Key Points:
The changes proposed by the five Response Papers do not
represent a complete overhaul of Victoria's Planning Act but a
substantial upgrade.
In March 2009, the Victorian Government released the discussion paper "Modernising
Victoria's Planning Act: A discussion paper on opportunities to
improve the Planning and Environment Act 1987" as part of a
review of Victoria's principal planning legislation - the
Planning and Environment Act 1987. An expert panel was also
appointed to assist with the review and almost 200 written
submissions were made in response to the Paper.
In August 2009, the Department of Planning and Community
Development (DPCD) issued five Response Papers setting out proposed
changes to the Act that respond to the issues and submissions
arising from the Discussion Paper. In this article we briefly look
at each of the Response Papers and the key changes proposed which
are intended to improve the operation of Victoria's planning
system.
