Regional growth plans

Regional growth plans are being developed to provide broad direction for land use and development across regional Victoria. They will also provide more detailed planning frameworks for key regional centres.

Map of Victoria showing regional areas

The regional growth plans are the next stage in planning for growth and change in regional Victoria. They are being developed in a partnership between local government and state agencies and authorities.

The plans will respond to the directions in the regional strategic plans that were prepared by local governments in Victoria in 2010. Each of the regional strategic plans included an initiative or action to prepare a settlement framework or a regional land use plan.

Eight regional growth plans will be completed by mid 2013. Follow the links below for more information about regional growth planning for each region and to register your interest:

Regional Growth Plans logoWhy are regional growth plans needed?

The regional growth plans will:

  • identify important economic, environmental, social and cultural resources to be preserved, maintained or developed
  • provide direction for accommodating growth and change including: residential, employment, industrial, commercial, agriculture and other rural activities
  • show which areas of land can accommodate growth and which are to be maintained, including consideration of the infrastructure needed to support growth or change
  • help councils by streamlining planning policy and potentially reducing the amount of strategic work councils have to do

The plans will not reduce attention to local issues or replace local planning, but can provide solutions to common issues across the region. For example: identification of future industrial and other employment locations or consistent approaches to matters such as catchment protection.

How are the regional growth plans being developed?

The regional growth plans are being developed by each region through consultation with the community and key stakeholders. Each region has received funding and support from the Victorian Government. Local government are part of the steering groups overseeing the projects, along with relevant Victorian Government departments and authorities.

Strategic planning projects and development frameworks already undertaken by councils will be important inputs to the work and council expertise will assist development of the plans. As well, council will be talking to their stakeholders and communities as projects progress.

Will the regional growth plans consider natural hazards?

Victorian Government departments have been working on bushfire, flood and other hazard planning. This work will be taken into account when considering how land should be used and developed.

Will the regional growth plans consider transport infrastructure?

Transport infrastructure within and between regions and regional centres and nationwide access routes will be considered in planning for future growth. The regional growth plans may recommend further investigation of additional transport infrastructure and transport corridors as a result of potential increased growth.

Will existing land zoning and conditions be considered?   

All land in regional Victoria, both private and public, will be considered during the preparation of regional growth plans. The plans are intended to provide a high level regional picture. It is not expected that planning provisions for individual parcels of land will be changed. Existing land zoning and conditions, however, will be taken into account and if changes are proposed land owners will be consulted.

How will regional growth plans be implemented?

It is expected that, on completion, the regional growth plans will be provided to the Minister for Planning for consideration and endorsement and then given legal status through the planning system. Regional growth plans will provide a sound basis for future regional and local infrastructure planning and investment decisions. Other actions or initiatives may be needed once the plans are complete.

When will regional growth plans be reviewed?

As an ongoing part of Victoria’s planning system they would be reviewed on a four to six yearly cycle.

How can I get involved?

During the preparation of the regional growth plans, there will be opportunities at particular stages to comment on draft plans and proposals. The regional growth plans web page for your region in this section of our website will provide details of these.

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