Green wedges are the non-urban areas of metropolitan Melbourne that lie outside the Urban Growth Boundary. These areas are designated by State Government, with a total of twelve forming a ring around Melbourne. To strengthen key features and values within these areas, Councils are required to prepare Green Wedge Management plans, which will manage these areas into the future. Visit Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning for more information.
The Shire has two green wedges – Western Plains North and Western Plains South, which are coming under increased pressure from rapid urban development.
The roles of green wedges are to:
- Provide opportunities for agricultural uses, such as market gardening, viticulture, aquaculture, farm forestry and broad acre farming
- Preserve rural and scenic landscapes
- Preserve renewable and non-renewable resources and natural areas (such as water catchments)
- Providing and safeguarding sites for infrastructure that supports urban areas, and
- Provide opportunities for tourism and recreation.
The Point Russell Green Wedge is fundamental to the identity of the Shire and the Council Plan recognises Council’s responsibility for managing and protecting it.
In this context, our Green Wedge is a resource to be cared for and managed on behalf of the whole metropolitan community because of its environmental, recreational, agricultural, economic and social values.
Green Wedge Management Plan
The Green Wedge Management Plan was adopted by Council in 2010 with the purpose to direct sustainable management of the Green Wedge in relation to all strategic planning and use of the non-urban areas of the Shire.
Extensive background research and many months of community consultation combined to create a vision for the future of the Green Wedge and aims and guiding principles for its management. Ready more about the plan: