MELTON Council has no concerns with new planning timeframes designed to cut red tape and promote faster decision-making.
Under changes announced by Planning Minister Matthew Guy last week, planning scheme amendments that do not go before a council planning panel will be given a nine-month timeframe.
Amendments that are presented to a panel will have a maximum of 12 months.
Melton’s planning services manager, Bob Baggio, said council had no issues with the new limits. “The time limits are reasonable and consistent with what council has generally achieved in assessing amendment proposals,” he said.
Mr Guy said that, statewide, the average planning scheme amendment process was well over nine months. He said clear timeframes would provide clarity for communities, businesses and local government.
“New time limits will drive efficiencies in the planning amendment system and directly respond to industry concerns about delays that have been clogging up our planning system,” Mr Guy said. The current process could be a hindrance to applicants and councils, taking months or years to complete.
The Urban Development Institute of Australia said Victoria could not afford to miss the “window of opportunity” of planning reform to rebuild confidence in the housing industry. “In the current financial climate where we have building starts at a 16-year low, certainty in planning must be a major focus of all levels of government,” state director Tony De Domenico said.
