Category: Blog

The Final Report of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, and the recommendations made in it, was tabled in Parliament today.

The Royal Commissioners said:

“The extent of substandard care in Australia’s aged care system reflects both poor quality on the part of some aged care providers and fundamental systemic flaws with the way the Australian aged care system is designed and governed. People receiving aged care deserve better. The Australian community is entitled to expect better.”

In conclusion of this investigation, the Royal Commissioners make 148 wide-ranging recommendations.

A copy of the Final Report is linked here.

The Minister for Planning is considering facilitating a new campus for the University of Melbourne at 221-245 Salmon Street, Port Melbourne (Amendment C371). This site forms part of the Fishermans Bend precinct, which is the Australia’s largest urban renewal project covering approximately 480ha in the heart of Melbourne.

This amendment is on public exhibition, with community feedback sought by Friday 26 June 2020.

Continue reading “University of Melbourne is proposing a new campus at Fishermans Bend (Melbourne Amendment C371)”

This article is published for the July issue of the Planning Institute of Australia – Planning News Journal – https://lnkd.in/gFDpTkd

Moreland City Council is proposing to fast track specifically designed two-townhouse developments within its Moreland City Council area, by establishing a much more straight forward planning assessment process (through the VicSmart local provisions – a 10 days assessment timeframe). This planning scheme amendment is known as Moreland C190. This amendment would have contributed to re-building local economy by cutting though the red tape and increasing smaller scale medium density housing construction activities. Continue reading “Moreland Amendment C190: Fast tracking process proposed for a two-dwellings on a residential lot within the Moreland City Council area”

During this COVID-19 period, the team at PPC Urban has closely watched how VCAT would manage its hearings. With a recent announcement made by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, below provides updates on VCAT hearings. Should you require any representatives for your planning matters, please do not hesitate to contact us.

From 18 May 2020, VCAT will be progressing currently listed matters using telephone or video conferencing where they can reasonably proceed. Continue reading “VCAT Hearings Updates”

The Victorian Government recently released the draft Planning for Melbourne’s Industrial and Commercial Land, with public comments sought by 31 December 2019.

Building on Plan Melbourne 2017-2050, the draft Land Use Plan aims to establish a planning framework to enable state and local governments to better plan for future employment and industry needs. This draft Land Use Plan covers all industrial and commercial land, including shopping centres, bulky goods precincts and heavy and light industrial precincts. Continue reading “Release of a draft planning framework – Planning for Melbourne’s Industrial and Commercial Land”

Project Update: City of Moreland has submitted the Moreland Amendment C189 package to the Minister for Planning on 25 June 2020, recommending Amendment C189 to be gazetted. A Ministerial decision is expected in late 2020 / early 2021. 

City of Moreland plans to introduce a new requirement to include increasing tree canopy cover in new development within its municipal area – Moreland Amendment C189. This amendment was recently placed on exhibition, with public comment sought by Friday 20 December 2019. Continue reading “Moreland Amendment C189 – increasing landscaping requirements (canopy trees) in residential development within City of Moreland – What does it mean to your development?”

The Minister for Planning has approved Amendment VC159 after considering the Land Use Terms Advisory Committee report. Amendment VC159 introduces changes to the Victoria Planning Provisions by:

• introducing new land use terms;
• revising the definition of land use terms; and
• change where land use terms are nested.

The changes intend to provide greater clarity to planning application assessments. A key message coming out from these changes is that planning is starting to better recognise the value of the tourism and sustainability sectors. Continue reading “Updates to Land Use Terms – changes to Victorian Planning Provisions (VC159)”

The State Government has announced a series of projects to protect areas with environmental and cultural significance, where there have been seen increasing pressure for development because of  their attractiveness, accessibility and proximity to our cities, and because of environmental factors like the impacts of climate change. Community is invited to have a say for the Bellarine Peninsula and Surf Coast Distinctive Areas and Landscapes projects. Engagement on these projects is open now. Continue reading “Commmencement of the Distinctive Areas and Landscapes Program”

The State Government will undertake a review of the local government rating system to identify changes that will improve its fairness and equity. This process will be led by the Minister for Local Government, including an introduction of a Panel for this review. Continue reading “Victorian Local Government Rating System Review”

On Tuesday 11 September 2018, the Victoria State Government  announced a new Commercial 3 Zone, with a view of “unlocking enterprise precincts”. This new Zone will be introduced into the Victorian Planning Provision in October 2018. This is a state-wide planning control. Continue reading “Commercial 3 Zone – unlocking enterprise precincts”