_Planning Reform in Victoria

On 25 November, a number of planning reform amendments come into operation in Victoria.

Some key amendments relate to:

• planning scheme amendments (requests to Councils to progress an amendment will require Council justification and notification if the request is refused; the Minister can continue an amendment (in whole or part) abandoned by a planning authority – usually a Council – and becomes the planning authority; a low-impact amendment pathway will be created with no panel requirement);
• planning permits (five-day application completeness checking period; direction on material detriment test in determining application notification extent; default permit commencement expiry conditions will change to two years, from two years and five years for completion);
• Ministerial calls-in and panels (the Minister will have discretion on whether a called-in application is to be sent to a panel);
• metropolitan planning levy (Minister will have discretion to exempt certain applications from payment of the MPL).