C150macr – Planning Policy Framework
The Macedon Ranges Planning Scheme has now been changed to align with other planning schemes across Victoria. The change was required by the state government to simplify planning schemes and make them easier to read.
The Victorian State Government’s Planning Policy Framework format was introduced to all Victorian planning schemes via amendment VC148 in 2018 as part of the Victorian Government’s Smart Planning Program. The amendment implemented changes to planning schemes to clarify, simplify and improve their structure, function and operation, and to remove unnecessary regulation. The changes required by Amendment VC148 included:
- Introduction of a new Planning Policy Framework (PPF).
- Enabling the introduction of a Municipal Planning Strategy (MPS).
- Introduction of a new state, regional and local integrated policy structure.
- Modified schedule templates to some existing zones, overlays and provisions to allow for additional local content.
- Creation of new operational provisions.
These changes have been implemented in the Macedon Ranges Planning Scheme via Amendment C150macr.
The process
Since 2018 the State Government has been working with local governments to progressively ‘translate’ local planning schemes to the PPF format.
The PPF integrates state, regional and local planning policy by topic, placing state provisions at the top of the hierarchy, with local policies providing more specific direction for each local area.
Macedon Ranges is one of the last councils to undergo the translation process. The local policy content has been reorganised by topic, consistent with the state and regional policies found at Clauses 11-19 of the planning scheme.
The changes were made by the Minister for Planning, under the ministerial powers of 20(4) of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 (preparation and approval of an amendment without public exhibition). The amendment replaces the Local Planning Policy Framework with a new Municipal Planning Strategy, local policies within the PPF, and changes a selected number of local schedules. No changes have been made to zones or overlays affecting individual properties.
About the changes
Many ‘rules’ apply to the translation process including word limits. Therefore the Local Planning Policy Framework will look shorter, but enormous effort has been put into retaining important policy and strategies so that nothing important is lost. Content has been deleted where it duplicates or contradicts state policy, or if it is no longer relevant (such as out of date statistics or references). The changes were written to be ‘policy-neutral’, which means that the meaning of existing policy stays the same, and no new policies are introduced.