A Landscape Plan refers to a package of drawings (including plans, cross-sections, typical details etc) that details the proposed hard and soft landscaping within a new development.

A Landscape Plan is generally required for:

• Major planning applications that include soft or hard landscaping as part of the proposal, either on the site or on-street. This includes works that may impact upon the root zone and canopy of existing trees. 
• Where streetscape landscape upgrade works are proposed that would visually or physically impact the streetscape or any adjacent or nearby public park, reserve or laneway.
• For some planning applications (proposals for under 10 dwellings for example), a landscape plan might be required as a condition of the planning permit (unless otherwise advised by Council).

If a Landscape Plan is required, the applicant is expected to look beyond the site and consider what improvements are possible for along the streets immediately around a development site and/or nearby public spaces.

Ideally, landscape plans should be submitted at the beginning of the application process.

The advantages of submitting a Landscape Plan at the start of the planning application process means that a development can be assessed as a whole. There is sufficient time to resolve any issues, particularly as they may influence other aspects of the proposal such as the building layout and engineering requirements.

Applicants are encouraged to arrange a pre-application discussion with Council’s City Strategy Team (Urban Design or Open Space) about the concept design of the development and hard and soft landscaping. 

Landscape plan drawings should include the following information so that your proposal can be assessed accurately. This information is also available to download as a PDF: 

Landscape plan requirements checklist (PDF, 95KB)

General

• Title block with scale (commonly used scale such as 1:100 or 1:200), north point, project and drawing name/number, site address, date, version, client, consultant and drawn by.
• Extent of works and title boundaries.
• All existing features such as kerbs, crossovers, trees (position, size and species), vegetation, paving, street furniture (e.g. seats, bicycle hoops, bins), signage, street lighting, power poles and overhead lines, service boxes, fire hydrants, parking meters, traffic signals, bollards and on-street parking (details should be informed by feature and levels survey and specify what is to be retained or removed or relocated).
• All proposed streetscape upgrade works such as new seats, bicycle hoops, street trees, lighting, artwork, crossover, pedestrian kerb crossing, etc
• Easements, underground services (power, water, gas, drainage) and service pits.
• Outline of existing and new buildings, including ground floor uses, entrances, windows and sills, overhangs and basements.
• Building elevations and sections to show the relationship between the proposed landscaping and the building when viewed from the street, or any adjacent public park, reserve or public space.
• Dimensions to demonstrate any requirements are being met, such as street furniture offset from kerb, unobstructed footpath width, tree location from intersection etc.
• Clear references to Council standard drawings, or specifications/details for any bespoke items (including cross sections).
• Details are consistent with other related drawings, e.g. functional layout drawings, architectural drawings, shadow diagrams.

Surface and boundary treatments

• Details of any paving set out including material, shape, size, pattern, set out arrangement, colour and surface finish.
• Demarcation of property boundary with thick red long dash double dot line type.  
• Location and type of tactile pavers.
• Materials, height, transparency of any fences.
• Materials and height of any retaining walls and edges.
• References to Council Standard Drawings, or specifications/details for any bespoke items (including cross sections).

Trees and landscaping

• Planting plan including plan schedule (s) outlining all proposed plants. This should contain botanical and common names, size at maturity (height and width), pot size and quantities of each plant. Trees and plants should be shown at mature size on the plan.
• Information of all existing trees to be retained or removed on or adjacent to the site. This includes their botanical names, height and canopy spread and proposed adjoining construction elements (like footings, walls) that might impact the growth and health of the tree.
• Details of any tree pits.
• Outline of garden bed and turf areas.
• Details of any proposed planter beds or raingardens including width and depth.
• Details of any proposed mulch type and depth.
• Details of any vertical green climbing system including maintenance methods.
• Cross sections showing planting depth, soil types, drainage and maintenance.
• Plan of proposed irrigation.
• TPZ and SRZ for existing trees.
• Building envelopes and heights of proposed canopies/overhangs in the vicinity of trees.
• Soil restoration/preparation, weed control, proposed cultivation, mulched areas (material and thickness).
• Details of all proposed fixed furniture
• Include dimensions to show offsets from kerbs, building lines and car parking spaces (avoiding car door zones), and spacing between furniture items.
• Where significant remnant vegetation is proposed to be retained or removed, a Tree Impact Study may also be required by Council.
• Maintenance schedule and requirements including details of irrigation, plans and any specific safety considerations

WSUD

• Details of any proposed rain gardens, including section diagrams and plant species selection, consistent with Sustainability Management Plan.
• Rainwater harvesting re-use and irrigation methods to be consistent with the Sustainable Management Plan (SMP).

Engineering details

• Plan to show levels and contours (100mm internals), particularly along pedestrian routes, kerb and channels, raised areas, and to inform drainage. Should be informed by feature and levels survey.
• Cross falls and ramp grades for all pedestrian areas to demonstrate accessibility.
• All existing and new drainage, including any pits and pipes, and direction of surface flow.
• Plan showing the proposed vehicle crossovers (including materials and grade), and any changes to on-street car parking.
• Existing and proposed levels and spot heights, including but not limited to finished floor levels of buildings and proposed footpath grading to ensure relevant accessibility requirements are achieved.

The design of the space should be fit for purpose, well integrated with surrounding buildings and uses, durable and easy to maintain, and positively contribute to Yarra’s built environment.

You must address these considerations in the landscape plan drawings:

Strategic objectives

• Support other Council objectives, such as:
  - promoting a healthy, inclusive and accessible environment
  - increasing Yarra’s tree canopy cover
  - reducing the Urban Heat Island Effect
  - creating urban habitat for native birds and animals wherever conditions allow.
• In relation to large scale developments, positively influence the public realm and thoughtfully integrate the development with the existing local character through appropriate landscape interventions. 

Surrounding area

• Nearby community facilities, parks and other destinations.
• Surrounding buildings including uses, entrances, windows, scale and materiality.

Character

• Existing streetscape and landscape character, including species of existing street trees.
• Any areas, buildings and trees of significance (e.g. heritage, aboriginal, landscape).
• Scale of space and sense of openness/enclosure.
• Key views to, from and within the site
• Relationship between the proposed landscaping and the building when viewed from the street or other public open space

Site features and conditions

• Orientation and microclimate (soil, sun, shade and wind).
• Slope of land (including abutting streets).
• Soil conditions.
• Drainage and water management.
• Underground services and overhead power lines.
• Existing trees and any tree protection requirements.

Levels, grading and drainage

• Existing and proposed levels and grading.
• Overland flow paths / localised flooding at major rain events.
• All existing streetscape features including drainage pits.

Access and circulation

• Pedestrian and cyclist routes.
• Vehicle routes and numbers of vehicles.
• Crossovers and loading bays/zones.
• Accessibility requirements and Universal Design Principles.
• Formal and informal pedestrian crossings, and traffic signals.
• Parking.
• Ability to accommodate outwards swinging doors, handrails, tactile pavers, shorelines and other elements within the site boundary.
• Ensure all plans conform with Australian Standards for access and mobility

Use during day/night

Integration of CPTED principles including but not limited to the following:

• Surveillance of the space and sight lines.
• Lighting.

Maintenance

• Maintenance and durability.
• Standard methods of fabrication and construction.
• Methods for maintaining garden beds, vertical green elements, rood gardens and other landscape elements.

Water management

• Any Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) measures, such as rainwater tank for garden irrigation or toilet flushing, permeable surfaces as an alternative to hard surfaces and drought tolerant plants.
• WSUD elements, such as raingardens, must be designed in accordance with Melbourne Water Guidelines.

Planting 

• The proposed planting palette should include species that will thrive in the growing conditions of the site (e.g. soil, sun, shade, wind, water). 
• Avoid trees or plants listed on DELWP advisory list of environmental weeds in Victoria. 

Other

• For any landscape elements that impact the structure of the building (e.g. podium landscapes and roof gardens) ensure co-ordination with all relevant disciples such as structural engineering, irrigation and drainage consultants for an integrated outcome.   

There are usually a number of other plans that are prepared in tandem with a Landscape Plan.

For example:

• architectural drawings
• functional layout drawings
• tree condition reports
• civil/engineering drawings 
• shadowing diagrams.

It is important for these documents to be accurate to ensure that the information that you are providing to us is consistent.