The Draft Cardinia Planning Scheme Review – Part A is now on public exhibition, and community members are invited to provide feedback.
Council is required to undertake a review of the Cardinia Planning Scheme every four years, in line with the Planning and Environment Act 1987 and Local Government Act 2020. The purpose of the review is to ensure the planning scheme is working effectively, reflects current State and Council policy and meets the State Government's planning requirements. It also helps Council to drive continuous improvement to reflect Council's strategic directions for land use and development.
Since the last review, there have been significant changes to State Planning Policy and Council's own strategic directions, including the adoption of the Council Plan 2025–29 and Community Vision 2040.
More recently, Cardinia Shire's Planning Scheme was restructured by the Minister for Planning under Planning Scheme Amendment C271card on 13 March 2026, to replace the Local Planning Policy Framework with a new Municipal Planning Strategy as part of a statewide update. To manage these changes, the planning scheme review is being delivered in two parts:
- Part A – Administrative (now on exhibition)
- Part B – Policy (to be delivered mid to late 2026)
Part A focuses on administrative improvements, corrections and process efficiencies. It does not introduce new planning policy or substantially change existing land use controls.
Part A includes:
- A review of how the planning scheme has performed since 2018.
- An overview of changes to State policy and Council's strategic documents.
- A summary of extensive stakeholder engagement undertaken.
- An audit of the planning scheme against State and local planning policy objectives.
- Identification of key policy issues to be addressed later in Part B.
The Draft Planning Scheme Review Part A includes 12 recommendations aimed at making the Cardinia Planning Scheme clearer, more efficient and easier to use. These include:
- Administrative and technical corrections to ensure the planning scheme is consistent with State planning policy requirements.
- Improvements to processes that currently cause delays, such as Development Plans (required under a Development Plan Overlay).
- Better tracking of housing delivery to meet State housing targets.
- Continued protection of key employment and industrial land.
- Stronger support for green wedge land uses, agriculture, tourism and employment.
Importantly, Part A does not change zoning or allowed land uses. The Cardinia Planning Scheme Review: Part B will use community feedback and other analysis to inform changes to local planning policy.
To view the Draft Planning Scheme Review Report – Part A and a marked‑up version of the Planning Scheme highlighting proposed administrative changes, please visit: Exhibition of the Draft Planning Scheme Review - Part A | Creating Cardinia
Community feedback will be reviewed by Council officers, and any recommended changes will be reported back to Council before the review is finalised and Part A is submitted to the Minister for Planning.
Submissions can be made during the exhibition period from 21 April until 19 May 2026.
