1. MAV Rural and Regional Conference 2013
Prue Digby Deputy Secretary
Planning Building and Heritage
Planning Reform and Rural and Regional Victoria
5 July 2013

2. Protecting and building liveability
Strategic Reform
System Reform
Protecting and building liveability
The number one priority for the Victorian Government is to grow our economy while enhancing our overall social prosperity.
The focus is on generating new jobs, increasing business investment and boosting productivity to ensure our competiveness within an emerging international market.
Planning, building and heritage play a central role in delivering the government’s economic imperatives and boosting productivity. More recently a number of reviews of the systems concluded they need to be made simpler through reduction to red tape and increased certainty. We are focusing now on putting the right tools in place so that our strategic plans can be implemented quickly and with the most benefit.
Significant initiatives are already being delivered through strategic and statutory reforms to our planning, building and heritage system. It is essential that local government has access to the best tools to manage growth and change with confidence.

3. What we have done so far Strategic reform
Conducted Victoria’s largest community engagement process as part of developing the Metropolitan Planning Strategy (MPS)
Released Geelong (G21) Regional Growth Plan
Developed seven draft Regional Growth Plans currently undergoing consultation
Adjusted the Urban Growth Boundary
Considerable progress has been made with the development of a new Metropolitan Planning Strategy and eight regional growth plans, as part of our “Vision for Victoria”, to guide growth and subsequent change. I will talk about these plans in more detail later.
These plans will form the Vision for Victoria and are on schedule to be released later this year.
Adjusting the Urban Growth Boundary has also been a significant achievement which has seen 6,000 hectares of land supply brought in to deliver more logical land use outcomes in a number of locations.

4. What we have done so far System reform
Introduced new commercial, industrial and residential zones and progressed rural zones
Legislated VicSmart planning permit process
Boosted regional investment with the flying Squad
Progressed a new Developer Contributions Framework
Commenced reforms to Victoria’s Building Industry and introduction of the new Victorian Building Authority
A pillar of our system reform program has been to review and consult widely on sweeping reforms to residential, rural and commercial and industrial zones. This has been a comprehensive process which will provide clear guidance for development, stimulate investment and secure Victoria’s long-term future.
Legislation to introduce a simpler assessment process for straightforward, low impact planning permit applications was introduced in May The new planning permit process known as VicSmart will mean straightforward proposals will be assessed within 10 days.
Another contribution to the reforms has been the work of the Regional and Rural Council Planning Flying Squad. To date 93 projects totalling over $1.5 million in assistance to councils have been delivered with over 70 planning scheme amendments, 220 permits and improvements to council planning systems. For example, in Macedon Ranges Shire the program assisted in processing 80 permits with a construction value of $12.9 million.

5. What we have done so far System reform
Introduced new commercial, industrial and residential zones and progressed rural zones
Legislated VicSmart planning permit process
Boosted regional investment with the flying Squad
Progressed a new Developer Contributions Framework
Commenced reforms to Victoria’s Building Industry and introduction of the new Victorian Building Authority
Examples of rural councils that have benefited from the Rural Flying Squad program are:
Towong Shire Council which received $29,746 to progress amendments, deal with their permit backlog and develop panel submissions
Macedon Ranges Shire received $55,158 for their planning permit backlog and to implement process improvements
Moyne Shire which received $138,000 to assist with the preparation of VCAT submissions and progress planning permits and amendments
This government is also in the process of delivering a long overdue and much needed new Standard Developer Contributions Framework. Broad consultation occurred on a different levy for different development settings such as Greenfield development, metropolitan infill development and regional and rural development, as well as a levy for residential and non-residential development.
And notably, reforms have also commenced to Victoria’s building system with the announcement of a new Victorian Building Authority to replace the Building Commission, to progress the recommendation of the Victorian Auditor General’s Office and Ombudsman report.

6. What we have done so far Protecting and building liveability
Rezoned 240 hectares at Fishermans Bend
Introduced Design Review Panel to improve the design quality of government projects
Protected Yarra and Maribyrnong Rivers
$6.5 billion worth of development in the CBD, Docklands, Southbank, Dandenong and Footscray
Over $438 million worth of works to the 2,300 places on the Victorian Heritage Register
Rezoning of the 240 hectare site that will eventually accommodate around 25,000 future jobs and 50,000 people.
After just 12 months the Design Review Panel has reviewed and improved the design quality of 45 state government projects with a total value of $1.7 billion.
New planning regulations governing the height of development and the distance of developments from the water along the Yarra and Maribyrnong Rivers have been introduced

7. What we have done so far Protecting and building liveability
Rezoned 240 hectares at Fishermans Bend
Introduced Design Review Panel to improve the design quality of government projects
Protected Yarra and Maribyrnong Rivers
$6.5 billion worth of development in the CBD,Docklands, Southbank, Dandenong and Footscray
Over $438 million worth of works to the 2,300 places on the Victorian Heritage Register
The Executive Director, Heritage Victoria approved nearly half a billion dollars worth of heritage permits for places on the Victorian Heritage Register this financial year; breathing new life into Victoria's valued heritage. Key heritage developments included.

8. Priorities 2013-2014 Strategic reform
Release Metropolitan Planning Strategy by end of 2013
Establish a Planning Implementation Authority
Deliver remaining Regional Growth Plans by the end of 2013
Introduce Municipal Heritage Strategies
Introduce new streamlined environmental assessments process and heritage legislative reform
Looking forward to the key priorities in the upcoming year.
These include:
Delivery of a new Metropolitan Planning Strategy and the establishment of an Implementation Authority by the end of 2013.
Complete the process for the remaining 7 Regional Growth Plans by the end of this year
Assist local government to manage heritage through the development of municipal heritage strategies.
Progress legislative reforms to modernise the Environment Effects Act to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of assessment of environmental impacts of projects that have potential major impacts.
Amend the heritage act to improve, streamline and strengthen heritage protection across the state.

9. Priorities for 2013-14 System reform
Roll out new planning zones
Roll out new VicSmart permit system
Introduce development contributions system
Legislative changes to streamline and improve the Planning and Environment Act 1987
New residential zones were effective from 1 July 2013 and will be progressively introduced by councils over the next 12 months.
New industrial and commercial zone changes became effective on 1 July 2013.
VicSmart legislation was effective (from 20 may 2013). Preliminary testing with selected councils has shown that an estimated 15 per cent or 8500 of the state's annual permit applications could be fast’ tracked through VicSmart. Over coming months necessary changes will be made to the Victorian planning schemes to introduce the categories of applications that will be assessed through VicSmart. Consultation on that with councils is still underway.
The Development Contributions Advisory Committee has concluded its work and will report to the Minister on it’s recommendations.
In February, Parliament passed general amendments to the Planning and Environment Act These will become effective from June 2013 as the necessary regulations and supporting guidelines are enacted.

10. Priorities for 2013-14 Protecting and building liveability
Deliver strategic framework for Fisherman’s Bend
Commence Capital infrastructure projects to deliver key employment and liveability objectives
Streamline rezoning of surplus government land
Extend Design Review Panel across regional Victoria
The Fishermans Bend Strategic Framework Plan will be released and include the development contributions plan, community infrastructure plan and urban design and transport guidelines.
A number of capital infrastructure projects will commence including Werribee’s Sneydes Road interchange that is important for the Werribee Employment Precinct, Frankston station and surrounds improvements and Darebin Yarra Bicycle Link Trail.
Streamlining the rezoning of surplus government land will also be a focus, reducing the time it takes to rezone surplus government land from two years to six months. Pilot on 22 surplus sites.
Expanding the expertise of the Victorian Design Review Panel to regional Victoria, ensuring that from July 2013, the Panel will be available to Local Planning Authorities to utilise the design review process for significant public and private sector projects.

11. I Would like to now provide an update for you on the Metro Planning Strategy (MPS) and Regional Growth Plans (RGPs)

12. An Overview of the MPS
The Government is currently preparing a new Metropolitan Planning Strategy (MPS) to manage Melbourne’s growth over the next forty years. The MPS is being developed in the context of eight Regional Growth Plans which will form the ‘Vision for Victoria’.
The draft MPS is currently being developed and is targeted for release early August 2013.
An engagement and consultation plan is being finalised for the August/September period.
The MPS is part of the suite of plans being developed across the state and with the eight RGP’s these will form a Vision for the whole of Victoria

13. Emerging ideas from the MPS
Expanded Central City
Major transport investments
National Employment Clusters
Investment in Freight & Logistics
Improve public transport networks
New planning authority
There are a number of ideas emerging from the MPS these include:
Expanded Central City – includes the major urban renewal sites ofFishermans Bend, eGate, Arden
Major transport investments – such as the East-West Link and the Melbourne Metro Rail Projects
National Employment Clusters – where employment has co-located around key employment facilities such as hospitals and Universities. A number of these exist now such as Monash/ Clayton. These clusters are extremely important to the future planning of Melbourne
Investment in Freight & Logistics – Melbourne is Australia’s freight and logistics capital – we need to continue to grow our transport gateways including existing and potentially new facilities such as ports and airports
Improve public transport networks – with initiatives such as the Regional Rail Link, the Melbourne Metro Rail Project, improving access to employment clusters
New planning authority – established to drive the implementation of the MPS

14. Governance
Implementation Planning Authority: Master planning state significant sites and precincts Whole of Government integrated metropolitan infrastructure, land-use and service delivery coordination Influence funding allocation and prioritisation for significant metropolitan infrastructure and services Strategic oversight and advice on actions required to deliver the MPS

15. Regional Growth Plans
RGP’s will provide land use planning responses to strategic directions established in regional strategic plans
The Scope of work covers
Strategic settlement plan to support the role of cities in the regions economy for next 30 plus years
High level frameworks for regional cities and other key regional centres
Supporting the agricultural economy and other rural activities and emerging energy industries, and identifying long term infrastructure needs.
High level infrastructure analysis to underpin the strategic settlement plan and inform future infrastructure planning and investment
Timeframe
All Eight regional growth plans are due to be completed by late G21 already released.

16. Regional Growth Plans - Benefits
Partnerships with local government and regional stakeholders to plan for the future at a regional scale.
Identifies opportunities to grow and diversify regional economies and strengthen their role in the state and national economy and markets.
Realises potential of regional Victoria to accommodate growth.
Supports resilient communities and be flexible and adaptable to change.
Streamlining planning outcomes.
The Benefits of RGP’s Include:
Partnerships with local government and regional stakeholders to plan for the future at a regional scale
Identify opportunities to grow and diversify regional economies and strengthen their role in the state and national economy and markets
Realise potential of regional Victoria to accommodate growth
Support resilient communities and be flexible and adaptable to change
Streamlining planning outcomes
Rewrite of SPPF to support Regional Growth Plans and MPS

17. RGP’s - Land Supply Outlook
The work on the RGP’s enables a number of valuable overviews for the regional areas – this table show the residential and industrial land supply outlook for the regional areas based on information from the RGP work

18. QUESTIONS?
I hope this presentation has provided you with a good overview of progress of the planning reforms and a general update of the MPS and RGP’s.
I would be happy to take any questions you may have. 18