In May, our Managing Director Paul O’Shea was announced the winner of the Victorian Government’s Young Achiever Award for Small Business. This achievement marks a rewarding milestone in the company’s development path. CS Town Planning would like to take this opportunity to thank all our past and current clients for their continuing support and referral opportunities. We strive to continue providing good service to meet our clients’ planning needs.
Office relocation
From 1st May 2015, CS office has relocated to a new address at Suite I, 450 Chapel Street in South Yarra. You can contact our office via new number 9824 1902; our old office number will remain active until 1st May 2016.
Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) have introduced new approach to list matters in the Planning and Environment List. All parties will be given a timeline at the initial stage of their proceeding on hearing date and any compulsory conference or mediation. This will allow parties to better plan and prepare for their submissions or organise expert witnesses to appear at the hearing.
Applications lodged prior to 2 February 2015 would still be processed under the former procedures. For more information on the VCAT’s new approach, please click here.
We have been nominated for a 2015 Telstra Business Award
We have been ranked alongside some of the best in the business by being nominated for the 2015 Telstra Business Awards. It is a proud moment for us, and we would like to thank you all for your continued support.
The next round of judging is in May, and we will keep you posted on how we go.
The new Victorian Labor Premier Daniel Andrews has appointed Mr Richard Wynne as the always-controversial Planning Minister early this month. After Mathew Guy’s transformation of Melbourne into a foreign investors’ nirvana, it is now up to Labor to steer Victoria’s future land developments.
For more information about the new Planning Minister Richard Wynne and his involvements, please click here.
As holiday season is fast approaching, we would like to take this opportunity to wish you a safe & joyful Christmas and a wonderful New Year to come!
Our office will be closed from 22nd December 2014 and re-open on 5th January 2015.
The planning activity summary has revealed a significant slash in total number of planning applications received since the new zones came into effect.
The number of new permit applications alone had dropped by 23% in August. This may be the effect that the new zone requirements had on the confidence of people who are looking to develop.
However, the number of refusals in August fell by 9%. A fall in the number of refusals may demonstrate the zones are providing more clarity on where development can occur.
For a thorough planning activity monthly report, please click here. If you are considering developing your land according to the new zones, contact our office today.
In our last newsletter on June 2nd, 15 councils had submitted their rezoning to the state government, with only Greater Dandenong and Glen Eira approved.
Within one month, the minister has approved 11 of the proposed rezonings.
Those councils that have had their rezonings approved in the last month are Bayside, Boroondara, Casey, Hobsons Bay, Hume, Manningham, Maroondah, Melbourne, Monash, Wyndham, and Yarra Ranges.
To check the reformed planning zones please click here.
Councils have until 1 July 2014 to introduce the new residential zones into their local planning schemes.
Where there are 15 councils that have applied, only 2 have been approved – Glen Eira and Greater Dandenong. Boroondara council have had the longest wait since lodging their rezoning on 16 September 2013, and are still awaiting feedback from the Minister. Where councils have not finalised an amendment to implement the new residential zones by 1 July 2014, the General Residential Zone will be implemented to replace all land zoned Residential 1, 2 and 3.
To see if your local council has lodged its rezoning application to the State Government, please click here.
This month CS Town Planning has been invited to a discussion forum by the Planning and Environment List Members of VCAT.
Over the past few months VCAT have been conducting a series of forums with metropolitan councils, planning consultants, legal practitioners and others involved in planning reviews at VCAT. They have already conducted forums with some councils and single practitioner consultants.
Leading Melbourne planning consultants are invited to attend the next forum which will take place on Wednesday, 25th September.
The purpose of the forums is to provide consultants and Planning and Environment List Members with the opportunity to discuss matters of common interest. The Tribunal is keen to discuss a number of procedural and practical issues, and are also keen to receive feedback from consultants on matters that they wish to raise.
This forum is an excellent opportunity to have dialogue between consultants and Members of Tribunal. Constructive feedback and discussion will potentially lead to a smoother and more effective hearing day for all involved.
If you need advice or representation at VCAT or are simply curious about the procedure, please call one of our expert town planners on 1300 362 766 or click here to visit our website.
Anyone following our LinkedIn page or Twitter account will have noticed that Minister Guy is steadily rolling out changes to the Victorian planning system as part of his push for growth in the state.
After the introduction of the new residential zones on 1 July 2013, the new suite of commercial, industrial, mixed use and township zones were released on 15 July 2013. Unlike the residential zones, these new commercial and revised industrial zones have immediate effect. This means that the increased flexibility of many of the zones is now available. Full details are on the Department’s website.
On the back of these changes, the Minister also announced a full review of the State Planning Policy Framework. Not a lot of detail is available as yet, but key changes for the development industry will flow from the new Melbourne strategy currently being prepared. This review builds on other reforms such as VicSmart designed to simply the system and encourage development. Watch this space.
For information on how these changes may affect you, call our expert town planners on 1300 362 766 or visit our website.
Victoria’s reformed residential planning zones have commenced since Monday 1st of July and will be implemented into all planning schemes by July 2014.
A quick snapshot….
Residential Zone 1 will change to Residential Growth Zone
Residential Zone 2 will change to General Residential Zone
Residential Zone 3 will change to Neighbourhood Residential Zone
Purpose…
The aims of these reformed zones are to give Council more specification and clarity when assessing applications. These changes will give Councils particulars to work with rather than policy that can be loosely applied.
- The purpose of RGZ is to enable new housing growth and diversity in appropriate locations.
- The purpose of GRZ is to respect and preserve neighbourhood character while allowing moderate housing growth and diversity.
- The purpose of NRZ is to restrict housing growth in areas identified for urban preservation.
For more information on these zone visit www.dpcd.vic.gov.au or click here for a helpful overview.
For more information on how our expert town planners can help you, click here.
Fancy trying your hand at being a town planner? Well now you can
A new iPhone App called Run That Town has been designed and released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Made with real census data and the option to use your own postcode, it opens up the world of town planning to anyone with a smart phone.
How would you plan your local suburb? Could you do a better job than your local Council?
Run that Town gives you the option to reject or approve an array of different fictional planning proposals. It gives both positive and negative options from locals and in the end the final decision is yours.
If your decisions pleases the locals your popularity soars meaning you are playing the game right.
To have a go, download the App here. And best of all, it’s free!
If you have a real life proposal and need some expert town planning advice – click here.
What we do:
19 April 2013: CS Application recently lodged to Latrobe City Council for the change of use to a 24 hour gymnasium.
6th May 2013: CS Application recently lodged to Hepburn City Council for change of use for a medical centre.
8th May 2013: CS Application recently lodged to Monee Valley City Council for the change of use to a 24 hour gymnasium.
20th May 2013: CS Application to Brimbank city council for two dwellings on a lot receives approval from Council.
21st May 2013: CS Application recently lodged to City of Melbourne for change of use to medical centre.
31st May 2013: CS Application to Moonee Valley for three dwellings on a lot and subdivision progresses to advertising.