_PLANNING REFORM AGENDA

The Minister for Planning, Matthew Guy, was the guest speaker at the UDIA monthly luncheon on 2 March.

The Minister spoke about the need to provide further growth and development opportunities in Victoria by continuing to reform the planning system. He referred to the recent relaxation of rules for bulky goods retailers as an example of how changing the Victorian Planning Provisions can stimulate new economic development and jobs (For more information about the ‘bulky goods announcement’ see our blog article dated 20 January).

The Minister also mentioned a number of possible future changes to the planning system, including:
• introducing timeframes to key stages of the planning scheme amendment process;
• extending the provisions and application of the ‘Small Lot Housing Code’ to metropolitan areas (theY currently only apply in growth areas);
• introducing ‘code assessments’ in relation to other aspects of the planning system such as simple subdivisions;
• reviewing and updating the zone provisions (including in relation to non-residential zones);
• encouraging Councils to limit the number of ‘conditions’ attached to Section 2 land uses.

We look forward to finding out more details about these changes over the coming months.

Enquiries to Aran Barker (awb@colliepl.com.au).