A sample submission is provided below, after the instructions.
 

Please adapt and edit wording of your email or letter to suit your own approach and style, and to add your own viewpoints. Individualised emails / letters hold more weight.

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Send your submission to: info@moorabool.vic.gov.au 
In email’s subject line include: C099moor.

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In body of email include what that block means to you and/or how you use that area. Also include what you would like changed about the proposal and why (see example below, which you may use, adapt, etc. as you wish).

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Consider also adding something about being pleased the requirements of Council and Melbourne Water consider river health and platypus, however further adjustments are needed to strengthen protection of these and other environmental assets.

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Include your full name and contact details (preferably including residential address) at the end of your email or letter.

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(If you need further information about the proposal visit https://haveyoursay.moorabool.vic.gov.au/exhibition-of-moorabool-planning-scheme-amendment-c099moor-halletts-way-and-adelong-way-intersection

​or have a look at BM Platypus Alliance’s Facebook post)

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__________

 

4 May 2025

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Dear Manager Growth and Development,

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I am writing regarding the application for Moorabool Planning Scheme Amendment C099moor, and Planning Permit Application PA2020242.

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Regarding Lot D on the Concept Plan for DPO8 (Map 1 to Schedule 8 to Clause 43.04), I am opposed to potential development of residential or community services on Lot D. The reasons I am opposed to building residential or community services on Lot D include:

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• Lot D is used by a wide range of native animals, including Swamp Wallabies, kangaroos, Little Eagles (threatened species in Victoria), and others. Even though Lot E will be an open space reserve, any residential or service development on Lot D would create noise, light pollution, and other issues which would negatively impact the Lot E reserve and the native wildlife which rely on Lots D and E. Traffic levels associated with any development on Lot D would also increase risks of vehicle collisions with native wildlife, putting both human safety and wildlife survival at risk.

• Lots D and E are alongside an area of the Werribee River where platypus inhabit. Development on Lot D would increase environmental risks to these platypus, including risk of litter, light pollution and stormwater pollution entering the river.

• Building houses or other buildings on Lot D would spoil the natural character and visual amenity of this part of the river reserve. At the moment, Lots D and E act as an undeveloped buffer between the river walking track and Halletts Way, contributing to visual amenity, passive recreation, and peaceful enjoyment of the area. Developing Lot D would remove this important buffer effect, and be in conflict with the surrounding neighbourhood character of the Lot.

• The community’s long-term wish and expectation for Lot D has been that it would eventually be incorporated into the linear public reverse along the Werribee River, along with the Lot E area (e.g. as a woody grassland reserve, supporting native species habitat and passive enjoyment for the community). This would be consistent with the neighbourhood character of the area, given the land to the east is a linear public reserve along the Werribee River, including Peppertree Park and the Peppertree Park walking track (not residential development as stated in the developer’s application). This is an important opportunity to create a large natural habitat reserve and passive recreation area, connected via the riverside walking track to the more active recreation areas of Peppertree Park (to the east) and the future active recreation area in Underbank estate (to the west).

• Developing Lot D would negatively impact the flood plain functioning of Lot E, and reduce moisture content on Lot E, as water flowing from the escarpment about Lot D and from developed areas on Lot D would be redirected to the stormwater system instead of being allowed to soak into the ground. This in turn would negatively impact the ability to grow River Red Gums and other relevant local native species on Lot E.

• Any development on Lot D would also create traffic congestion on Halletts Way, due to vehicles having to enter Halletts Way from the east side of Halletts Way, in addition to vehicles already entering from the west side of Halletts Way.  

 

These reasons for opposing development on Lot D are supported by the following Planning Scheme sections and clauses relating to protection of environment, biodiversity, character and amenity: 11.03-35 - Peri-Urban Areas, 12 - Environmental and Landscape Values (including clauses 12.01-1S and 12.03-1S), 13 - Environmental Risks and Amenity, 15.01-5S - Neighbourhood character.

 

I therefore ask that:

• Lot D be designated as Open Space in DPO8, including on the Concept Plan for DPO8, and in Planning Permit PA2020242.

• The requirements set out in DPO8 and PA2020242 relating to open space reserve areas be updated to include Lot D.

 

Given local community groups ‘Friends of Werribee River through Bacchus Marsh’ and ‘Bacchus Marsh Platypus Alliance’ are already extensively involved in habitat protection and restoration along the Werribee River, Bacchus Marsh and associated reserves (in collaboration with Melbourne Water and Moorabool Shire Council) I ask that:   

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• Any landscape plan or riparian vegetation management for open space reserves and riparian areas at the site be undertaken in consultation with key community stakeholders involved in habitat restoration along the Werribee River, Bacchus Marsh and with the Moorabool Environment and Sustainability Advisory Committee (MESAC).

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To further protect the Werribee River and surrounding habitat (in line with Planning Scheme sections 11.03-35 - Peri-Urban Areas, 12 - Environmental and Landscape Values and 13 - Environmental Risks and Amenity, 15.01-5S), I also request that:

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• The riparian zone be extended to at least 50m from the outer banks of the Werribee River.

• No development occur within the Environmental Significance Overlay on Lot B.

• Wording be added to DPO8, NRZ9 and/or the Planning Permit to prevent a Convenience shop, Food and drink premises, or Retail premises being built on any of the lots. This is because these types of premises would bring an unacceptably high risk of litter from patrons being dropped and flowing or blowing into the Werribee River, putting platypus and other wildlife at risk.

• Wording be added to DPO8, NRZ9 and/or the Planning Permit to restrict use of polystyrene waffle pods in any development or building on any of the lots. This is because polystyrene breaks easily into microplastics and easily blows long distances, posing an unacceptable risk to the river ecosystem.

• A condition be added to the Planning Permit requiring that each work zone be surrounded by litter-exclusion fencing to prevent development-related litter escaping the work zone.

• Wording be added to DPO8 requiring that any Environment Management Plan for planning permits under DPO8 also includes details of how construction-related litter and hard-waste will be contained on site.

• Any site preparation or weed removal that results in bare ground on reserve areas be conducted in stages, rather than all at once, so that vegetation cover is retained across most of the reserve areas at all times, to prevent erosion to ensure habitat and foraging opportunities for native wildlife aren’t compromised.

 

Thank you for considering this submission.

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Sincerely,

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