Smart Planning Program Reforming the Victoria Planning Provisions Comments and submissions 24 January 2018 Introduction Smart Planning is reforming Victoria’s planning regulation to make the planning system more efficient, accessible and transparent. Reforming the Victoria Planning Provisions (VPP) is at the heart of our rules and policy work. Rules reform has already delivered a suite of improvements to the planning system, with several packages of reforms set to be delivered between now and mid-2018. As part of the planning rules improvements, the Minister approved the first amendment package (VC142) under sections 8 and 20(4) of the Planning and Environment Act 1987, that was gazetted on 16 January 2018. More substantial changes to improve the structure and operation of the VPP will be introduced in mid-2018. Given the nature of the proposed changes, the department sought feedback with the release of a Discussion Paper – Reforming the Victoria Planning Provisions. Over 250 submissions were received when on public consultation from 16 October to 1 December 2017 and were received via: • Engage Victoria submission form – which asked questions relating to each proposal in the discussion paper • Emailed submissions – which organisations and individuals provided on the discussion paper, which took various forms and formats. This document provides all verbatim comments and submissions received via the online submission form and via email. Some submitters requested their comments remain private and therefore are not included. The department will release a consultation summary, which will provide an overview of key feedback themes. Reforming the Victoria Planning Provisions – Comments and submissions 1 Contents Feedback on proposals .......................................................................................................................................... 3 Proposal comments ............................................................................................................................................... 4 Proposal One: A simpler VPP structure with VicSmart Assessment built in ........................................................ 4 1.1: Restructure and reform the particular provisions comments ......................................................................... 4 1.2: Integrate VicSmart into appropriate particular provisions and overlay schedules ......................................... 9 1.3: Consolidate all administrative provisions ...................................................................................................... 13 What other changes to the VPP structure do you think should be considered? ................................................. 15 Proposal Two: An integrated planning policy framework .................................................................................. 18 2.1: Integrate state, regional and local planning policy ........................................................................................ 18 2.2: Simplify the Municipal Strategic Statement .................................................................................................. 24 2.3: Expand policy themes .................................................................................................................................... 27 2.4: Create a clear and simpler structure for policy making ................................................................................. 31 2.5: Set new rules and guidelines for writing policy ............................................................................................. 33 What else could be done to make planning policy easier to apply and understand? .......................................... 37 What will be needed to support a transition to a new PPF format? .................................................................... 39 Proposal Three: Assessment pathways for simple proposals ............................................................................ 42 3.1: Embed a VicSmart assessment pathway in appropriate particular provisions and overlay schedules ......... 42 3.2: Introduce a new code-based assessment provisions for simple proposals to support small business, industry and homeowners .................................................................................................................................... 46 What other matters do you think are suitable for code-based assessment? ...................................................... 52 Proposal Four: Smarter planning scheme drafting ............................................................................................. 54 4.1: Create a new VPP user manual ...................................................................................................................... 54 4.2: Establish a business unit dedicated to VPP and planning scheme amendment drafting .............................. 56 4.3: Create an online Victorian Planning Library .................................................................................................. 60 What are the key matters you think a VPP user manual should include? ............................................................ 62 What planning documents or information do you think should be included in a Victorian planning library? .... 63 Are there other ways the drafting and consistency of planning scheme provisions could be improved? ........... 65 Proposal Five: Improve specific provisions ......................................................................................................... 67 5.1 – Improvements to specific provisions ........................................................................................................... 67 5.2: Update definitions section of the VPP ........................................................................................................ 184 5.3: Regularly review and monitor the VPP ........................................................................................................ 187 Emailed submissions .......................................................................................................................................... 189 Reforming the Victoria Planning Provisions – Comments and submissions 2 Feedback on proposals Of each proposal type, submitters were asked to indicate their overall views on the proposals and choices ranged from agree, disagree, unsure. The below table provides a snapshot of views provided. Proposal Agree Disagree Unsure Proposal One: A simpler VPP structure with VicSmart assessment built in 1.1 – Restructure and reform the particular provisions 71 21 7 1.2 – Integrate VicSmart into appropriate particular provisions 40 17 6 and overlay schedules 1.3 – Consolidate all administrative provisions 70 15 7 Proposal Two: An integrated planning policy framework 2.1 – Integrate state, regional and local planning policy 78 20 2 2.2 – Simplify the Municipal Strategic Statement 73 19 7 2.3 – Expand policy themes 70 14 12 2.4 – Create a clearer and simpler structure for policy making 72 14 10 2.5 – Set new rules and guidelines for writing policy 72 13 7 Proposal Three: Assessment pathways for simple proposals 3.1 – Embed a VicSmart assessment pathway in appropriate 66 18 10 particular provisions and overlay schedules 3.2 – Introduce new code-based assessment provisions for 67 19 11 simple proposals to support small business, industry and homeowners Proposal Four: Smarter planning scheme drafting 4.1 – Create a new VPP user manual 75 12 8 4.2 – Establish a business unit dedicated to VPP and planning 62 24 8 scheme amendment drafting 4.3 – Create an online Victorian planning library 83 6 3 Proposal Five: Improve specific provisions 5.1 – Improvements to specific provisions Listed in section. 5.2 – Update the definitions section of the VPP 79 10 5 5.3 – Regularly review and monitor the VPP 75 7 2 Reforming the Victoria Planning Provisions – Comments and submissions 3 Proposal comments The following section provides all comments provided on each Proposal (via the Engage Victoria submission form). Where comments were made via a separate submission, these are shown below. Proposal One: A simpler VPP structure with VicSmart Assessment built in 1.1: Restructure and reform the particular provisions comments GROUP COMMENTS See submission. Knox City Council, Yarra Ranges Council, Manningham City Council, Moreland City Council, South Gippsland Shire Council, City of Casey, Urbis Pty Ltd, Red Hill Community Association (Mornington Peninsula), Metropolitan Waste and Resource Recovery Group, Green Wedge Protection Group Wellington Shire Council • Support rationalisation of provisions. Whitehorse City Council • A review of the Particular Provisions could help useability of the scheme. However, clarification is required on how the provisions would be allocated into the proposed assessment pathways and the format of the revised layout. City of Greater Bendigo • Further detail needed. Maroondah City Council • The particular provisions are complex and difficult to understand for non-planners. Laypeople looking at the planning scheme often won’t know that they exist or their importance in determining development applications. The emphasis needs to be on making the scheme easier to read and understand. To this end, the MAV proposal in this regard should be considered. Yarra City Council • The reorganisation of the particular provision section to simplify the categories is accepted; improved usability of the scheme is encouraged.