This is why we are proposing Planning Scheme Amendment C222dare.

The Planning Scheme Amendment C222dare is about protecting places of local heritage value in Darebin.

Planning Scheme Amendment C222dare proposes to implement the recommendations of the Places of Worship Heritage Assessment Volumes 1 and 2, which identifies seven (7) places of worship in Darebin that meet the threshold for local heritage significance.

The study recommends these locations be protected by a Heritage Overlay in the Darebin Planning Scheme. The Heritage Overlay is a planning control that ensures new development is sensitive to a place’s identified heritage significance. This does not mean development is prohibited, rather it allows consideration of potential heritage impacts through a planning permit process.

About Planning Scheme Amendment C222dare

On 27 May 2024, Council resolved to request authorisation from the Minister for Planning to prepare Planning Scheme Amendment C222dare, to apply the Heritage Overlay to the seven (7) places of worship on a permanent basis. See the minutes of the meeting.

Council received authorisation for the amendment on 8 January 2026 and exhibited the amendment from 5 March to 30 April 2026. During this period, the community was invited to provide a written submission for Council to consider Amendment C222dare.

The seven (7) places affected by the amendment can be viewed below.

The amendment documents, including the heritage study and individual place citations, can be viewed in the Document Library section on the right of this page or at the Department of Transport and Planning public exhibition page.

Please read the FAQs on the right of this page for more information on the proposed amendment.

Information Presentation on Amendment C222dare and the Heritage Overlay

You can watch the video below to learn more about Amendment C222dare and the proposed Heritage Overlay.

What's Next?

Public exhibition concluded on 30 April 2026. All submissions received will be considered at a future Council Meeting.

In considering the submissions, Council may decide to make changes to the amendment, abandon the amendment or refer submissions to an independent planning panel.

Please note that in accordance with s23(6) of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 Council will not refer a submission to an independent planning panel where it is considered frivolous, vexatious or irrelevant to the amendment.

The Places of Worship Heritage Assessment Volumes 1 and 2 found that the following places meet the threshold for individual local heritage significance:

• Former Croxton Methodist Church, 326-332 St George’s Road, Thornbury
• Thornbury Church of Christ, 390-398 St Georges Road, Thornbury
• Former Preston Church of Christ, 220 High Street, Preston
• Omar Bin El Khattam Mosque, 88-92 Cramer Street, Preston
• Former Northcote Congregational Church Complex, 16-18 Martin Street, Thornbury
• Holy Church of St George Greek Orthodox Complex (formerly Prince of Wales Park Methodist Church) 66 St David Street, Thornbury
• Reservoir Albanian Mosque, 111 Blake Street, Reservoir

If you have any questions about the proposed planning scheme amendment, you can contact Jack Montesano on 8470 8511 or email planningservices@darebin.vic.gov.au

If you would like to speak to someone in your preferred language about this Heritage Overlay Amendment, please let us know you require an interpreter.