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Activity Centre Planning

Learn more about the role of the Committee, and activity centres in Yarra.

We are currently progressing a series of proposed changes to the planning scheme to introduce built form and design requirements in areas that are experiencing greater pressure from development.

The Victorian Minister for Planning appointed the Yarra Activity Centre Standing Advisory Committee (the Committee) in 2021 to help implement these changes more efficiently.

Role of the Committee

The Committee was appointed by the Minister for Planning on 9 August 2021 to provide timely advice to the Minister and Yarra City Council on referred planning matters and associated draft Yarra Planning Scheme provisions for Yarra's strip shopping centres (activity centres) and other areas of urban change.

The objective of the Committee is to provide consistent advice in a transparent, simpler, more timely and cost-efficient process on any proposed new planning provisions referred to it by the Minister.

The Committee is administered by Planning Panels Victoria. More information about the Committee can be viewed on Planning Panels Victoria's website.

Council has prepared an Information Sheet [ PDF, 295.23 KB] that explains more about why the Committee was set up and what the process includes.

Activity centre planning

Our activity centres – generally our retail streets – host a vibrant and constantly evolving range of retail, entertainment, hospitality and commercial services.

In planning for the future, we need to consider how the centres look now (the types and heights of buildings and their heritage significance), what scale of future growth is reasonable and how we balance this with state planning policy.

To plan and accommodate for this growth we need to introduce controls into the Yarra Planning Scheme which will help determine an appropriate scale of new development.

It is important that any development in our activity centres is appropriate and the character of the centre is maintained.

Our major activity centres are:

  • Swan Street in Richmond
  • Bridge Road in Richmond
  • Victoria Street in Richmond
  • Smith Street in Collingwood and Fitzroy
  • Brunswick Street in Fitzroy

Our neighbourhood centres are:

  • Johnston Street in Fitzroy, Collingwood and Abbotsford
  • Queens Parade in Fitzroy North and Clifton Hill
  • Gertrude Street in Fitzroy
  • Heidelberg Road in Alphington
  • St Georges Road in Fitzroy North
  • Nicholson Street in Carlton North and Fitzroy North

We also have smaller, local centres which serve the local community and are appropriate locations for modest employment growth.

Our local centres:

  • Berry Street/Ramsden Street in Clifton Hill
  • Lygon Street in Carlton North and Princes Hill
  • Nicholson Street in Carlton North
  • Rathdowne Street in Carlton North
  • Spensley Street in Clifton Hill
Process

Council has resolved to progress a series of draft amendments through this process. The draft amendments that are to be considered by the Standing Advisory Committee are listed on our amendments page as Draft Amendments.

There are six steps in the process to consider the draft amendments.

Council seeks consent to prepare and give notice of a draft planning scheme amendment.

Minister consent for Council to notify and exhibit the draft amendment.

Council notifies parties that may be affected by the amendment.

Community and stakeholders able to make a written submission.

Council reviews and presents a response to submissions at a Council Meeting

Community and stakeholders are able to attend a Council Meeting and are able to present their views to Council.

Council requests the Minister to refer the draft amendment and submissions to the Yarra Activity Centres Standing Advisory Committee.

The Minister refers the draft amendment to the Yarra Activity Centres Standing Advisory Committee.

Advisory Committee reviews the proposed amendment and submissions as part of an independent hearing.

Council makes a submission at the hearing.

Submitters can present their submissions at a hearing if they choose to.

Advisory Committee prepares a report and provides recommendations

Council receives and reviews the report and provides commentary on the recommendations.

Community and stakeholders are able to attend a council meeting and are able to present their views to Council.

Council refers its commentary to the Minister, who will make a final decision.

The Minister considers the advisory committee report and commentary from Council before making a decision.

The Minister can either reject or approve the amendment with/without changes.

If the Minister approves the amendment, a notice of approval is placed in the Victorian Government Gazette. The changes then become part of the Yarra Planning Scheme.

More information

The Minister for Planning issued the Yarra Activity Centre Standing Advisory Committee - Terms of Reference [ PDF, 203.97 KB] [ PDF, 203.97 KB] (PDF 203kB).

This document sets out how the Standing Advisory Committee will work.

Frequently asked questions

The planning controls we will introduce are Design and Development Overlays (DDOs) which are a tools that set specific requirements for design and form for new development, such as:

  • height limits for new buildings
  • street wall height limit
  • how far buildings should be set back above the street wall and from neighbouring properties at the rear

Heritage character is one of the key issues determining heights and setbacks.

We introduce these controls through a draft planning scheme amendment which is a statutory process set out in the Planning and Environment Act 1987.

Several amendments have been approved and have been implemented into the Yarra Planning Scheme. You can read the details on the Department of Transport and Plannings website.

A number of projects have reached the planning scheme amendment stage. You can read the details on current amendments.

We have prepared interim Design and Development Overlays (DDOs) to provide temporary guidance. These will assist in providing future directions for activity centres and to better manage changes.