Embedding Cultural Heritage Into Strategic Land Use Planning for a Historically Layered Regional Township in Victoria
Mitchell Shire Council is the local government authority for Mitchell Shire, a growing area north of Melbourne that includes Kilmore, Wallan and Broadford. Council plans for the future of its townships through strategic masterplans that guide land use and community outcomes.
Australian Cultural Heritage Management (ACHM) provided strategic cultural heritage input to the Kilmore masterplanning process for Mitchell Shire Council, supporting early stage planning in a historically and culturally layered regional township. Our role focused on identifying heritage considerations at a precinct scale and embedding those insights into the masterplan framework before detailed design and approvals commenced.
By addressing cultural heritage early, ACHM helped inform land use decisions, reduce downstream approval risk, and support a coordinated, long term planning outcome for Kilmore’s future growth.
Client
Mitchell Shire Council
Location
Kilmore, Victoria
Sectors
Public Sector
Urban & Regional Development
Services
Results Delivered
Translating Cultural Heritage Findings Into Practical Direction for Future Development
By bringing heritage considerations into the masterplan before design and approvals began, Australian Cultural Heritage Management gave Mitchell Shire Council a clear view of constraints and opportunities at the earliest stage. That insight informed land use decisions and reduced the likelihood of approval delays later, supporting a coordinated outcome for Kilmore’s future.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a masterplan or structure plan need a Cultural Heritage Management Plan?
A masterplan guides future development rather than authorising works, so a mandatory CHMP is usually triggered later, when a specific high impact activity is proposed in an area of cultural heritage sensitivity under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006. Considering heritage at masterplan stage shows where those triggers are likely to occur, so planning decisions can account for them.
Why consider Aboriginal cultural heritage early in strategic planning?
Addressing heritage before detailed design allows constraints to be built into land use decisions rather than discovered during approvals, when options are limited and delays are costly. For the Kilmore masterplan, Australian Cultural Heritage Management identified heritage considerations at a precinct scale before design and approvals commenced.
What is a precinct scale heritage assessment?
A precinct scale assessment looks at the heritage values of a whole area rather than a single site. It combines sensitivity mapping, registered places and historical context to identify where heritage is likely to influence land use, access and development staging. The findings are then built into the masterplan framework.
Who should councils consult about cultural heritage in a masterplan?
Councils should consult the Registered Aboriginal Party for the area and relevant Traditional Owner groups, alongside heritage specialists who can advise on both Aboriginal and historic heritage. Early engagement builds trust and helps masterplans reflect community values.
Do councils need to consider historic heritage as well as Aboriginal cultural heritage?
Yes. In regional townships such as Kilmore, historic heritage and Aboriginal cultural heritage are often layered across the same precinct. Considering both together gives a more coordinated planning outcome. Learn more about our historic heritage and research services.
