In the previous edition we looked in depth at Planning Scheme Amendment VC148, which introduced numerous structural and format changes affecting all of Victoria’s Planning Schemes. The Amendment was part of the Victorian Government’s Smart Planning program aiming to simplify and modernise planning policy and rules. In addition to the structural and format changes are a number of changes to the rules, which change the operation of Victoria’s Planning Schemes.
Another arm of the State Government’s Smart Planning program is Smarter Online Resources. In December 2016 the website planning.vic.gov.au was launched, its aim: to bring together all planning information into one location. The site will also be home to the Victorian Planning Portal – a single point of entry for online tools and policy information across the state.
n the two previous issues of BDAV News we have discussed the changes underway with the Victorian Government’s SmartPlanning program. VicSmart is the fast-track planning permit application process for certain classes of application, and they are non-notified and exempt from third party appeal. The VicSmart arrangements are set out in Clauses 90 to 95 of Victoria’s Planning Schemes. On 27 July 2017, as part of the SmartPlanning Program, the State Government introduced additional classes of application to the VicSmart planning process for the residential zones.
In July 2016, the Victorian Government introduced the Smart Planning program, to make the planning process in Victoria easier to understand, more efficient and accessible by:
