Land use and development in our municipality is controlled through the Brimbank Planning Scheme. The planning scheme is policy-based, reflecting the objectives identified in our Council Plan and Council adopted-strategies and policies.
Review process
The Planning and Environment Act (1987) requires us to review our planning scheme regularly, to ensure it remains consistent with, for example:
- any revision to the Council Plan
- a new direction resulting from a strategic study.
The last comprehensive review of the scheme was completed in 2012. Minor amendments are made on an ongoing basis.
Municipal Planning Strategy
The Municipal Planning Strategy (MPS) forms part of the Brimbank Planning Scheme.
The MPS provides a local context of the municipality, articulates Council's vision for the municipality, sets out Council's strategic directions for a range of issues, and shows the strategic framework plans for various matters such as housing, economic development, environmental and landscape values, transport, and open spaces.
Council has strategic direction for the following issues:
- Settlement
- Environmental and landscape values
- Environmental risks and amenity
- Built environment and heritage
- Housing
- Economic development
- Transport
- Infrastructure
Amending a planning scheme
We regularly undertake amendments to the Brimbank Planning Scheme. Planning schemes set out policies and provisions for use, development and protection of land. The steps in the amendment process are outlined in the Planning and Environment Act (1987) and may take 12 months or more to complete.
A planning scheme amendment is a statutory process that can be technically complex. We must seek authorisation from the Minister for Planning to prepare and exhibit an amendment. Final approval from the Minister is also required.
Our responsibilities include:
- initiating or assessing requests to change the planning scheme
- preparing amendment documentation
- requesting the Minister’s authorisation to prepare and exhibit an amendment
- exhibiting the amendments
- processing submissions and representing Council at planning panels (if required)
- adopting, modifying or abandoning the amendment and forwarding (where adopted) it to the Minister for approval.
There’s no right of review if:
- Council decides not to support a request for an amendment
- the Minister refuses to authorise Council prepare and exhibit an amendment
- the Minister refuses to approve an amendment submitted for approval.
The Minister can amend any planning scheme at any time without exhibition and has guidelines for these circumstances. However, the Minister usually consults with affected landowners and us before an amendment is approved without formal notice.
