kerb radii are kept to a minimum in consideration of these objectivesand to shorten walk distances for pedestrians crossing streetintersections.(b) Standard DesignsThe majority of intersections in Aurora will be T-intersections betweenstreets with 7.3 metres wide carriageways, mostly intersecting at anangle close to 90 degrees. Kerb radii at these intersections should notexceed 6 metres.(c) Traffic Speed ControlTraffi c speed control is proposed through a combination of slow points,which may be either at or between intersections, and the generaldesign and use of each street type.Parked cars will add to traffi c management by providing a relativelytight street cross section that must be negotiated carefully and slowly.Having adequate but not excessive carriageway widths will add furtherto the level of control over traffi c speeds where necessary.Typically the aim of the proposed street network is to have a ‘leg length’of no greater than 200 metres. Leg length is the distance betweenpoints where traffi c will need to slow to approximately 15 kilometres perhour to negotiate a particular section of street.Clause 56.03-4 of the Scheme sets out spacings or separations forspeed control ‘devices’. Strict adherence to the Scheme would resultin new residential developments being inundated with speed controldevices that cannot all be located at intersections and therefore willreduce accessibility and streetscape values.In response to Clause 56.03-4 and the design principles for traffi cspeed control, a suite of intersection treatments has been developedfor Aurora that will operate effectively as slowing points.5.8.8 Non-Motorised TransportA network of shared paths through open space and abutting majorstreets will link community facilities and provide for walking and cyclingat Aurora. These paths will be typically 2.5 metres wide.On Edgars Road, Scanlon Drive, Harvest Home Road and the‘neighbourhood connector street type 1’ that are potential bus routes, a17 metres long semi-trailer is accommodated so that easy bus accessis obtained and building materials on the more heavily traffi cked routescan be delivered by semi-trailers without the need to mount kerbs.A general design objective is to avoid signage. It is assumedgenerally that parking can / will occur in all places except within 10(a) Footpaths in StreetsAll streets Aurora will have 1.5 metres wide footpaths along sidesfronted by residential development. In the primary and local activitycentres, near education centres and other areas where pedestrianOff-Street Path Network|65 AURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007

5.9 ENGINEERING INFRASTRUCTUREsustainable approach to development mitigates these changesthrough appropriate management of water resources.• providing the community with a local intranet and real timemetering of water and energy use to support conservationother than drinking and advocates innovative approaches to managingwater use within residential developments. Aurora will incorporatehabits.a reclaimed water supply system as well as a potable water supplyA number of alternative integrated water management systemssystem.5.9.1 Objectiveshave been investigated and assessed for their application to Aurora.Estate-wide approaches to wastewater management and demandThe combined effect of these measures is to reduce potable waterconsumption by approximately 50 to 70 per cent when compared withWater will be supplied to Aurora via a water main extension alongThe engineering objectives of Aurora are to:management have the ability to reduce potable water demand,maintain water quality standards and be more economical in the longconventional servicing arrangements.Harvest Home Road, which has been constructed as part of Section Aof Aurora. Additional external water mains have also been constructed• provide high quality, low maintenance infrastructure to thecommunity;• develop infrastructure that is sustainable economically;• provide infrastructure that minimises the impact on theenvironment using techniques such as:° lower embodied energy products andmaterials;° employing construction techniques thatreduce earthworks;° reducing the volume of waste material;° recycling and reusing materials derived fromAurora;° using off-site recycled materials;° using WSUD to improve stormwater quality;° using local sewage treatment and recycledwater reticulation to reduce demand onpotable supplies.term.The sustainable practices being investigated in detail at Aurorainclude water conservation and demand management measuresat the household level, harvesting of rainwater, WSUD, wastewaterrecycling, higher density housing to support public transport, energyeffi cient dwelling design incorporating solar energy for hot water andelectrical energy and the encouragement of reduction in private vehicleuse through effi cient urban design.The implementation of the water management initiatives will requirethe consent and cooperation of a number of government agencies.These agencies have been engaged closely and are participating inthe development of innovative and more sustainable servicing optionsfor the subject land.VicUrban has initiated a signifi cant research program to address allof the issues associated with adopting a sustainable developmentOther measures within the public realm include WSUD, the captureand treatment of stormwater and the retention of large areas of openspace.These approaches to introducing integrated water managementhave been discussed and tested with Yarra Valley Water (YVW) andMelbourne Water Corporation (MWC) and will be incorporated intoan Aurora Estate Agreement to provide a sewage and recycled watertreatment facility and the reticulation of the recycled water throughoutAurora.In addition, VicUrban, in concert with YVW and MWC, has appointedand is being advised by an independent expert panel to review thetechnical aspects of the water management systems proposed atAurora. The panel has praised and supported the initiatives. As aresult, the development of Aurora can be commenced immediatelyand serviced by the innovative and sustainable servicing arrangementsdescribed above.along O’Herns Road and Epping Road, with future mains to beinstructed in Craigieburn Road East as required.Until such time as the new Quarry Hill high level tanks are installed,a water supply booster pump will be required which will be capableof servicing up to the 162 metres contour level. A YVW water supplypump station has been upgraded and will be used for this purpose.approach at Aurora. The investigations in relation to the water cycle5.9.2 General Engineering Infrastructure Responsehave identifi ed that the impact on the environment can be reducedsignifi cantly if a number of initiatives are introduced. The initiatives5.9.3 Water Supplybeing investigated include the following:In accordance with State government policy, VicUrban has adopteda sustainable development approach to the planning of Aurora. As aresult, the remote location of services becomes less of a constraint andwill result in innovative but sustainable approaches being adopted toservice the new community. The innovative and sustainable approachof VicUrban to the provision of the necessary infrastructure can only beachieved with a signifi cant development of the scale of Aurora.• use of low fl ow water fi ttings in showers and basins;• use of water effi cient appliances (fi ve-star rated washingmachines and dishwashers);• use of rainwater tanks to capture roof water for hot water,bathroom and laundry use, subject to satisfactory fi eldtesting and the approval of relevant authorities, in theThe agency responsible for the provision of water at Aurora is YVW.Water supply is provided from supply reservoirs on Quarry Hill, 5kilometres to the east of Aurora. The water supply catchments ofMWC are located immediately to the north east of Aurora and thereis suffi cient capacity within these networks to meet the expecteddemand.The conversion of rural to urban uses results in a signifi cant change tothe landscape, adds to the consumption of potable water, generatessurface water fl ows and increases the discharge of wastewater. Aearly stages of Aurora;• treating sewage locally to tertiary standard and reticulatingthe recycled water back to lots for toilet fl ushing andprivate and public open space irrigation;The recently completed strategy for the water supply of Melbourneidentifi es that alternative sources are available to augment existingsupplies, suffi cient to meet expected demand until 2050. The strategydoes promote the use of alternative water sources however, for usesAURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007 66|

5.9.4 DrainageThe agency responsible for drainage facilities at Aurora is MWC,which has an approved drainage strategy for Edgars Creek. TheEdgars Creek Drainage Strategy will form the basic framework forstormwater management at Aurora. In addition, WSUD principleswill be incorporated as part of the development to manage and treatstormwater in a sustainable and innovative way.Edgars Creek is an ephemeral stream that fl ows through Aurora. Itis ill-defi ned in some sections and has been badly degraded. Waterquality improvement will be completed throughout Aurora as part of theapproach to WSUD.WSUD provides an alternative to the traditional conveyance approachto water, stormwater and wastewater management. WSUD focuseson the integration of urban planning and development with themanagement, protection and conservation of the water cycle. Thedesign philosophy recognises that it is impracticable to replicate thenatural system however, it is possible to mitigate changes to theexisting water balance.The interrelationship between site, precinct and regional stormwatermanagement measures is below.SITE ELEMENTS PRECINCT ELEMENTS REGIONAL ELEMENTSPotable Water Supply System• Lot density and layout • Street layout and streetscape • Public open space• On-site retention (infiltration) • Precinct retention (infiltration) • Multiple use corridors• Porous pavement • Porous pavement • Retarding basins• Sand filter • Sand filter • Constructed wetlands andponds• Buffer strip • Buffer strip • Stormwater reuse• Vegetated swales • Vegetated swales• Bioretention system • Bioretention system• Rain garden • Urban forest• On-site detention • Retarding basins• Rainwater tank for stormwaterreuse• Constructed wetlands andponds• Stormwater reuseRecycled Water Supply System|67 AURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007

A hierarchy of water sources has been developed for Aurora to avoidfunction. Instead they act as an emphemeral basin. High fl ows areTopography and open space reservation is a signifi cant considerationA Sewage and Recycled Water Treatment Facility (SRWTF) hasthe possibility of having competing supply sources for the same enddiverted away from the basin and into an overfl ow structure (eg sidewith this option as suffi cient grade is necessary to enable thebeen constructed to treat the sewage generated from Aurora touse. Based on this water hierarchy, stormwater has the potential toentry pit).bioretention system to drain to the existing waterway.Class A standard (Environment Protection Authority - Guidelines forprovide:These nodal streetscape treatment have some fl exibility in terms of(f)WetlandsEnvironmental Management: Use of Reclaimed Water) for reticulationthroughout Aurora. The sewage treatment plant component of the• supply to a rainwater tank for hot water use within thedwelling;• irrigation at the streetscape level as a by-product ofstormwater treatment with, for example, the use ofbioretention systems;• environmental fl ows to Edgars Creek.their size, shape and location to fi t with the streetscape.The vegetation will be predominately plants. Front draining housesconnect their stormwater drain to the kerb and channel. These fl owsand the road pavement enter the rain garden via kerbside inlets.(c) Rainwater for HotwaterConstructed wetlands systems are shallow, extensively vegetated waterbodies that use enhanced sedimentation, fi ne fi ltration and pollutantuptake processes to remove pollutants from stormwater. Water levelsrise and fall during rainfall events and outlets are confi gured to slowlyrelease fl ows, typically over three daus, back to the water levels of dryweather.SRWTF will also service land outside Aurora on an interim basis untilthe North West Trunk Sewer and associated works are complete.The sewage treatment plant will be commissioned once the supplyinfrastructure is in place, which is expected to occur in early 2007.The recycled water will be managed by YVW in accordance withthe Environment Protection Authority approvals for the SRWTF. TheVicUrban pioneered WSUD at Lynbrook in the City of Casey. Many ofsewage treatment plant component of the SRWTF will produce at leastthe key components used at Lynbrook will be enhanced and modifi edto suit the site specifi c conditions of Aurora. The exact treatments andRainwater can be harvested to supplement existing mains potablesupply. The system captures rainwater falling on roofs of individualAny use of a treatment identifi ed above will require Council approval.Class B recycled water, which will be stored in the winter storage damsand also used for irrigation on the SRWTF site. The water treatmentstandards to be used at Aurora are being determined in consultationhouses; it is then stored in an above ground tank and pumped to eitherplant component of the SRWTF will draw from the storage dams andwith Whittlesea, YVW and MWC. Possible WSUD techniques willinclude:a gas hot water storage system or a continuous fl ow gas hot watersysrem.5.9.5 Seweragetreat the water to Class A standard. This treated water will then bereticulated to households within Aurora for toilet fl ushing and garden(a) Streetscape BioswaleBioswales are bioretention systems that are located within the base ofthe swale. They provide treatment of stormwater through fi ne fi ltration,extended detention and some biological uptake as well as providing aconveyance function along the swale.(d) Raingarden (allotment)Raingardens are a form of bio-retention system that are specifi callydesigned to integrate household gardens into the stormwatermanagement system of the estate. Bio-retention systems treatstormwater by percolation through a vegetated media is collected viaa sub-surface drainage system for discharge to the main stormwaterEpping North, including Aurora, is located at the upstream end ofthe major trunk sewer infrastructure servicing the northern suburbsof Melbourne. YVW advises that the Edgars Creek Branch Sewerand Merri Creek Branch Sewer are at capacity during peak fl ows.Consequently, the increased fl ows that will be generated by thedevelopment of Epping North cannot be accommodated by the existinginfrastructure.watering and will also be used for public open space irrigation. Allinfrastructure required to support a recycled water system, includingtreatment, storage and reticulation, will be installed to appropriatestandards. All advice and information indicates that a recycled watersystem will be appropriate for Aurora and will be a signifi cant step indemonstrating sustainable development principles.The SRWTF is also likely to cater initially for the development of landRunoff is fi ltered through a fi ne media layer as it percolates downward.It is then collected via perforated pipes and discharged to thedownstream drainage system.The bioswale forms part of the streetscpae and landscape of thedrainage system. Bio retention systems are fi ltration, not infi ltrationsystems. Treatment stormwater is not intended to enter groundwater.The raingarden has an overfl ow by-pass system that ensures theallotment is adequately drained during high intensity rainfall events.YVW and MWC will be extending the North Western Trunk Sewerand Merri Creek Main Sewer to relieve the existing sewer systemregardless of development at Epping North. This sewerage servicewill be available to Epping North in approximately 2011.in Epping North East. The SRWTF will service this land until the MerriCreek Main Sewer extension is complete in approximately 2011.Investigations have indicated that in some years the volume of recycledwater generated from sewage fl ows will be less than the demand fordevelopment. Road reservations incorporating swales will be(e)Linear (Creek) Raingardensrecycled water for example, during dry years. In other years fordetermined at the planning permit stage. The surface of the bioswaleexample, wet years, a surplus of recycled water will be generated. Inwill be predominately grass. Front draining houses connect to aRaingardens can also be located within public open space. Adry years, the potable water supply system will be used to supplement“bubble pit” within the swale. The one-way cross-fallroad enters thecreek corridor provides a potential opportunity to incorporate linearthe recycled water supply.bioswale via kerbside inlets.raingardens parallel to the waterway.(b)Nodal Streetscape RaingardenThe function and operation is essentailly the same as the nodalraingardens except that the landscape response is generally differentStreetscape raingardens operate with the same treatment processesas the nodal system is integrated into an urban landscape whereas theas bioretention swales except that they do not have a conveyancelinear system is integrated into a more natural environment.AURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007 68|

In wet years, the surplus recycled water will be used in one or more ofthe following ways.• irrigation on the SRWTF site;• discharge (subject to approvals from the relevantauthorities) to Edgars Creek and Merri Creek;• discharge (subject to approvals from the relevantauthorities) to the Merri Creek sewer system.YVW has advised that the SRWTF will be also capable of providingrecycled Class A water to other nearby development areas using‘sewer mining’ from the outfall sewers. As a result, the amount ofexcess water will be reduced and a more deliberate strategy ofmanaging the demand for recycled water and reducing unproductivedischarge can be introduced. The application of recycled water will bemanaged therefore by providing water to:The fl ow chart below sets out the sequence and phasing of thesewerage infrastructure works from the initial construction and effl uentdisposal method through to construction of the full sewage treatmentplant.Sequencing and Phasing of Sewerage Infrastructure at AuroraINITIAL CONSTRUCTION• Potable and recycled water mains constructed.• Potable water run through recycled water mains.• Gravity sewer constructed to O’Herns Road.INITIAL EFFLUENT DISPOSAL• Eduction truck to closest gravity sewer for disposal, 500to 1000 lots• Aurora for residential use;• other developments for residential use;• irrigate Aurora public open spaces;• irrigate other public open spaces;• Edgars Creek for environmental fl ows;• Merri Creek for environmental fl ows;• other productive uses, such as industry.The sewage from the expected residential development on land inEpping North East will be used as the source of sewage for the ‘sewermining’ process and excess sewage will be diverted into the MerriCreek Main Sewer after 2011. The volume of effl uent treated by theSRWTF will continue to increase with the occupation of lots at Auroraand other developments however, until the full capacity of the SRWTFis reached.Sewerage Servicing StrategySEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT (1)• Sewage treatment plant (STP) designed and underconstruction.• STP to allow tertiary treatment of sewage.• Construct surface storage reservoir.SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT (2)• Construct third pipe, storage and pressure system• Recycled water to third pipe system.• Surplus recycled water to farmland irrigation, discharge toEdgars and Merri Creeks or discharge to Merri Creeksewerage system.EXPANSION WORKSThe sewerage strategy for Aurora and Epping North is shown opposite.It is consistent generally with the YVW strategy except that Aurora isisolated from the rest of the system. A normal gravity sewer system willbe constructed within Aurora with all fl ows being concentrated at thejunction of Edgars Creek and O’Herns Road. From this location, thesewage will be pumped via a rising main to the sewage treatment planton land west of the Craigieburn Bypass between Harvest Home Roadand Craigieburn Road East.• Recycled water tank constructed on Quarry Hill.5.9.6 Other ServicesAll lots at Aurora will have available electricity, gas and fi bre technologyfor telecommunications.|69 AURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007

5.10 LINKAGES AND COMPATIBILITY WITHADJOINING PROPERTIES5.10.1 ObjectivesThe objectives for the treatment of Aurora in relation to adjoiningproperties are to:• ensure compatibility and logical linkages betweendifferent land ownerships and developments;• provide strong vehicle, walking and cycling connections;• accommodate the integration of services and drainage.5.10.2 Aurora Development Plan: Part 1As noted earlier, the ADP1 is similar to ADP2 but deals with Section Aof Aurora to the east of the subject land.Harvest Home Road and the southern east-west neighbourhoodconnector street east of Edgars Road on the subject land providedirect links between the northern and southern primary activity centresand Section A of Aurora. These streets also connect Section A to thevarious facilities on the subject land including education centres, publicopen space and CAC. A series of access streets provide lower orderconnections. Two off-street walking and cycling paths extend throughto Crimson Crescent and Gammage Boulevard in Section A of Aurora.5.10.3 Other Adjoining PropertiesCraigieburn Road East forms the north boundary of the subjectland. Edgars Road, Scanlon Drive and the diagonal neighbourhoodconnector street in the north west of Aurora, provide opportunities forfuture connections from Aurora to the properties north of CraigieburnRoad East. One off-street walking and cycling path along EdgarsCreek also extends through Aurora to Craigieburn Road East.Several east-west neighbourhood connector streets, in addition to thethree east-west arterial streets, provide a connection between Auroraand the properties to the east. Several off-street shared paths, includingone along the power easement, also extend through Aurora to the east(excluding Section A). The rear boundaries of lots and public openspace on the subject land will abut generally the east boundary.The south boundary of Aurora is formed by O’Herns Road. EdgarsRoad and Scanlon Drive provide opportunities for future connectionsfrom Aurora to the properties south of O’Herns Road. Several accessstreets and one off-street shared path along Edgars Creek extendthrough Aurora to O’Herns Road. Lots at Aurora will front generallyO’Herns Road with vehicle access as described in Section 5.7.2.The Craigieburn Bypass forms the west boundary of Aurora. Therear boundaries of predominantly larger lots on Aurora will abutthis boundary as will streets and public open space in a number oflocations. An interface treatment to satisfy the acoustic attenuationrequirements of DDO2 and to create a visual appearance appropriateto the desires of VicUrban and Whittlesea will be designed.AURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007 70|

6 DEVELOPMENT CONTRIBUTIONSA comprehensive infrastructure needs assessment has beenundertaken for the ADP2 area. This analysis identifi ed the need for abroad range of infrastructure items to be funded on an equitable basisby all development at Aurora.Given the nature and scale of Aurora, infrastructure obligations withinthe ADP2 area are set out in the form of an agreement in accordancewith Section 173 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987. Thisagreement specifi es the particular projects, costs and obligations fordelivery and was signed by the relevant parties before the subject landwas rezoned.The diagram opposite identifi es key community and recreationdevelopment contribution projects.Community Infrastructure|71 AURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007

7 IMPLEMENTATION7.1 PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT STAGINGAurora has commenced at the northern end of Section A (the ADP1area), entering from Harvest Home Road. A second development frontwill be established to the west of Section A, on the south side of HarvestHome Road.The two development fronts are expected to progress to the south andnorth, providing suffi cient population to support the establishment ofthe northern primary activity centre. Additional development fronts mayalso be established over the life of Aurora for example, on CraigieburnRoad East. In time, it is anticipated that infi ll development around thesouthern primary activity centre will occur at a higher dwelling density,particularly around the core of the centre.Proposed Development StagingAURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007 72|

7.2 CLAUSES 54 AND 55 AND BUILDINGREGULATIONS7.3 DEVELOPMENT APPROVALS PROCESS7.5 DWELLING DELIVERY METHODSIn the review of design outcomes sought by VicUrban for Aurora,various standards in Clauses 54 and 55 of the Scheme and in Part 4of the Building (Interim) Regulations 2005, have been reviewed. Thereview has resulted in some particular alternative design parameters totailor outcomes specifi cally for Aurora.In accordance with the Scheme and Building Regulations, the variedapproaches will be implemented via conditions on planning permits forsubdivision and as restrictions on plans of subdivision certifi ed underthe Subdivision Act 1988.These varied approaches will promote a preferred neighbourhoodcharacter and are anticipated to include:• reduced minimum front and side street setbacks ofdwellings;• increased maximum building height of dwellings;• increased maximum site coverage of dwellings;• increased maximum length and height of new boundarywalls;• reduced minimum amount of private open space fora single dwelling on a lot to equate with the minimumamount of private open space for two or more dwellingson a lot.Planning permit applications will be submitted to Whittlesea forsubdivision and all other development and uses requiring a permitunder CDZ4 and the relevant overlays including VPO2. Generally,subdivision and development will need to be in accordance with theapproved ADP2, as required by DPO23.Following an extensive design process (refer Sections 7.4 and 7.5),applications for the construction of one dwelling on each lot less than300 square metres and any applications for the construction of two ormore dwellings on a lot will be submitted to Whittlesea.7.4 DESIGN CONTROLSVicUrban has prepared and will distribute design controls that will affectall lots in each stage of subdivision of Aurora. The design controlsprovide detail on the approach to and implementation of buildingsiting and design, fencing, energy effi ciency, building materials andlandscape design, among other things. Compliance with the designcontrols will be required as a condition of the contract of sale for eachlot. The design controls will not require any consent or control inputfrom Whittlesea.VicUrban has worked intensively with architects and builders over thepast three years to develop an integrated dwelling and land productdelivery model. The integrated housing approach used in Section Aof Aurora will continue on the subject land and involves the followingsteps.• VicUrban allocates lots to builders.• VicUrban works with builders to prepare plans inresponse to the Scheme, the subdivision permits, thevaried approaches to design and siting noted above andthe design controls.• Potential purchasers are able to choose a dwellingfrom a builder in a display village however, the chosendwelling can only be constructed on a lot that enablesthe achievement of a six-star energy rating and all otherrequirements.While complex to administer, the integrated housing approach isaccepted widely as best practice for producing sustainable designoutcomes. VicUrban will continue to progress the evolution ofsustainable development and incorporate new sustainability featuresinto the design controls.Considering the timeframe associated with constructing a developmentthe size of Aurora, VicUrban may also consider other methods ofdwelling delivery, including the direct sale of lots to the general publicand the sale of packaged land precincts to other developers.These alternative delivery methods will respond to the design controls,including the integrated design principles and the incorporation ofsustainability features. A greater degree of control of and certaintyin the built form outcome is facilitated and maintained therefore atAurora.|73 AURORA Development Plan: Part 2 December 2007

APPENDIX AAURORA DEVELOPMENT PLAN: PART 2

APPENDIX BREFERENCES

The following were the results of studies leading to the preparation ofADP2. Not included in this list are reports referenced by the projectteam members in their own reports.ASR Research Pty Ltd (July 2001), Stage 1 Quantitative Assessmentof Social, Leisure & Open Space Infrastructure Requirements withinthe Epping North Strategy Plan AreaDepartment of Infrastructure (October 2002), Melbourne 2030 -planning for sustainable growthMDG Landscape Architects (April 2006), Urban Design and LandscapeApproach for AuroraThe Hornery Institute (April 2005) Aurora Context StudyASR Research Pty Ltd (March 2004), Epping North RevisedCommunity Infrastructure RequirementsBG Urban Solutions (June 2003), Social Planning Assessment ofProposed Development by the Urban and Regional Land CorporationAurora: Sustainable CommunityTTMC Consulting Pty Ltd (May 2006), Proposed ResidentialDevelopment, Aurora, Epping North, Proposed Development PlanTransport Provisions and Traffi c Engineering AssessmentUrbis JHD Pty Ltd (April 2006), Aurora Assessment of Retail andCommercial UsesBiosis Research Pty Ltd (2004), Cultural Heritage Survey of Aurora,Epping, VictoriaBiosis Research Pty Ltd (September 2005), An Archaeological Surveyof 285 Craigieburn Road East, Epping, VictoriaVicUrban (February 2005), Aurora Design Controls: Stage 1 – 3Whittlesea Planning SchemeBiosis Research Pty Ltd (May 2006), Flora and Fauna of Aurora,Epping North, VictoriaBiosis Research Pty Ltd (May 2006), Net Gain (habitat hectare)Assessment of the Aurora Development Plan Area, Epping, VictoriaBiosis Research Pty Ltd (January 2007), Net Gain Assessment of theAurora Development Plan Area, Epping, VictoriaCity of Whittlesea (February 2002), Epping North Strategic PlanCity of Whittlesea (September 2002), Epping North Local StructurePlanCity of Whittlesea (May 2004), Cooper Street Employment AreaDevelopment PlanCoomes Consulting Group Pty Ltd (July 2002), Aurora Project -Engineering Services

APPENDIX CPROJECT TEAM

VicUrbanGraeme QuinGlen GreeningDave HamraJacqeline d’ApiceBiosis Research Pty LtdNicola BarnesCatherine CostelloTaryn DebneyChris TimewellGary VinesCollie Pty LtdMichael CollieFiona MunnAran BarkerCoomes Consulting Group Pty LtdDavid HunterTerry MawsonJohn PrenticeJim O’DonahueBill SoutterdKO ArchitectureKoos de KeijzerMaurice LeoneMDG Landscape ArchitectsBarbara KraskaBarry MurphyJason FordePaul WaddellTTM Consulting Pty LtdDamien HancoxJim HiggsUrbis JHD Pty LtdRhys Quick

APPENDIX DENQUIRIES

Enquiries relating to VicUrban, Aurora and the preparation and contentof ADP2, should be directed to:VicUrbanAttention: Mr Glen GreeningLevel 12700 Collins StreetDOCKLANDS VICTORIA 3008Telephone: +613 8317 3400