Town planning requirements

It is also recommended that you contact the Planning Department as planning controls can be complex. Please contact the Councils Planning Department on (03) 5494 1200. An appointment can be made to meet with a Planning Officer who can assist you to understand the relevant controls.

A zone is the tool to identify the key land use expected in an area – such as industry, residential or farming.

A zone will indicate when a permit is required to use, develop or subdivide land. It will also identify specific application requirements as well as what council will take into account when making a decision on a proposal. This includes strategy, overlays, particular provisions and general provisions.

A zone sets out land use controls in three sections:

Section 1 - Land uses that do not require a planning permit

Section 2 - Land uses that require a planning permit

Section 3 - Prohibited uses – uses than cannot occur on the land

If a use is listed in Section 2 this does not mean that a permit will be granted. The suitability of the use to the specific site must be assessed against state and local policy and any particular provision applicable.

Overlays are a tool to indicate land with specific development requirements or restrictions. This indicates the types of issues that may need to be taken into account when considering an application. The Heritage Overlay, Bushfire Management Overlay and Flood Overlay are examples.

The overlay information will indicate if a planning permit is required for the construction of a building, the subdivision of the land and/or other changes to the land. It will also specify the type of information that will be required to make a decision as to whether a planning permit will be granted.

Many things that we plan to do can affect other people. Therefore we need to have some process to ensure that decisions we make about land use and development are fair, orderly and socially equitable, as well as being economically and environmentally sustainable.

For specific information on planning permits, on how to apply for a planning permit, and what may occur in the permit application process, please go to Planning permits.