Mayor Cr Alex Makin wrote to the Members or the Legistaltive Council in Parliament alarmed that local governments were not consulted on the Bill, which introduces major changes to Victoria's planning system.
Council supports reforms that improve efficiency and deliver more homes faster, but this Bill risks doing so at the expense of safety, fairness and community trust. Council has urged the State Government to refer the Bill to a Parliamentary Inquiry and adopt amendments recommended by the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) to restore oversight and ensure genuine consultation.
Key concerns of the Bill include:
Risk of automatic approvals: Applicants will nominate their own assessment pathway, with some proposals potentially fast-tracked without adequate checks.
Loss of public notice: Type 2 applications, including multi-dwelling developments, will not require public notice unless new Ministerial guidelines are introduced.
Environmental protections switched off: The Bill removes safeguards that allow councils to consider flooding, contamination and climate risks.
Unclear donation disclosure rules: New requirements could create confusion rather than clarity around conflicts of interest.
Lack of consultation on regulations: Over 100 matters are left to future regulations with no guarantee councils will be consulted.
No funding for IT upgrades: Councils will need to overhaul systems to implement permit streaming, yet no support has been offered.
Missed opportunity for affordable housing: The Bill does not provide mechanisms to require affordable housing contributions in areas targeted for upzoning.
The letter also raises concerns about the impact on flood-prone areas and the absence of measures to address climate change. Planning decisions must consider environmental risks and sustainability; speed should not come at the cost of resilience.
Council is calling on the State Government to work with local governments to ensure reforms balance efficiency with quality outcomes.
