A planning scheme is a statutory document which outlines objectives, policies and controls for the use, development and protection of land for each municipality across Victoria.
From time to time, changes to the planning scheme occur, through a Planning Scheme Amendment.
The process is set out in the Planning and Environment Act 1987. An amendment may involve a change to a planning scheme map (for example: a rezoning), a change to the written part of the scheme, or both.
A current copy of the Wellington Planning Scheme can be viewed at the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) website.
Building Permits are issued by a registered Building Surveyor and generally relate only to the construction aspects of a particular building or development.
Planning Permits are legal documents that give applicants permission for a particular land use or development to occur on a specified parcel of land. Planning permission may be required under a zone, overlay or particular provision within the Wellington Planning Scheme.
If a Planning Permit is required, it must be obtained prior to a Building Permit being issued.
A Planning Permit does not remove the need to obtain a Building Permit.
Development Plans are used to guide the future use and development of particular areas of land such as new residential growth fronts. In doing so, Development Plans provide a degree of certainty about the nature of future land use or development.
Development Plans may include specific requirements relating to:
Once a Development Plan is approved, all planning permits granted by the Responsible Authority (RA) must be 'generally in accordance' with the Development Plan. To fulfil this requirement, the Responsible Authority must test each proposal against the use and development requirements of the Development Plan.
An incorporated document is part of the Planning Scheme.
Incorporated documents are essential to the proper functioning of the planning scheme and decision-making process. Documents incorporated into all planning schemes are shown in the Table to Clause 81.01, and include for example the Victorian Code for Cattle Feedlots, August 1995 and A Code of Practice for Telecommunications Facilities in Victoria.
At the local level, planning authorities can, if they so wish, incorporate their own documents. Documents may be incorporated into the planning scheme when they include detailed plans or lengthy guidelines. Development guidelines, incorporated plans, or restructure plans are common types of local incorporated documents. Incorporated documents specific to the Wellington Planning Scheme can be found in the Schedule to Clause 81.01.
One of the benefits of incorporating a document is that it carries the same statutory weight as other parts of the planning scheme. A Responsible Authority can only change an incorporated document via a Planning Scheme Amendment.
Further information about Incorporated Documents can be found in the Planning Practice Note.
Reference documents provide background information to assist in understanding the context within which a particular policy or provision has been framed. Different types of documents may perform this role, they may be wide-ranging in their content and contain information not directly relevant to specific decisions under the planning scheme.
Reference documents can be used in a number of ways. They can be used as a basis for preparing the Municipal Strategic Statement (MSS), local planning policies or requirements in the planning scheme, or can be mentioned in the planning scheme as a source of useful background information. Reference documents have only a limited role in decision-making as they are not formally part of the planning scheme. They do not have the status of incorporated documents or carry the same legislative weight.