Referring Projects to the Priority Development Panel

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What types of projects can be referred to the Priority Development Panel?
The criteria for projects to be considered for referral as a Priority Development Project are set out below. A project must meet a majority of the following:
  • Be of genuine State or regional significance, for example it:
    • may have substantial effects on the achievement or development of State and regional planning objectives
    • could have significant effects beyond its immediate locality or in more than one municipality
    • raises a major issue of State or regional policy or public interest, such as the implementation of Melbourne 2030 objectives.

  • Relate to the planning or development of:
    • a Transit City, Principal and Major Activity Centre
    • a key strategic redevelopment site as defined in Melbourne 2030, and
    • give effect to environmental, social and economic objectives for sustainable development for those locations.

  • Include one or a combination of the following:
    • development and implementation of a Structure Plan or Urban Design Framework
    • a proposal for a substantial mixed use development
    • a proposal for use of the Priority Development Zone.

  • Be of a scale or level of complexity that requires special management arrangements, for example:
    • requiring coordination across Government agencies to facilitate outcomes
    • requiring an integrated assessment of issues
    • where standard approval processes may cause substantial delay or cost to the project.
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What issues does the Priority Development Panel consider?
The Priority Development Panel provides advice to the Minister for Planning, in relation to a referred project, about:
  • the strategic context of a project, including the consistency of proposed developments or plans with planning policy, particularly Melbourne 2030
  • the statutory planning arrangements, including appropriate development provisions, mechanisms for the implementation of structure plans and opportunities for the application of the Priority Development Zone
  • the planning and design merits of proposals, including the appropriate type and scale of development
  • special management arrangements, such as coordination across Government, to facilitate a project
  • any other matters that the Priority Development Panel considers appropriate to the project.
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How is a project referred to the Priority Development Panel?
The Minister for Planning decides whether to refer projects to the Priority Development Panel.

A responsible authority/planning authority, development proponent/applicant may request the Minister for Planning to refer a project to the Priority Development Panel for advice.

A request to refer a project to the Priority Development Panel should include:
  • how the project meets the referral criteria for a Priority Development Project
  • the issues requiring advice
  • the history of consultation between parties
  • any relevant development plans, background reports and draft planning scheme provisions
  • any relevant information about timeframes or funding commitments.

When should a request be made?
The Minister may seek the advice of the Priority Development Panel at any stage during the planning process. However, requests made early in the process enable issues to be identified and resolved and opportunities for facilitation explored.

A referral may be prompted by a range of planning processes, including requests to the Minister to:
  • provide advice to the responsible authority or planning authority about a planning permit, planning scheme amendment or the appropriate planning scheme provisions to be applied
  • authorise or make a Ministerial decision in relation to a planning scheme amendment
  • prepare a Ministerial amendment under the provisions of the Planning and Environment Act 1987
  • ‘call-in’ an application.
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How will the Priority Development Panel inform itself?
For each project referred to the Priority Development Panel, the Minister for Planning will specify the scope of advice required.

The manner in which the Priority Development Panel informs itself is not regulated. The Priority Development Panel may inform itself as it sees fit, considering the nature of the project that has been referred.

The Priority Development Panel will determine an appropriate procedure for each project referred to it. This will usually be done in consultation with relevant parties. The procedures are flexible and tailored to the circumstances and may involve, for example:
  • formal or informal public hearings
  • review of documents
  • project presentations and briefings
  • workshops, meetings or interviews
  • establishment of project working groups
  • obtaining specialist advice.
Project Working Groups
The Chair of the Panel may establish project working groups, including members of the Priority Development Panel, council or department officers, or external consultants, to work together to consider specific issues in relation to a project that has been referred to the Priority Development Panel.

Specialist advice
The Priority Development Panel may commission or obtain specialist advice from appropriate sources, including external consultants.

What is the outcome of referral to the Priority Development Panel?
Each project referred to the Priority Development Panel will result in a written report that may be released at the Minister’s discretion.

The Priority Development Panel must report to the Minister within a time agreed with the Minister.

The Minister will consider the Priority Development Panel’s report in making statutory decisions or issuing advice about a project.

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