One Planner's Archive

On 1 July 2020 the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) announced new initiatives as part of its Planning and Environmental Division (PED) reforms. The reforms are part of the PED’s digitising processes to transition from existing manual and hardcopy-based systems to digital solutions. VCAT suspended all in-person hearings in March 2020 to safeguard the wellbeing of its staff and the general public and have since implemented telephone and virtual online hearings and conferences.

Tags: fact sheets. Covid19, reforms; new application forms, VCAT

COVID-19 has temporarily stalled many facets of life. As we work from home, our fears reducing, feeling a warmth of pride that our community has prioritised public health over all else, it is dawning on us that there will be a ‘new norm’. Things change quickly in this new norm, so readers should be aware this piece was written on May 20th.

Tags: applications, councils, COVID-19, VCAT, Victorian Government

COVID-19 has temporarily stalled many facets of life. As we work from home, our fears reducing, feeling a warmth of pride that our community has prioritised public health over all else, it is dawning on us that there will be a ‘new norm’.

Tags: councils, COVID-19, planning permit applicants, VCAT, Victorian Government

Some of our team at Clause 1 attended a webinar, yesterday, hosted by the Victorian Planning and Environment Law Association (VPELA), where the Deputy President of VCAT, Teresa Bisucci, gave an update on the initiatives being undertaken by the Tribunal in the new COVID19 environment

Tags: adjournments, COVID19, tribunal, VCAT

Practitioners should be aware that VCAT has placed ‘on hold’ all planning matters listed for hearings from mid-March to the 15th May 2020, due to Covid 19 safety issues associated with face-to-face hearings.

Tags: adjournments, COVID-19, VCAT

The right of objectors to appeal to VCAT for review of Council decisions to grant planning permits (pursuant to s.82 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987) is an important and well-established part of the Victorian planning regime.

Tags: dismiss appeals, objectors appeal, S82, VCAT

This article was authored on 25th March, and may be redundant by the time you read it, but…COVID-19 is changing our lives. Clause 1 Planning sincerely hopes you and your loved ones can successfully navigate the coming months and we look forward to seeing you all on the other side.

Tags: COVID-19, planning applications, VCAT

The recent Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (the Tribunal) case ID-FLK Gisborne Pty Ltd v Macedon Ranges SC [2019] VCAT 1336 considered whether VCAT has the power to amend and/or consider a version of a Development Plan that differs from the Development Plan that formed the basis of the responsible authority’s decision.

Tags: development plan, DPO, VCAT

Not to be confused with a Statement of Compliance (required as part of a subdivision), the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) as previously noted (in Studley Street Developments  Pty Ltd v Yarra CC  [2013] VCAT 1762) that ‘Certificates of Compliance’ are:

Tags: certificate of compliance, existing use rights, section 97N, VCAT

Regular readers will be familiar with the fact that if a Cultural Heritage Management Plans (CHMP) is required as part of a planning permit application, the statutory clock doesn’t start until such time the approved CHMP is supplied.

Tags: CHMP, Failure Appeal VCAT, VCAT