Environment, native vegetation, bushfire, flooding
This page contains practice notes and advisory notes published by DPCD about environment, native vegetation, wildfire and flooding planning.
Biodiversity
- explains the importance of biodiversity
- identifies the role of planning schemes in achieving biodiversity objectives
- outlines what planning authorities can do to establish a local biodiversity framework in their planning schemes
- provides examples of planning tools which can be used in planning schemes.
Bushfire
AN40: Amendment VC83 - Bushfire protection - Bushfire planning provisions, November 2011 (PDF - 672 KB)
This advisory note provides information about the bushfire planning provisions introduced into by Amendment VC83.
AN39: Amendment VC83 - Bushfire protection - Vegetation exemptions, November 2011 (PDF - 776 KB)
This advisory note provides information about clause 52.48 which provides vegetation removal exemptions around buildings used for accommodation and along fence lines.
AN33: Amendment VC83 - Bushfire protection - Community fire refuge and private bushfire shelter exemptions, November 2011 (PDF - 664 KB)
This advisory note provides information about new planning permit exemptions for buildings and works associated with a community fire refuge and a private bushfire shelter.
PN65: Bushfire Management Overlay and bushfire protection: planning requirements, November 2011 (PDF - 950 KB)
This practice note provides advice on preparing and assessing an application under the Bushfire Management Overlay and associated clause 52.47 Bushfire protection: planning requirements.
PN64: Local planning for bushfire protection, November 2011 (PDF - 1045 KB)
This practice note provides an overview of considerations that can support local planning for bushfire protection; assists councils to tailor the Local Planning Policy Framework in response to bushfire matters; provides guidance on how to prepare schedules to the Bushfire Management Overlay
This advisory note provides information about new Clause 52.39 which enables landowners to rebuild houses and buildings damaged or destroyed by the 2009 bushfires without having to satisfy the normal planning scheme requirements.
Native vegetation
AN22: Amendment VC60, September 2009, AN22 (PDF - 220 KB)
This advisory note provides information about changes introduced to the VPP and planning schemes by Amendment VC60: new renewable energy policy and provisions, maritime precinct policy, river health policy, updated broiler farms requirements, amended native vegetation exemptions, subdivision in more than one zone and minor matters including domestic animal enclosures.
AN16: Amendment VC49, September 2008, (PDF - 188 KB)
This advisory note provides information about changes introduced to the VPP and planning schemes by Amendment VC49 including new exemptions for native vegetation removal in Clause 52.17 and a number of environmental and land management overlays and revised provisions for native vegetation precinct plans.
This practice note provides guidance for planning authorities preparing a native vegetation precinct plan about when to use one, its content and implementation.
PN49: Native vegetation offsets, September 2008 (PDF - 197 KB)
This Practice note provides advice for planning authorities about native vegetation offsets, including: deciding when an offset is required; identifying an appropriate offset; and securing an offset.This practice note provides guidance for responsible authorities assessing planning permit applications involving the removal of native vegetation including when a permit is required, the process for assessing a permit application and making a decision.
This advisory note provides information about recent changes to the native vegetation provisions in the Victoria Planning Provisions and planning schemes including changes to clarify the native vegetation provisions in the planning scheme; changes to the referral provisions and providing a set of planning tools that allow native vegetation to be strategically managed.
Vegetation protection in urban areas
This practice note provides guidance on how to assess the significance of vegetation in urban areas and how to protect significant vegetation through the planning scheme.
Flooding
This practice note provides guidance about making an application for a planning permit where flooding is a consideration and explains how an application will be assessed. It is one of two practice notes on planning for flooding. The other practice note, 'Applying the Flood Provisions in Planning Schemes - A guide for councils', provides guidance about applying the flood provisions in planning schemes including the preparation of policy, identifying land affected by flooding, preparing a local floodplain development plan and the application and operation of the flood provisions.
This practice note provides guidance about applying the flood provisions in planning schemes including the preparation of policy, identifying land affected by flooding, preparing a local floodplain development plan and the application and operation of the flood provisions, including the preparation of schedules. It is one of two practice notes on planning for flooding. The other practice note, 'Applying for a planning permit under the flood provisions - A guide for councils, referral authorities and applicants', explains the requirements of the flood provisions and provides guidance about making an application for a planning permit where flooding is a consideration and about how an application will be assessed.
Contaminated land
This practice note provides guidance about identifying and assessing potentially contaminated land, conditions on permits and use of the Environmental Audit Overlay.