The City of Stonnington has lodged a submission on the State Government's draft Local Heritage Criteria and Threshold Guidelines 2025, urging fair rules that protect heritage while allowing housing growth.
At its 8 September 2025 meeting, Council also resolved to press the Minister for Planning to approve long-standing local heritage amendments and release the updated Planning Practice Note 1 for proper consultation.
Council has raised concern that the draft Guidelines have been released without this key planning note, making it impossible for councils and communities to fully understand their impact.
Mayor of Stonnington, Cr Melina Sehr, said the community expects Council to protect heritage without standing in the way of good growth.
"Our community cares deeply about the places that tell Stonnington's story. We believe the State can refine these guidelines so they protect what matters at a local level without holding up housing supply," Cr Sehr said.
"Stonnington can do both. We can safeguard heritage and deliver more homes near jobs, transport and services. Our adopted Housing Strategy and Neighbourhood Activity Centres Framework already provides for around 67,000 additional dwellings, which exceeds the State target of 50,000 by 2051. We simply want rules that are clear, balanced and practical."
Council has also highlighted that controls to implement heritage reviews for four suburbs have sat on the Minister's desk for between 18 months to over two years. If the draft rules are applied retrospectively, this work would need to start again. This is an outcome Council believes would be unreasonable, costly, and unnecessary to meet the State's housing targets.
"Our heritage reviews are evidence-based, focused on protecting heritage significance, not just neighbourhood character. After years of work, and support by an independent State Govt. appointed planning panel, they should be finalised without delay, not thrown back into limbo," Cr Sehr said.
