Victorian Government changes to planning

Major planning changes proposed to meet housing targets

The Victorian Government is introducing major changes to planning in Victoria to deliver its Housing Statement and housing targets.

Ultimately, these changes will significantly alter Melbourne’s character and have an impact on many neighbourhoods.

The City of Boroondara recognises the need for more housing and some simplification of the planning system. However, we have expressed profound concerns that these reforms have been progressed without proper analysis of the long-term implications and without transparent consultation with local councils and Melbourne’s residents.

In pursuing this fast-track process, the Victorian Government has failed to establish common ground with key stakeholders and present clear justification for its reforms to the community.

No analysis of the implications of such growth for public open space, schools, health services, drainage and sewage systems critical to sustainable community wellbeing has been released by the Victorian Government.

There is little evidence that these major planning reforms will solve the current housing crisis.

What you can do

You can advise the Victorian Government on whether you support or oppose these changes.

• Draft Camberwell Junction Activity Centre Plan: while the survey closed 29 September – we encourage you to go to Camberwell Junction Activity Centre or email [email protected] 
• Plan for Victoria, including the housing targets: even though submissions closed on 30 August 2024, we encourage you to email [email protected]
• Email the Minister for Planning at [email protected]

We held a community forum at Hawthorn Arts Centre, 2 pm Sunday 15 September 2024. If you were unable to attend our community forum, you can download the presentation below.
 

Summary of changes

New ‘train and tram zone’ activity centres to increase housing near 3 train stations in Boroondara

On Sunday 20 October 2024, the Victorian Government announced the creation of new ‘train and tram zone’ activity centres.

• An expansion of the Victorian Government’s Activity Centre Program, 50 new centres across Melbourne will aim to accommodate 300,000 additional homes focused around train stations and tram stops on ‘well-serviced’ lines.
• Hawthorn, Glenferrie and Auburn train stations and surrounding areas of potentially up to 800m from the edge of the commercial area have been identified for increased medium- and high-density housing. 
• No detailed information has been released by the Victorian Government on how these centres will look and operate. This is of great concern to us.
• A further 25 ‘train and tram zone’ activity centres are expected to be announced before the end of the year with the release of Plan for Victoria.
• We sent a letter to residents in these areas to inform them of the Victorian Government’s announcement. You can view this letter below.

Housing Statement and related planning reforms

• Announced in September 2023 through a media release, the Housing Statement set a housing target of 2.4 million new homes by 2051 in Victoria, with Melbourne’s housing target being 800,000 new houses in 10 years.
• These targets do not match the population projections by Victoria in Future (VIF), the Victorian Government’s own population model, which usually underpins long-term plans and strategies.
• To achieve this, a range of significant planning reforms were foreshadowed to facilitate the delivery of additional housing.
• This included identifying Camberwell Junction as one of 10 Major Activity Centres for fast-track implementation of planning controls via the Activity Centres Program.
• The aim is for the development industry to deliver the majority of new housing.
• Council provided a response to the Housing Statement on 23 November 2023. Read the officer report and our Victorian Government Housing Statement - response and proposed submission

Plan for Victoria and housing targets for Boroondara 

• Plan for Victoria is proposed to replace Plan for Melbourne 2017-2050, which is the key planning policy driving the future of the state’s growth.
• Following a first phase of high-level consultation in late 2023, an open call for feedback on ‘8 big ideas’ was made; however no draft plan was released for review. 
• In June 2024, the Victorian Government then released draft housing targets for all Victorian councils.
• Boroondara has been allocated the target of an additional 67,000 dwellings to the 70,000 currently existing in our municipality - almost double the number of dwellings in our city.
• This housing target is meant to be achieved by 2051 and will require annual development levels to be at least 3 times what they have been over the last 10 years.
• Council lodged its submission on these draft targets and the ‘8 big ideas’ by the 30 August 2024 deadline. Read the officer report and Boroondara Submission to Plan for Victoria and Draft Housing Target

Draft Plan for Camberwell Junction

• In August 2024, the Victorian Government publicly released a Draft Camberwell Junction Activity Centre Plan (along with 9 other centres across Melbourne) via a media release.
• This will set the future direction and building heights for Camberwell Junction.
• The ‘activity centre area’ is expected to be consistent with Council’s adopted Camberwell Junction Structure and Place Plan, which was developed based on extensive research and consultation with the community. Council is supportive of this activity centre area.
• An additional ‘catchment area’ that extends a further 800 m from the activity centre area encompasses approximately 10,800 properties and will allow for development height up to 6 storeys (and more in some cases) in heritage areas and low-scale single-dwelling neighbourhoods. This catchment area includes 48% heritage properties. Council is not supportive of this ‘catchment area’.
• The Victorian Government has made no commitments to provide funding for local services and infrastructure to support this housing or for the loss of tree canopy and open spaces.
• The submission prepared by officers was lodged on 2 September 2024. Read Council’s submission below (refer to Attachment 4).

Proposed planning controls for Camberwell Junction

• The Victorian Government is proposing to introduce new planning controls, including:
  • a new ‘Walkable Catchment Zone’ to increase housing densities in areas up to 800m from the edge of the commercial activity area 
  • a new ‘Built Form Overlay’ to control building heights and setbacks (among other building design aspects)
  • additional design standards for apartment developments.
• The Victorian Government did not seek feedback from the community on these new planning controls.
• Our submission to the Victorian Government:
  • Opposes the proposed new catchment zone and its intention to facilitate increased housing density and scale within an 800 m area around the Camberwell Junction activity centre.
  • Generally supports the concept of the new Built Form Overlay, but raises concerns about detailed aspects of the proposed new planning control including the lack of detail and guidance in many standards and uncertainty over the new Value Capture Framework and Public Open Space Contribution.
  • Expresses concerns regarding the proposed apartment design standards. While there is merit to some of the standards and they address a gap there is a of clarity in the way they are written.
  • o    Expresses significant concern about the methodology used and strategic justification to develop standardised built form controls to be used in all activity centres without proper local contextual design response.
• Council is yet to receive a copy of the local schedule to the proposed new Built Form Overlay for Camberwell Junction that will translate Council’s adopted plan and associated amendment.
• Council lodged its submission on 4 October 2024, which was formally endorsed by the Urban Planning Delegated Committee on 7 October 2024. Read the officer report and submission below (refer to Attachment 5).

Changes to the way apartments and townhouses will be considered and approved

• These proposed changes to planning rules were released to certain stakeholders and councils on 29 August 2024, with no broader community consultation.
• These changes come from a vague mention of reforms in the Housing Statement.
• The Victorian Government proposes to change ResCode, which is the planning rule for single or multiple dwelling developments that require a planning permit (including lots under 300 square metres and apartment developments up to a height of 4 storeys).
• The proposed ResCode changes would mean that all standards are ‘deemed to comply’. This means that if a development complies with predetermined standards relating to design aspects such as site coverage, front and side setbacks, walls on boundaries, overshadowing and overlooking (amongst others) the development must be approved by council even if neighbours object. These changes mean there will be no consideration of the prevailing character of the street reflected in the scale of existing buildings, front and side setbacks, topography of the land and the contribution of gardens and trees.
• The ResCode changes remove the right for neighbouring residents to appeal to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) where all standards are met.
• The Victorian Government only allowed a limited time for feedback from select stakeholders on these far-reaching changes.

More information

• read Council’s response to the Victorian Housing Statement (13 November 2023)
• read a Council letter sent to our residents on the Victorian Government’s changes to planning
• read Council’s media statement on the draft housing targets
• read Council’s media statement on the draft Camberwell Activity Centre Plan
• read council officer reports tabled at our public meetings:
  • Boroondara Submission to Plan for Victoria and Draft Housing Target (26 August 2024)
  • Victorian Government's Draft Camberwell Junction Activity Centre Plan (2 September 2024)
  • Residential Development Assessment Policy (ResCode) proposed changes — Submission to Department of Transport and Planning (16 September 2024)
  • Victorian Government Activity Centre Proposed Planning Controls (7 October 2024) includes Council’s submission on the Draft Camberwell Activity Centre Plan
• see how Council consulted the community on supporting extra housing in Camberwell Junction in our consultation Shape the future of Camberwell Junction.