New tools for improved urban design

The Minister for Planning and Local Government, Mr Maclellan, has launched a new information package of tools, legal documents and projects designed to give residents and councils greater involvement and accountability in the planning of their neighbourhood. The package includes:

• Amendments to the Good Design Guide to clarify the form and content of a Site Analysis and Design Response required for medium-density planning applications
• A Model ‘S173 Neighbourhood Agreement’ and explanatory brochure outlining how property owners can enter into an agreement with councils to protect their neighbourhoods from unwanted development.
• Appointment of a Standing Advisory Committee to consider local variations to the Good Design Guide; and
• A site boundaries review project addressing overlooking and overshadowing issues relating to larger size single dwelling developments

The amendments are designed to ensure greater scope for consideration of planning sensitivities of individual neighbourhoods and reduce the extent to which blanket enforcement of planning regulations ignores such matters. Councils now have a much greater role in the planning process and have the freedom to amend their own planning schemes, in agreement with the Minister, so that they better reflect local needs.

The Department of Infrastructure has also issued several information publications, such as:

· Your Street Your Say outlining the roles of applicants, residents, councils and the AAT in development applications

· Facts sheets detailing medium density development decisions, AAT directions and demographic and building statistics for Melbourne’s 15 inner and middle suburban municipalities

New education and training programs for councils and developers have also been implemented and a Your Place in Planning information line has been established to answer residents queries (1800 180 181)

News Release, Minister for Planning and Local Government, April 27, 1998