Reports and consultation documents
Annual reports, consultation reports and related publications used and produced during consultation processes. (Other reports such as panel reports are available elsewhere on our site.)
On this page (in alphabetical order):
- Better Decisions Faster, discussion paper, August 2003
- Cutting red tape in planning 15 recommended actions for a planning system
- Live Music Taskforce - Report and Recommendations, December 2003
- Making Local Policy Stronger - June 2007
- Melbourne 2030: a planning update - Melbourne @ 5 million
- Melbourne 2030 Audit
- Melbourne 2030 Strategy
- Modernising Victoria's Planning Act
- New residential zones for Victoria
- Older, frequently requested reports
- Other reports - panels and EES
- Planning Fees Review Scoping Study
- Planning for all of Melbourne
- Planning Permit Activity Report
- Review of Advertising Sign Provisions
- Review of Heritage Provisions in planning schemes
- Review of Native Vegetation Exemptions Retention Provisions
- Review of Parking Provisions
- Review the role of s173 agreements - discussion
- Rural Zones Review
- Smart Growth Committee reports
- Transit Cities and South Eastern Metropolitan Activity Centres Triple Bottom Line Study
- Urban Development Program annual reports
A discussion paper setting out a range of options to improve the planning system.
Better Decisions Faster Discussion Paper (PDF - 427 KB)The Whitney reports provide background information to the Better Decisions Faster discussion paper.
Whitney Report 1 - Local Policy (PDF - 415 KB) Whitney Report 2 - Amendment of Plans (PDF - 325 KB) Whitney Report 3 - Enforcement Methods (PDF - 265 KB)Cutting red tape in planning 15 recommended actions for a better Victorian planning system
View 15 recommended actions to reduce red tape in planning, for example, adjust processes and fee structures, remove unnecessary controls and apply technology. More information
Cutting red tape report (PDF - 464 KB) Cutting red tape in planning report (minus cover) (PDF - 131 KB)Page Top
Live Music Taskforce - Report and Recommendations, December 2003
This report examines the relationship between live music venues and residential amenity, emerging from the work of the Live Music Taskforce.
Live Music Taskforce - Report (PDF - 653 KB)Making Local Policy Stronger - June 2007
Making local policy stronger is an independent report by a Ministerial working group that sets out an action plan to progressively improve the operation of local policy in planning schemes. The actions will be implemented by the Government over the next 12 months.
Making local policy stronger - June 2007 (PDF - 778 KB) Five point priority action plan (PDF - 564 KB)Melbourne 2030: a planning update - Melbourne @ 5 million, December 2008
Released in 2002, Melbourne 2030 provides a long-term plan for Melbourne and the surrounding region. Melbourne @ 5 million provides policy initiatives that are complementary to the directions of Melbourne 2030 and the two documents should be considered together. It outlines the implications of the Victoria in Future 2008 growth projections for Melbourne, which indicate that the city’s population is likely to reach 5 million before 2030. More information
Melbourne @ 5 million - Full Report (PDF - 2.3 MB)
Melbourne @ 5 million - Accessible version (DOC - 98 KB) Melbourne @ 5 million - Pages 1 - 15 (PDF - 1.0 MB) Melbourne @ 5 million: Pages 16 - 34 (PDF - 1.3 MB)Melbourne 2030 Audit
The Melbourne 2030 Audit focused on identifying and reviewing the issues relevant to the successful implementation of Melbourne 2030.
Audit Expert Group Report (PDF - 684 KB) Melbourne 2030 Audit: Analysis of Progress and Findings from the 2006 Census (PDF - 1.5 MB) Terms of Reference (PDF - 24 KB)Published: May 2008
For more information go to the Melbourne 2030 Audit web page.
Melbourne 2030 Strategy
Melbourne 2030 sets out nine directions, supported by a series of policies and initiatives, to protect our liveability now and for the future.
Published: October 2002
Available online, in hard copy or CD
Price: $35.00 for hard copy (CD free)
ISBN: 1 74152 133 5
Modernising Victoria's Planning Act
The Planning and Environment Act Review discussion paper is now available. Download the paper here and make a submission before 1 May 2009.
Modernising Victoria's Planning Act Discussion Paper March 2009 (PDF - 623 KB)Planning for all of Melbourne
Planning for all of Melbourne - informed by the Melbourne 2030 Audit and Audit Expert Group's report, sets out the key Government initiatives for the next five years.
Published: May 2008
Available from Information Victoria and for download
ISBN: 978 1 921331 32 9
Planning Permit Activity Report
Annual statistical report on planning permit activity across Victoria sourced from councils and the DPCD. An output of the Planning Permit Activity Reporting Project (PPARS). View the full version of the annual reports under the public reports link. As this is a large document it may also be downloaded in smaller sections below:
PPAR Report 2007-08 - Introduction and overview (PDF - 517 KB) PPAR Report 2007-08 - Alpine - Central Goldfields (PDF - 2.1 MB) PPAR Report 2007-08 - Colac Otway - Hobsons Bay (PDF - 1.7 MB) PPAR Report 2007-08 - Horsham - Moira (PDF - 1.8 MB) PPAR Report 2007-08 - Monash - Strathbogie (PDF - 2.1 MB) PPAR Report 2007-08 - Surf Coast - Yarriambiack (PDF - 1.7 MB)More information about the PPARS project or permit activity reporting in Victoria.
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New residential zones for Victoria - Consultation draft, February 2009
The Minister for Planning has released a consultation draft with proposals for new residential zones. Comments on the proposals are sought until 9 April 2009. More information.
New Residential Zones for Victoria- Consultation Draft, February 2009 (PDF - 894 KB) New residential zones for Victoria - A discussion paper, February 2008 (PDF - 415 KB)Planning Fees Review - Scoping Study, July 2007
In 2007, PricewaterhouseCoopers with Arup Consulting was commissioned to review the availability of cost information on planning permit fees and advise the Department on the level of detailed cost information and data required to justify any new fees and the recommended methodology for obtaining the necessary data.
Planning Fees Review Scoping Study - Executive Summary (PDF - 174 KB) Planning Fees Review Scoping Study - Appendices A - F (PDF - 676 KB) Planning Fees Review Scoping Study - Main Report (PDF - 1.8 MB)Review of Advertising Sign Provisions Report (December 2007)
This report sets out the findings and recommendations of the Advisory Committee on advertising sign provisions in the Victoria Planning Provisions (VPP) and planning schemes.
Advertising Signs Provisions Advisory Committee Final Report (PDF - 828 KB)Review of Heritage Provisions in planning schemes
The Minister for Planning has released Review of Heritage Provisions in planning schemes, report of the Advisory Committee (AC). The AC was established to investigate and review the management of heritage in planning schemes. The Department of Planning and Community Development is progressively working through the recommendations.
Advisory Committee Report
Covers and Table of Contents (PDF - 263 KB) Glossary (PDF - 166 KB) Preface and Summary (PDF - 371 KB) Chapter 1 - Background (PDF - 546 KB) Chapter 2 - Identifying what is to be controlled (PDF - 770 KB) Chapter 3 - Creating Effective Heritage Controls (PDF - 773 KB) Chapter 4 - Administering Heritage Controls (PDF - 481 KB) Chapter 5 - Options for Revised Heritage Provisions (PDF - 417 KB) Appendix A - Terms of Reference (PDF - 334 KB) Appendix B - The Consultation Process (PDF - 231 KB) Appendix C - Current Heritage Overlay Provisions (PDF - 271 KB) Appendix D - Related or Complementary Heritage Controls (PDF - 221 KB) Appendix E - Current Clause 62.01 and 62.02 (PDF - 280 KB) Appendix F - Recommended Revised Heritage Overlay Structure and Documents (PDF - 197 KB) Appendix G - DSE Planning Systems Group Option for Revised Herirtage Overlay (PDF - 87 KB) Heritage Review Consultation Paper (PDF - 1.7 MB) Review of Criteria and Thresholds for inclusion of places on the Heritage Overlay - Discussion paper (PDF - 412 KB)Page Top
Review of Native Vegetation Exemptions Retention Provisions
The Minister for Planning has released the report of the Advisory Committee on Review of Native Vegetation Exemptions in planning schemes.
Native Vegetation Review Advisory Committee Report (PDF - 1.1 MB)See also Advisory note
New exemptions for native vegetation removal in planning schemes, September 2008 (PDF - 371 KB)Review of Parking Provisions
An Advisory Committee, appointed by the Minister for Planning to provide advice on car parking issues and to prepare a new Clause 52.06 suitable for inclusion in the Victoria Planning Provisions (VPP) and planning schemes, has completed its report Review of the Parking Provisions. The Department is reviewing its recommendations.
Advisory Committee Report (PDF - 203 KB) Recommended 52.06 Clause (PDF - 156 KB) Recommended 45.08 Overlay (PDF - 15 KB) Example 45.08 Schedule (PDF - 25 KB) Draft Practice Note - Using the Parking Provisions (PDF - 74 KB) Draft Practice Note - Applying the Parking Overlay (PDF - 34 KB)Review the role of s173 agreements - discussion
A discussion paper on the issues surrounding s173 agreements and recommendations for improvements.
Review of s173 agreements - Discussion paper (PDF - 51 KB)Rural Zones Review
New rural zones were developed in 2004 and have been implemented across the State.
Background reports
Proposed new zones for rural Victoria - Final consultation draft, November 2003 (PDF - 330 KB) Rural Zones Review Reference group Discussion and Options Paper, January 2003 (PDF - 1.1 MB) Cover - Rural Zones Review Reference Groups Discussion and Options paper, January 2003 (PDF - 1.1 MB)Rural Zones Review - Project team reports
Rural Zones Review - Report - Project 1: Zone Purposes (PDF - 170 KB) Rural Zones Review - Report - Project 2: Development Controls (subdivision, buildings and works) (PDF - 578 KB) Rural Zones Review - Report - Project 3: Specific Uses (PDF - 356 KB) Rural Zones Review - Report - Project 4: Intergovernmental Coordination (PDF - 534 KB)Page Top
Smart Growth Committee reports
In late 2003, the Victorian Government appointed five committees to oversee the review of the existing growth area plans. These committees produced reports which directly informed the government's decisions about the growth area plans and changes to the urban growth boundary.
Published: December 2004 to August 2005
Limited supply of hard copies available or all reports available on one CD. Not available for download.
Price: $25 hard copy (CD and Fact Sheets Free)
ISBN: 1 74152 285 4
Available from Information Victoria
Transit Cities and South Eastern Metropolitan Activity Centres Triple Bottom Line Study
The purpose of the Transit Cities & South Eastern Metropolitan Triple Bottom Line Study is to establish a monitoring regime for Transit Cities and set benchmarks for activity centres in the south east region of metropolitan Melbourne. Consultant report produced for the Department of Sustainability and Environment in June 2005.
Urban Development Program annual reports
The Urban Development Program Annual Report 2008 provides up to date, detailed land supply information, as part of the Urban Development Program’s commitment to securing the ongoing supply of land and supporting infrastructure to meet Melbourne and Geelong’s future residential and industrial needs.
Published: July 2009
Available for download from this website and in hard copy or CD.
Price: $30 (CD Free)
ISBN: 978 1 74152 745 2
Available from Information Victoria
Older, frequently requested reports
Final Report, New Format Planning Schemes, 1999 (PDF - 486 KB)Other reports - panels and EES
For panel reports, advisory committee reports, Priority Development Panel reports and Environment Assessment reports, go to the relevant sections of our site.
Planning panels and committees
Priority Development Panels
Planning scheme amendment panel and advisory committee reports
Summary of appeal and permit call-ins
Permit call-in panel reports
Appeal call-ins panel reports
EES reports
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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.