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Frequently asked questions

 

Amendment process

A planning scheme is a statutory document that sets out objectives, policies and provisions relating to the use, development, protection and conservation of land in the area to which it applies. A planning scheme regulates the use and development of land through planning provisions to achieve those objectives and policies.

The Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) provide further information on Chapter 1: Planning Schemes under their Guide to Planning.

Planning Schemes in Victoria all have the same structure and include

  • maps which show the zones and overlays that affect the land
  • an ordinance with sets outs the written requirements of a scheme
  • incorporated documents

Each municipality has its own planning scheme and the local policies distinguish one planning scheme from another. See a copy of the Yarra Planning Scheme.

A change to a planning scheme map, the written part of the scheme, or both, is called an amendment. The DTP provide further information on Chapter 2: Amendments under their Guide to Planning

Yes, amendments can be made to a planning scheme map or ordinances.

They can be undertaken by the State Government or Yarra City Council.

Individuals, organisations or companies can request a planning scheme amendment from either Yarra City Council or the Minister for Planning.

There are specific steps to amending a planning scheme:

  • Authorisation: Council seeks authorisation from the Minister of Planning to prepare an amendment.
  • Exhibition: Community and stakeholders can make written submissions.
  • Submission considered: Council reviews submissions. At this stage they can either abandon the amendment or refer it to an independent planning panel (community and stakeholders can attend and contribute).
  • Planning Panel hearing: Council makes a submission at the hearing. Written submissions are tabled.
  • Panel report: Council considers the panel report and can make changes to the amendment, approve or reject the amendment. Community and stakeholders can attend the meeting to make verbal or written submissions.
  • Approval: Council adopts the amendment and refers the amendment to the Minister for approval. If the Minister approves the amendment, a notice of approval is placed in the Victorian Government Gazette.

Planning scheme amendments can be undertaken by the State and Local Governments which are responsible for the operation and development of planning schemes. Individuals, organisations or companies can request a planning scheme amendment from either Local Government or the Minister for Planning. If a request to amend the Planning Scheme is accepted there are fees and costs that apply.

These fees and costs are intended to cover the costs of a planning scheme amendment which include public consultation, administrative costs and any third party or expert review. The fees and costs may vary depending on the size and complexity of the amendment.

For information on fees, please see:

These amendments have been approved by the Minister and are included in the Yarra Planning Scheme.

For all other amendments please refer to the Department of Transport and Planning amendments page.

Planning scheme documents

Incorporated documents are part of the planning scheme.

They affect its operation and help guide decision-making. They carry the same weight as other parts of the scheme.

Some documents apply to all planning schemes in the state. 
These are listed at Clause 72.04 Incorporated Documents of the planning scheme.

Other documents just apply in Yarra. 
They are listed in the Schedule to Clause 72.04 Incorporated Documents of the planning scheme.

Key terms

The following are definitions of some of the more common planning terms we use:

For a better understanding of the Victorian Planning System and Planning Schemes, the Guide to Victoria's Planning System provides more information for all users. For more information on Planning in Victoria the Department of Transport and Planning has more information about planning on its website.

An area that provides a focus for services, employment, housing, transport and social interaction. They include Yarra's retail streets.

Is a planning tool that is applied to areas which need specific requirements relating to the built form and design of new development. If you want to know more about what DDOs can and cannot guide see the  General Design and Development Overlay (DDO) Information Sheet [ PDF, 1.18 MB] [ PDF, 1.18 MB] .

A house, townhouse or apartment. It might be a single dwelling on a lot, a row of dwellings, a block of flats or apartments - each individual residence is a dwelling.

A planning tool that is applied to properties which are deemed places of natural or cultural significance. A Heritage Overlay provides guidance about how to undertake works which conserve and enhance the significance of heritage properties, and ensures any works are not detrimental to the significance of heritage properties.

There are two in Yarra - Cremorne Enterprise Precinct (including Church Street), Richmond and the Gipps Street Employment Precinct in Collingwood.  They host a diversity of traditional industrial uses, commercial offices and creative industries.

A planning scheme is a statutory document that sets out objectives, policies and provisions relating to the use, development, protection and conservation of land in the area to which it applies. A planning scheme regulates the use and development of land through planning provisions to achieve those objectives and policies.

The planning scheme zones all land to reflect various land uses.  Zones categorise how land is used and there are specific rules relating to each zone.

For a better understanding of the Victorian Planning System and Planning Schemes, the Guide to Victoria's Planning System provides more information for all users. For more information on Planning in Victoria the Department of Transport and Planning has more information about planning on its website.

Land that is predominantly for housing. The residential zone applies to 805 hectares of land in Yarra, accounting for 41% of all land in the municipality.

Land that has a mixture of commercial, industrial and residential uses.

Land that primarily has a commercial purpose, including shops, offices and restaurants.