Archive: State Zone Reform 2012
Last Updated 16/11/12
State Zone Reforms: The Few Desirable Bits Are Swamped By The Diabolical Rest
(17/10/12 - P) Definitely "back to the drawing board"
"Reforms" (read wholesale changes) to State planning zones were exhibited from July to September, 2012. Submissions closed 21 September (subsequently extended to 28 September).
Changes can be broadly classified as (1) new Residential zones and schedules, and (2) new or changed Rural, Business and Industrial zones. Changes to Residential zones were flagged by consultation and submissions in 2009.
Changes to other zones were not, and made their first appearance in a ready-to-go State-wide amendment proposed to be introduced in October 2012. These are sweeping, dramatic and far-reaching changes, and their impromptu introduction provoked howls of protest across Victoria.
Instead of changes being introduced in October as originally intended, submissions on the exhibited zone changes will now be considered by an Advisory Committee recently set up by the Minister for Planning. The Committee will report back to the Minister, with no action to be taken until after this reportback occurs.
An MRRA rep attended a meeting with Planning Minister Matthew Guy on September 18 as part of a Planning Backlash 'country and coastal' community delegation which put forward concerns with zone changes.
In addition to meeting with Planning Backlash reps, the Minister also recently agreed to include a Planning Backlash community representative (a qualified planner) on the Advisory Committee, a move welcomed by community groups.
MRRA Says:
Wow, if you want to fire people up, do this, this way! We hear the Department of Planning and Community Development's website went down late on 21 September, suggesting there were plenty of people (unsuccessfully) trying to lodge submissions.
The Association had made a submission in 2009 on the Residential zones, and also made a submission on these latest zone reforms. We started our research by making tables with all (nested) uses in planning schemes, then recorded how existing zones, and proposed zones, address each use. We did this for residential, commercial, industrial and rural zones, highlighting changes to make them clearer. We also compared zone provisions to identify changes in how zones worked.
In MRRA's view, the new Neighbourhood Residential zone, and new Residential zone schedules, are positive and a major step forward, but we believe these zones and schedules could be improved.
However, MRRA opposes use changes in all zones, and other changes to rural, business and industrial zones. These changes appear to be politics, not planning, and don't make any sense from a strategic planning perspective. The very large 'elephants in the room' are what's missing: justification, and process. Terrible, with surprise if not silly outcomes because the whole thing doesn't seem to have been thought through. You don't just make extreme changes and say 'cop this': an obvious first step has to be comprehensive public consultation on whether any changes are needed in these zones, and if so, why. Then consult again.
The good news is that there does seem to be a rethink going on; the headlong rush has slowed to a light jog, and there does seem to be a prospect of change. Based on the awful stuff that was exhibited, that will need to be a lot of change.
Click here to see MRRA's submission on the State zone reforms, and residential, business/industrial and rural zone use tables.
(25/9/12 - P) Closing date for submissions extended to September 21 28 here's some help to make one.
The State government is proposing drastic changes to the planning zones that apply all across Victoria. And they really are radical changes, affecting everyone. The new zones have been on exhibition for some time, but it has taken almost as long to get across the changes and what they mean.
Submissions on the changes can be made until 5.00 p.m. Friday, 28 September 2012.
Find out more by going to: Submissions can be made online. DPCD Enquiries: 1300 366 356 or planning.systems@dpcd.vic.gov.au.
Click here for a summary of the changes, and points you can make.