Planning and Environment Handbook VCAT decisions and commentary Dr Joseph Monaghan Holding Redlich M:13117515_3 JBM Page 2 About the author Joseph Monaghan is a partner at Holding Redlich. He is a Law Institute of Victoria Accredited Specialist in both Administrative Law, and also Planning and Environment Law. Joseph can be contacted at [email protected]. M:13117515_3 JBM Page 3 Table of Contents List of acronyms and abbreviations.............................................................................................................. 5 Acknowledgements ...................................................................................................................................... 6 Introduction and overview ........................................................................................................................... 7 The Decisions .............................................................................................................................................. 12 Admissibility of evidence and experts .................................................................................................... 12 Ancillary use ........................................................................................................................................... 16 Affordable accommodation ................................................................................................................... 17 Cultural Heritage Management Plans .................................................................................................... 19 Compulsory acquisition and acquisition of land .................................................................................... 22 Development Plan Overlay Schedules .................................................................................................... 26 Declarations ............................................................................................................................................ 26 Easements .............................................................................................................................................. 30 Existing use rights ................................................................................................................................... 31 Enforcement ........................................................................................................................................... 34 Gaming and liquor .................................................................................................................................. 41 GAIC ........................................................................................................................................................ 42 Green wedge .......................................................................................................................................... 43 Humorous ............................................................................................................................................... 46 Mediated outcomes and consent orders ............................................................................................... 47 Misconduct ............................................................................................................................................. 49 Natural justice ........................................................................................................................................ 53 Out of sequence subdivisions ................................................................................................................. 55 Panels ..................................................................................................................................................... 56 Permit amendments ............................................................................................................................... 59 Permit conditions – ongoing effect ........................................................................................................ 61 Permit extension .................................................................................................................................... 62 Precautionary principle .......................................................................................................................... 67 Public open space contributions ............................................................................................................ 75 Planning policy, including Plan Melbourne and ResCode ...................................................................... 78 Restrictive covenants ............................................................................................................................. 81 Repeat appeals ....................................................................................................................................... 82 Screening ................................................................................................................................................ 82 Signage ................................................................................................................................................... 83 Standing .................................................................................................................................................. 86 Solar panels ............................................................................................................................................ 90 Subdivision process ................................................................................................................................ 92 M:13117515_3 JBM Page 4 Social effects ........................................................................................................................................... 94 Sea level rise ........................................................................................................................................... 99 Section 173 agreements ....................................................................................................................... 103 Secondary consents .............................................................................................................................. 108 Technical codes and standards ............................................................................................................ 110 Transitional provisions ......................................................................................................................... 111 Water .................................................................................................................................................... 111 List of cases............................................................................................................................................... 117 M:13117515_3 JBM Page 5 List of acronyms and abbreviations AH Act Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 (Vic) ADJR Act Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1975 (Cth) AH Regulations Aboriginal Heritage Regulations 2007 (Vic) CHMP Cultural Heritage Management Plan EE Act Environment Effects Act 1978 (Vic) EP Act Environment Protection Act 1970 (Vic) EPBC Act Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) EP Amendment Act Environment Protection Amendment Act 2018 (Vic) GR Act Gambling Regulation Act 2003 (Vic) IL Act Interpretation of Legislation Act 1984 (Vic) LG Act Local Government Act 1989 (Vic) P&E Act Planning and Environment Act 1987 (Vic) SPPF State Planning Policy Framework Subdivision Act Subdivision Act 1988 (Vic) VCAT The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal VCAT Act Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 1998 (Vic) VL Act Valuation of Land Act 1960 (Vic) VPPs Victoria Planning Provisions Water Act Water Act 1989 (Vic) Water Act (Cth) Water Act 2007 (Cth) M:13117515_3 JBM Page 6 Acknowledgements This publication is intended as a resource for lawyers, planners, Council officers and others with an interest in planning and environment matters practicing in that jurisdiction in VCAT. The booklet is a consolidation of a number of decision summaries that I prepared over the years as a writer of case summaries for the VPELA Revue, with updates and revisions to those summaries made by me for the purposes of this publication, as well as new commentary, more recent decisions and notes on legislative developments. I would like to acknowledge Mark Marsden for his time taken to review these summaries and Luke Flegeltaub for his assistance proofreading this booklet. Joseph Monaghan, 3 May 2021 M:13117515_3 JBM Page 7 Introduction and overview This booklet is structured around key points that have been the focus of important decisions in the planning and environment jurisdiction. These are arranged in alphabetical order, with decisions summarised under each of those points presented in chronological order. There is a convenient index and I have also hyperlinked the decisions, as well as legislation, to Austlii. I have also included a list of decisions. What then, were some of the trends that developed over the 10 year period? By way of summary: VCAT’s jurisdiction 1. Since the advent of the “new administrative law” in the 1970s specialist Tribunals have proliferated throughout Australian jurisdictions. That role will likely continue