 |  | The Department of Planning and Community Development’s (DPCD) Development Facilitation Unit assists proponents and councils with private sector development projects on a case-by-case basis and advises the Minister for Planning on appropriate actions. On this page:
Commonwealth Nation Building and Economic Stimulus Plan The Planning Minister, Justin Madden announced on 20 May that he had cut more red tape and streamlined the planning system to ensure $3 billion in education and social housing projects funded through the Commonwealth Nation Building and Economic Stimulus Plan. Amendment VC56 will take effect from Friday 22 May 2009. The Commonwealth Government has a $42 billion Nation Building and Economic Stimulus Plan to support jobs and invest in future long term economic growth. In February 2009, the Premier of Victoria, John Brumby MP signed up to the National Partnership Agreement on the Nation Building and Jobs Plan, agreeing to take action to support the timely and effective delivery of key projects and infrastructure funded under the Plan. The timely delivery of the initiatives funded under the Commonwealth’s Nation Building Economic Stimulus Plan is one of the ways the Victorian Government can help shield households and businesses from the worst effects of the current global financial crisis. The new planning provisions are required to ensure education facilities and social housing projects are completed in time to be eligible for funding. Amendment VC56 amends all planning schemes to:
 Amendment VC56 - Government funded education facilities, May 2009 (PDF - 351 KB) Amendment VC56 - Government funded social housing, May 2009 (PDF - 231 KB)Further information All states have appointed a state co-ordinator for all matters relating to Commonwealth Nation Building and Economic Stimulus Plan. In Victoria, it's the Coordinator-General, Commonwealth Nation Building and Economic Stimulus Plan, Department of Premier and Cabinet. If you would like more information about the Amendment VC56, please contact the Department of Planning and Community Development or Information Victoria on 1300 366 356. For further information on the Government's planning framework, the strategies and projects behind Melbourne 2030/Melbourne @ 5 million, and how they are being implemented, visit the Managing Melbourne's Growth web page. Page top Development Facilitation Services The Development Facilitation Unit:
In response to this, DPCD’s Development Facilitation Unit is expanding its role to facilitate more development projects through the planning system. Potential priority projects can be referred by the development industry, proponents, councils and other agencies. Potential priority projects are then allocated to a Development Facilitation Case Manager. Development Facilitation Case Managers assess potential priority projects against criteria including:
Page top Development Facilitation Task Force A Development Facilitation Task Force has been established to coordinate and oversee advice to the Minister for Planning regarding priority projects. Development Facilitation Case Managers present advice on potential priority projects to the Taskforce. The Task Force is chaired by David Hodge, Executive Director Planning Services and has senior representation from the Planning and Local Government Group of DPCD including; Urban Development, Planning, Policy and Reform, Development Facilitation and State Planning Services. Projects may be facilitated in a range of ways. The Planning and Environment Act 1987, the Heritage Act 1995 and the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 1998 provide for the Minister for Planning to take action in relation to planning and heritage processes. The planning practice note Ministerial Powers of Intervention in Planning and Heritage Matters sets out circumstances in which the Minister will consider exercising those powers of intervention. The Minister for Planning has announced a number of key projects that will be facilitated. More information is available from the Media Release website. A project that is located in a “market ready” centre, Principal Activity Centre or on a site of metropolitan significance may be considered by a Development Assessment Committee, once these are operational. Refer to the Fact sheet for more information - Development Assessment Committees Fact Sheet (PDF - 238 KB)Projects could also be facilitated with assistance from the Priority Development Panel, the Development Facilitation Unit or State Planning Services. Contacts For further information on Development Facilitation: Phone: 1300 366 356 (local call cost) or TTY +61 3 9603 8806 (8.30am-5pm Monday-Friday) Email: dev.fac@dpcd.vic.gov.au Page top 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. |