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.
Do you ever use Google earth or street view to look at your property?
Did you now that there is another online resource which can provide more detailed information on your property?
The department of planning provide detailed information on every property address in Victoria. The information is available online via a detailed town planning report. Best of all, these reports are absolutely free. You can obtain your own report by clicking here.
This information might be very useful for:
- Homeowners wishing to renovate or extend
- Anyone interested in purchasing an investment property in the hope of redeveloping or extending
- Anyone interested in purchasing retail or commercial land and acquiring a permit for change of use
- Anyone who is simply curious!
If you need some expert advice as to what this policy actually means and how it can affect the value of your property contact one of our expert town planners today.
What we do…
14th February 2013 – CS Application to Whitehorse City Council for three double storey dwellings received a notice of decision for approval.
8th February 2013 – CS Application to VCAT for the development of ten double storey dwellings in Wyndham City receives a permit
20th February 2013 – CS Application to City of Melbourne Council for a 24 hour gym and leisure facility receives a planning permit.
1st March 2013- CS Application to Port Phillip Council lodged for a change of use of an existing warehouse building for the purpose of an educational facility and dispensation of car parking requirements.
18th March 2013 – CS Application to Maroondah City Council to vary a restrictive covenant receives a notice of decision for approval.
20th March 2013 – CS Application to Greater Dandenong City Council for a 24 hour gym and leisure facility receives a planning permit.
28th March 2013 – CS Application to the City of Yarra for demolition of an existing dwelling and construction of a replacement dwelling receives a planning permit.
11th April 2013 – CS Application to Darebin City Council lodged for development of a purpose built twenty four room student accommodation and dispensation of the car parking requirements.
Many of our current clients will know about our companies gradual rebranding over the last couple of months.
Many of our current clients will know about our companies gradual rebranding over the last couple of months.
This change was undertaken in response to the growth of the company over the last two years and to reflect the strategic direction of the company into the future. Paul O’Shea and Judy Cheung remain the executive leaders of the company and new additions in 2013 include Miss Deirdre Kirwan in the role of assistant town planner.
28th February 2013 – Hobsons Bay Councils permit conditions requiring development changes appealed to VCAT by CS town planning.
31st January 2013 – Successful consultation meeting on behalf of objectors results in the permit applicant altering plans to reduce impacts of a residential development in Stonnington.
27th January 2013 – City of Casey issue approval for CS application for a two lot land subdivision.
23rd January 2013 – An objectors case to a six storey mixed use development in the City of Yarra presented at VCAT by CS Town Planning. The development consisted of twelve apartments and a ground floor restaurant. City of Yarra Council resolved to refuse the application.
23rd January 2013 – City of Casey issue approval for CS application for a dual occupancy development permit amendment.
30th November 2012 – Maroondah City Councils permit conditions requiring development changes successfully appealed to VCAT by CS town planning.
12th November 2012 – An objection to a six storey apartment building including a food and drink premises on Mount Alexander Road lodged with Moonee Valley City Council.