1. Title Sub-heading MAV: Rural and Regional Planning Conference Kathy Mitchell, Chief Panel Member, Planning Panels Victoria 23 June 2016

2. Title Sub-heading About Planning Panels Victoria

3. Introduction Planning Panels are established under the Planning and Environment Act 1987 (the Act) and are a means of facilitating public participation in the planning and environment decision making process. They provide a process to independently assess planning scheme changes or development proposals through consideration of submissions, conduct of Hearings and preparation of reports. Planning Panels are advisory and make recommendations; with the final decision made by the responsible statutory body or the Minister for Planning. Public participation Independent Advise and recommend

4. Planning Panels Victoria - Structure 4 Senior Project Managers / Officers 6 Administration Support Staff Chief Panel Member 6 Senior Members (full time) 4 Senior Sessional Members 71 Sessional Members includes 6 technical experts Having a diverse range of engaged professionals keeps PPV relevant and informed in its decision making.

5. PPV in 2015/16 – An overview 149 4,653 145 Panels and advisory committees Submissions considered Reports completed 1 Jan – 31 Dec 2015 One report every 1.7 business days

6. Applicable Legislation Planning and Environment Act 1987: Planning Scheme Amendments s153, s155 Combined Planning Scheme Amendment and Permit Applications: s96A, s153, s155 Advisory Committees: s151, s152 Planning permit applications – called in by Minister: s97B or 97C Environment Effects Act 1989: EES Inquiries and Works Approvals – s9 Major Transport Projects Facilitation Act 2009: Major Transport Projects s35 and s235 6

7. 7 Planning Scheme amendments - 80% of workload 130 - 150 cases each year Combined Amendments and Permits10 to 20 each year Advisory Committees and Standing Advisory Committees Five to eight each year, more in recent times Environment Effects InquiriesUp to five each year Major Transport Projects: one to dateEast West Link Types of matters

8. Heritage Council of Victoria From early May 2016, PPV through Chief Panel Member became responsible for management of Heritage Council secretariat Heritage Council - independent statutory authority and comprises 10 members, each with an alternate member Governed by s6 of Heritage Act 1995 Advises Government on cultural heritage and policy matters Addition of places to heritage register Appeal body for permit determinations Conduct hearings for registrations Initiate and undertake programs of work Approval of financial assistance to place owners/managers

9. Title Sub-heading What has been happening in regional Victoria?

10. 10 What has been happening in regional Victoria? Planning Scheme Amendments Approximately 76 in the past financial year, in 28 municipalities All adopted as exhibited or subject to changes (of those released and publicly available) NO refusals/abandoned Number of combined amendments and planning permit applications Larger Councils - eg Ballarat (4), Greater Geelong (8), Greater Bendigo (4), Greater Shepparton (9), Swan Hill (6) Site specific and area rezonings, heritage reviews, environmental overlays, residential and industrial strategies, MSS review, car parking, structure plans, landscape studies (See handout for complete list)

11. 11 What has been happening in regional Victoria? Other major projects Dundonnell Wind Farm EES (first major wind farm since 2010) (135 submissions) Ballarat Saleyards and works approval (combined Panel and WA review on behalf of EPA) (483 submissions) Tarran Valley Advisory Committee (97 submissions) Echuca Moama Bridge EES (12 submissions) Colac Otway Appeal (P281/2015) Call-in Advisory Committee Ombersley Quarry (with consideration of whether a CHMP is required) (9 submissions) Ballarat Station Precinct Advisory Committee (47 submissions) Blackmores call in (now withdrawn)

12. Animal Industries Advisory Committee Appointed:November 2015 Purpose:Report on how the planning system can support the establishment and expansion of productive, competitive and market-responsive animal industries Livestock production systems are changing and the trend towards more intensive productions systems is likely to continue Reference Group established with broad range of members form industry, farmers and the community Discussion paper released for public comment in December, 146 submissions, 43 submitters Committee to consider options to better manage the potential impacts from animal industries while supporting them to grow and be competitive

13. Animal Industries, continued Public Hearings in Colac, Bendigo, Melbourne and Traralgon Key issues Food and fibre strategy Matching production systems and definitions Contentious VCAT cases Animal welfare and biosecurity Residential amenity Buffer and separation distances Rural economic development Infrastructure requirements Strengthening enforcement and compliance Final report submitted: 29 April 2016

14. Government Land Standing Advisory Committee Appointed:August 2015 Purpose:“To report on the suitability of changes to the planning provisions to land owned by the Victorian Government”. Standing Advisory Committee will provide a consistent and transparent process to facilitate the sale of government land identified as surplus 13 sites in three tranches have been referred to the Committee Wills and Brudenell Streets, St Arnaud (DTF on behalf of DELWP - Proposed change PUZ [other public] to Industrial 1 Zone) Key Dates: Rolling hearings and reporting in tranches

15. Managing Residential Development Advisory Committee Upcoming Key Milestones Appointed:November 2015 Purpose: “To report on the application of zones that provide for residential development”. (ie not just the three residential zones) Third state-wide review of the zones since 2009 Committee seeking to take the zones forward, recommending changes and improvements Inception meetings in December, workshops conducted in Feb/March 350 plus submissions, with regional Councils and community groups: Greater Bendigo, Greater Geelong, Macedon Ranges, Latrobe, Wellington, Ballarat, Queenscliffe Report due:15 July 2016 Not a major issue in regional Victoria, but process of translation, and the NRZ significant

16. Macedon Ranges Protection AC Role “To provide advice to the Minister for Planning on an appropriate policy to support changes to the legislative framework to achieve protection for the Macedon Ranges”. AC appointed 17 December 2105, Issues Paper released for public comment on 11 March 2016, 63 submissions received, various workshops and forums held, public hearings in Gisborne in June. Key issues How to protect the values and attributes of MR with the increasing pressure for development Whether State Planning Policy No. 8/Localised Planning Statement is current, and an appropriate policy basis Reflection on the precautionary principles in the planning policy The unique peri-urban pressures faced by Council re urban development and population growth

17. Macedon Ranges Amendments Macedon Ranges Shire Council exhibited a number of related amendments, with overlapping issues: – C98 - Woodend Structure Plan – C99, C103, and C105 - Kyneton Structure Plan and rezonings – C100 - Riddells Creek Structure Plan – C110 - Rural strategy and review Overlapping issues included approach to neighbourhood character, application of an ESO to protect waste water plants Three Panels were appointed - one combined Directions Hearing, and two days of combined Hearings to address common issues Time and effort saved, parties served one set of evidence to deal with the ESO under three separate Amendments. Issues common to the Amendments could be dealt with efficiently with combined Council closing submission Separate Panel for C110 – raised different issues

18. Swan Hill Six amendments (C58, C60, C61, C62, C63, C64) All applying a Development Plan Overlay, on adjacent parcels of land Some rezonings - eg Farming to General Residential Zone, and part Commercial 1 Zone: and Low Density Residential Zone to General Residential Zone 9, 11, 9, 9, 10, 10 submissions received respectively (but many were from the same submitters, including one group of landowners) Same Panel members (2) for all six, but all matters separately constituted One Directions Hearing One Panel Hearing - but considered all like issues in a structured way Prepared one report, but made recommendations holistically combined as one overarching recommendation Key issue how to resolve the development contributions over the six different amendment areas (originally proposed as one Amendment) Should have been one Amendment with one set of provisions

19. PPV Roundtables In 2016 PPV will hold three round table meetings with: 1.Local Councils 2.Planning Industry (Includes consultants / legal) 3.Stakeholders Sessions to have a community engagement focus, specifically: Targeting regular submitters experiences in participating in a Panel process. Identifying areas to improve participant experience.

20. Reducing complexity, time and cost No Directions Hearing for some matters Part A and Part B submissions Considering matters ‘On the Papers’ where appropriate Report templates Training for panel members Reducing travel and accommodation costs Cost recovery Vast majority of reports are accepted, some with changes Online request to be heard at a hearing Panels constantly review and shape policy outcomes and initiatives, such as Infrastructure Charge Plans or built form outcomes, EES or heritage matters.

21. Title Sub-heading Thank you