VC222 – Kindergartens and the 2026 Commonwealth Games
Planning Scheme Amendment VC222 is a State-wide amendment which affects all of Victoria’s planning scheme.
One Planner's Archive
Discussion Papers & Articles
Transformation of a planning permit through an amendment application
The Planning and Environment Act 1987 (the Act) provides the opportunity for a planning permit to be amended, including the permit text, plans or other documents endorsed under that permit.
State Projects and Local Government projects – New Planning Scheme Provisions
VC194 introduced new provisions for State projects, and Local Government projects with a cost under $10 million. The amendment was approved on 25 March 2021 to assist with social and economic recovery after Covid and to provide timely delivery of state and local government infrastructure projects.
Councils Being a Bit Cheeky
It has come to our attention that some Councils are including unreasonable requests in their ‘pro-forma’ correspondence. The specific issue pertains to several Councils making demands and inferences, as part of their requests for further information, that purport to require applicants to lodge formal amendments with their RFI response.
Land Use Definitions
Planning Scheme Amendment VC 159 was gazetted on 14 July 2019 and applies to all Victorian Planning Schemes. The Amendment is part of the Victorian Government’s Smart Planning program which aims to simplify and modernise Victoria’s planning policy and rules to make planning more efficient, accessible and transparent. VC159 amends all planning schemes to introduce new land use terms, revise the definition of land use terms and change where land use terms are nested.
When is a Change not an Amendment?
Leading on from the article above – it is important that applicant’s understand the potential consequences of Council seeking an amendment to your application form and how to protect your applicant’s right
VC139 – New Apartment Design Guidelines for Applicants
In late August, the State Government gazetted Amendment VC139. For regular development applicants, the most significant change contained in VC 139 are the new Apartment Design Guidelines for Victoria.
The Apartment Design Guidelines have been created as a companion to the recently introduced Better Apartment Design Standards and are now listed as a reference document within the State Planning Provisions.
Permit applicants seeking planning permission for apartment projects can review the new Apartment Design Guidelines for assistance in interpreting the following Objectives and Standards:
Is a Garden Under an Eave a Garden Area?
Regular readers and applicants will be aware of the recent changes to the General Residential and Neighourhood Residential Zones introduced in April of this year, under amendment VC110, requiring a mandatory minimum Garden Area as part of development proposals on lots greater than 400m2
Proposed Amendment Slammed: C140
A recent attempt by Bayside City Council to amend their Neighbourhood Residential Zone (affecting approximately 80% of the residential land in the municipality) raised the ire of residents, professionals and industry bodies alike. The amended schedule to the NRZ was proposed to include a schedule prescribing:
Don’t Use the “A” Word
“Amendment” is a dirty word.