Urban Development Planning Visual Impact Assessments for the Shrine of Remembrance

Last Updated on November 2, 2023

The Shrine of Remembrance holds a special place in the townscape of Melbourne. Its vistas are protected and fan out for many kilometres, across multiple jurisdictions. The Shrine also sits amidst well-kept parkland bound by St Kilda Road to the west and Domain Road to the south.

3D model of the Melbourne Shrine of Remembrance for master planning and Visual Impact Assessment (VIA)

These streets and sites have Development Overlays (DDOs) to manage the townscape and streetscape impact on the Shrine. Melbourne City Council and State planning agencies control the position and scale of adjacent developments.

In order to reduce urban development impacts on the southern views of the city, we were tasked to translate complex and convoluted design codes into easy-to-understand and easy-to-use impact analysis criteria.

Our digital 3D City Model (3D MLB) solution converts these DDOs into 3D volumetric shapes over the sites. This allows a streamlined impact assessment of proposal applications. Vistas are more easily interpreted, resulting in improved negotiation and mediation periods.

An accurate geo-referenced 3D City Model

From a feature survey, we built an accurate and detailed geo-referenced 3D city model of the Shrine of Remembrance. This included trees, terrain and gradients/slopes, all statues, features and materials, pathways and fencing and road surfaces along the edges of the park.

We integrated the Shrine model into the greater 3D MLB model, which included Melbourne City and the City of Port Phillip. Working with city planners, we tested the planning criteria in the 3D environment and engaged with the Shrine Trustees and other stakeholders to review and iterate urban planning controls.

The final 3D City Model was published to the Urban CGI platform, optimised to operate at high speeds and performance, and made available to our client for use on an ongoing basis.

A convenient, easy-to-use design tool for negotiating built form and environment changes

3D MLB is a convenient and easy-to-use design tool for negotiating built form and environment changes. It provides clear, unequivocal answers to questions that previously took months to review and removes the dependency on local staff to interpret complex codes, speeding up the planning system.

Across development considerations covering multiple planning jurisdictions, the Urban CGI 3D City Model provides a reduction in VCAT/tribunal and mediation processes, increasing the capacity and capability to speed up the City’s planning processes.

A real-life example

A developer required a visual impact assessment for a proposed building to be located approximately 3 kilometres from the Shrine. The proposed 3D building design was imported into 3D MLB, placed in-situ and to scale. The Shrine vistas and other townscape controls were then switched on to enable a clear discussion of the design application.

The result? The developer was able to resolve his questions accurately in just one hour.

“I had the privilege of working with the team on the Shrine of Remembrance Planning Strategy. It remains my favourite and most challenging project. The expertise was essential to visualise how the Shrine of Remembrance setting contributes to and enhances its significance.” 

— Elizabeth McIntosh, Strategic Planning Manager, Victorian Planning Authority

Contact us today to see how 3D city modelling can help you.