Get involved in Planning
How to have your say and keep informed about planning issues, applications and consultations
Our website provides access to information about planning issues, development applications and projects. These often include community consultation processes and committees established to advise on planning reviews, development applications and amendments to planning schemes.
On this page:
Planning consultations
Find out how to get involved and have your say on specific planning reviews.
Recent consultations
Planning for Broadmeadows
Share your ideas about the future of the Broadmeadows Activities Area.
Submissions closed on 9 December.
Potentially Contaminated Land Advisory Committee
Submissions on an Issues and Options Paper closed on 1 November 2011.
Have your say about proposed car parking provisions
Submissions were sought about proposed changes to the car parking provisions in the Victoria Planning Provisions and planning schemes.
Submissions closed on 7 October 2011.
Helicopter landing sites
A review of the proposed planning requirements for helicopter landing sites.
Public comments closed on 7 September.
Renewing Frankston's city centre
Share your ideas about the future of Frankston's city centre
Events, workshop and online forum closed on 2 September.
Help us improve Victoria's planning system
Your concerns, ideas and solutions are being sought to help make Victoria's planning system the best in the country.
Submissions closed on 31 August.
545 Station Street, Box Hill
A Working Party was established to recommend guidelines for future development of vacant land at 545-563 Station Street, Box Hill.
Public comments have been received and a Site Development Framework prepared for the site.
Advisory committees
From time to time the Minister for Planning convenes an advisory committee to consider and make recommendations about planning issues. These issues may be broad policy matters or deal with specific site development proposals.
Current Advisory Committees
The following advisory committees have been established:
Coastal Climate Change
The Committee will advise the Minister for Planning how Victoria's land-use planning and development controls can best support Government policy for managing the coastal impacts of climate change.
Committee report completed and decision is pending on recommendations.
East Street, Narrawong Planning Controls Review
The Committee is to review the planning controls for Crown Allotments 1 - 18 East Street, Narrawong in the Shire of Glenelg.
The Advisory Committee submitted its report on 6 April 2011.
Former Port Phillip Woollen Mill
The Committee was established to review planning and design matters relating to the proposed development of land including the former Port Phillip Woollen Mills, Nelson Place, Williamstown.
Geelong Ring Road Section 4C
The Committee will advise on the planning, consultation and approval arrangements for Section 4C of the Geelong Ring Road. Public hearings held during the week commencing 9 May 2011.
Logical Inclusions Advisory Committee
Established by the Minister for Planning to review the merits of land, previously considered in 2009, for inclusion within the Urban Growth Boundary.
Public hearings were held between 29 August to 7 October.
Lonsdale Golf Course Redevelopment
An Inquiry and Panel has been established to consider the project, planning amendment C67 and the associated planning permit application.
Potentially Contaminated Land
The Committee will examine the existing planning controls and processes for potentially contaminated land.
Submissions on an Issues and Options Paper are invited by 1 November 2011.
Regional Rail Link Stage 2
The Committee will consider noise impacts and mitigation for Section 2 of the Regional Rail Link from west of Werribee to Deer Park.
A public hearing will be held at Planning Panels Victoria commencing on 3 November 2011.
Victorian Planning System Ministerial Advisory Committee
Established to provide advice on ways of improving the planning system in Victoria.
Consultation sessions with councils and submitters commenced on 22 September 2011. Public submissions are now available for viewing.
Yarra C104 (Channel Nine Site) Panel and Advisory Committee
A combined panel and committee to consider development of the Channel Nine site in Bendigo Street, Richmond.
Previous Advisory Committee Reports
Find reports from previous advisory committees
Planning Panels Victoria
Planning Panels Victoria is responsible for managing independent panels, advisory committees, Ministerial call-ins and environmental assessment inquiries.
- More information about Planning Panels Victoria
- Types of panels and committees
- Schedule of hearings and current panels and committees
Environmental assessment
Public involvement and comment is sought at key stages of the environmental assessment processes in Victoria. This includes when Draft Scoping Requirements for an Environmental Effects Statement (EES) are exhibited and when an EES is exhibited by a proponent.
More information about the EES processes in Victoria
Current opportunities for public comment
Princes Highway Duplication - Traralgon East to Kilmany
The Environmental Effects Statement has been released for public comment from 18 January to 9 March 2012.
Other projects
- View the list of projects that have been referred for assessment
- View the projects that are either under assessment or have recently had an assessment completed
Amendments to planning schemes
Exhibited amendments
Amendments to planning schemes are placed on exhibition and published in the Government Gazette.
View a list of amendments that are currently on exhibition or recently approved
Planning Scheme Amendments Online
Find up-to-date information on the status of amendments to all planning schemes in Victoria. View amendment documentation at the exhibition and approval stages of the amendment process.
More information and access to Planning Scheme Amendments Online
Planning applications
Planning permit applications give permission for a use or development on a particular piece of land.
Once a planning application has been submitted to the responsible planning authority, usually a council, it is considered a public document.
Most planning applications are advertised by the local council and if you are directly affected you should receive a notice about the proposal.
Anyone may inspect an application and can make a written submission to the responsible authority.
Applications lodged in SPEAR
Permit applications may be lodged online using SPEAR (Streamlined Planning through Electronic Applications and Referrals). SPEAR allows online lodgement of planning permit applications including lodgement, referrals, public viewing, determination by council, and appeals to VCAT.
Applications lodged directly with local councils
The majority of plannng applications are still lodged directly with the local council.
If the application is not in SPEAR then contact your local council.
Applications where the Minister for Planning is the responsible authority
For some areas of Victoria the Minister for Planning is the responsible authority for approving permit applications.
- Find out where the Minister is responsible
- Access the Minister's Planning Permit Application Register to view applications lodged in these areas
Applications that have been referred to or called in by the Minister for Planning
The Minister for Planning is able to call in planning application appeals being reviewed by VCAT or being considered by a council.
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