All local government areas contain heritage places and Heritage Overlays. We have a key role to play in identifying and protecting places of heritage significance.
Heritage Overlay
We have specific planning controls to deal with places of heritage significance. This allows us to identify and protect places that have heritage significance. Places of heritage significance are identified on our planning maps through a Heritage Overlay.
A list of heritage places currently in the Heritage Overlay are detailed in the schedule to Clause 43.01 (Heritage Overlay) of the Moonee Valley Planning Scheme (pdf, 164KB).
Heritage Places
A heritage place is any place that is considered appropriate to have heritage protection under the Moonee Valley Planning Scheme.
A heritage place can include an individual building, a precinct covering a large number of properties, trees, gardens, or natural habitat.
Moonee Valley Heritage Database
Information about heritage places in the City of Moonee Valley is now available on the Moonee Valley Heritage Database. The database includes information about a particular heritage place or precinct.
The information on the database has been transcribed from the original conservation and heritage studies. It is a useful resource for property owners, residents, developers, students or anyone else may have an interest in local heritage places.
Heritage Planning Permit Requirements
Owners of properties within a Heritage Overlay must apply for a planning permit from Council for external changes; including the construction of extensions, garages and front fences. In addition a planning permit is sometimes required for painting, internal alterations and removing or pruning trees.
The planning permit process allows us to assess how the proposed works will impact on the heritage significance of the place, and protect these properties from inappropriate development.
For more information about what requires a planning permit in the Heritage Overlay please see Planning Scheme Clause 43.01 (Heritage Overlay) (pdf, 53KB).
Free Heritage Advisory Service
We employ a Heritage Advisor part-time. This is a free service available to you. The Heritage Advisor can provide assistance about any plans you may have to make changes to your heritage place. Our Heritage Advisor works on Wednesday. It is essential that you make an appointment if you wish to speak with the Heritage Advisor. If you would like to discuss a proposed restoration, demolition or redevelopment of a heritage place, please bring along any plans that you may have.
The Heritage Advisory Service can be accessed by called the Statutory Planning Department on 9243 8888.
We adopted the Moonee Valley Heritage Strategy on 7 June 2011. The Heritage Strategy has been developed to identify further work required to continue to protect and manage heritage places within the City of Moonee Valley. Find out more about the Heritage Strategy.
Heritage Studies and Projects
Most local heritage places are identified through a heritage study, carried out by an experienced heritage consultant. We have an ongoing commitment to the identification and protection of places of heritage significance.
Over the last twenty years we have completed a number of heritage studies that assist in identifying areas to be protected by a Heritage Overlay. They are developed following extensive research and community consultation.
Heritage studies are also useful documents in obtaining information about the history and significance of heritage places. They inform our decision making on planning permits. Our adopted Heritage Studies can be viewed upon request at our Civic Centre in Moonee Ponds.
A list of current and recently completed heritage projects is provided below. Further information on each of these projects can be viewed by following the relevant link.