Modernising Victoria’s Planning Act
The Planning and Environment Act is being reviewed to modernise the Act and enhance the operation of Victoria's planning system.
Response papers
The submissions received in response to the ideas and concepts in the discussion paper were very constructive and many valuable suggestions were made. Some of these ideas have now been developed. The five response papers below set out the detail of the changes proposed to the Act.
Introduction to Response Papers, August 2009 (PDF - 203 KB) Response Paper No. 1 Objectives of Planning, August 2009 (PDF - 309 KB) Response Paper No. 2 Amendment Process, August 2009 (PDF - 2.1 MB) Response Paper No. 3 Permit Process, August 2009 (PDF - 892 KB) Response Paper No. 4 State Significant Major Development, August 2009 (PDF - 584 KB) Response Paper No. 5 Other Modernisation Initiatives, August 2009 (PDF - 249 KB)
Introduction to response papers, August 2009 Accessible Word version (DOC - 64 KB) Response Paper No. 1 Objectives of planning, August 2009 Accessible Word version (DOC - 53 KB) Response Paper No. 2 Amendment process, August 2009 Accessible Word version (DOC - 574 KB) Response Paper No. 3 Permit process, August 2009 Accessible Word version (DOC - 1.2 MB) Response Paper No. 4 State significant major development, August 2009 Accessible Word version (DOC - 153 KB) Response Paper No. 5 Other modernisation initiatives, August 2009 Accessible Word version (DOC - 90 KB)
View Media Release
View the current Planning and Environment Act 1987.
Discussion paper
Public comment was sought on how the Act could be improved through submissions in response to the discussion paper below. Information from submissions helped develop recommendations for the review.
Modernising Victoria's Planning Act Discussion Paper March 2009 (PDF - 623 KB) Modernising Victoria's Planning Act Discussion Paper - Accessible version (DOC - 408 KB)
If you would like a copy of the discussion paper please ring Information Victoria on 1300 366 356 (local call cost) TTY +61 3 9637 9646 (8.30am - 5.00pm Monday to Friday).
Publication of submissions
Submissions can be viewed here. One submitter requested that only their name but no other contact details be published and one submitter requested that their submission not be published.
Related publications
Better Decisions Faster: Opportunities to improve the planning system in Victoria, Discussion Paper, 2003 (PDF - 427 KB) Cutting red tape in planning - August 2006 (PDF - 464 KB) Reference Group on Decision-making Processes (the Whitney Committee) Report 1 Using and Interpreting Local Policy, September 2002 (PDF - 415 KB) Reference Group on Decision-making Processes (the Whitney Committee) Report 2 Substitution and Amendment of Plans, November 2002 (PDF - 325 KB) Reference Group on Decision-making Processes (the Whitney Committee) Report 3 Enforcement Methods, November 2002 (PDF - 265 KB) Review of s173 agreements - Discussion paper (PDF - 51 KB)The expert panel
The Minister for Planning has appointed an expert panel to provide ideas and advice for the review. The expert panel members are:
- Mark Dwyer, Deputy President of VCAT and a leading planning lawyer.
- Liz Johnstone, Senior Officer Municipal Association of Victoria, Chair of the Central Coastal Board and a member of the national Development Assessment Forum.
- Duncan Turner, a highly experienced local government planner who also lectures in planning.
- Claire Dougall, Senior Consultant, Planning, CPG Australia and winner of the '2007 Victorian Young Planner of the Year'.
- Peter Allen, Executive Director, Statutory Planning Systems Reform, Department of Planning and Community Development.