Growth Area Planning
Latest News
New Urban Growth Zone
Amendment VC48 to the Victoria Planning Provisions and all planning schemes introduces a new Urban Growth Zone and Minister's Direction No. 12 to facilitate rezoning of land for homes in growth areas.
- The VPP Practice Note, Urban Growth Zone, below explains the purpose and provisions of the new zone.
- Amendment VC48 may be viewed at Planning Scheme Amendments Online. The new zone, other relevant clauses and associated documentation may be viewed here. The new Clause 37.07 - Urban Growth Zone and amended Clauses 12, 14 and 66 can also be viewed in the Victoria Planning Provisions.
- The new Schedule to the Urban Growth Zone can be viewed under Zone Schedules on the Templates page and in
- This overview map shows where the Urban Growth Zone has been applied in metropolitan Melbourne .
- View the Urban Growth Zone provisions, and detail of where it applies in the growth area planning schemes Cardinia, Casey, Hume, Melton and Wyndham.
The Urban Development Program 2007 Annual Report has been released. This report updates forecasts on the supply of land for residential and industrial purposes in Melbourne.
Growth Areas Authority
A Growth Areas Authority has been appointed by the Minister for Planning to oversee planning and development in Melbourne’s five growth areas. The Authority includes: Chris Banks AM (Chair), Peter Seamer (CEO), Felix Blatt, Frank King, Carol Schwartz and Rob Spence. The Growth Areas Authority will work with councils, developers and government agencies to:
- plan new suburbs in a way that enhances quality of life for residents, creates local jobs and is environmentally sustainable
- create affordable housing and a greater range and choice of housing
- plan for infrastructure and services as new development occurs to meet the needs of the community.
Select the links below to download A plan for Melbourne's growth areas:
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Urban growth boundary changes
The urban growth boundary is a tool that the government introduced in 2002 to help contain outward growth. Melbourne 2030 set an interim boundary to protect Melbourne’s highly valued farming, conservation and recreation areas, but indicated that the boundary around the five growth areas would be subject to review in light of growth area development needs in the longer term. The Smart Growth Committees carried out the review during 2004-05.
On advice from the committees about future development, and the government’s commitment to maintain a 15-year minimum land supply for housing and industrial development, the urban growth boundary has been amended. The urban growth boundary changes are detailed in the planning scheme amendments approved by the Minister for Planning in November 2005, ratified by Parliament and indicated on the growth area framework plans in "A plan for Melbourne’s growth areas". Twelve new major activity centres have been identified in the planning of the growth areas. The new major activity centres are:
| Casey-Cardinia Hume Melton Whittlesea Wyndham | Casey Central, Hampton Park, Officer Craigieburn, Craigieburn Town Centre, Greenvale Toolern Mernda Boardwalk, Laverton, Manor Lakes, Truganina |
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Fact sheets
Select the links below to download fact sheets:
Please note: Document(s) on this page are presented in PDF format. If you do not have the Adobe Reader, you can download a copy free from the Adobe web site.
Web Site Updates
DPCD's websites are progressively being updated to reflect the changes following the establishment of the department. This means you will continue to see some references to the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) as changes are being made.