VCAT and Planning Policy Reform-Nov.2016
SOS Comment: response to draft VCAT Practice Note (Amendment-of-Plans-&-Applications) PNPE9, May 2011. (Refer to VCAT Practice Note_Amendment-of-Plans-&-Applications_PNPE9)
SOS submission to the 2009 Review of VCAT by Justice Kevin Bell
Whitney Reports (on Local Policy, Amended Plans, Enforcement) – 2002:
This landmark series of reports were carried out in response to growing community and general disquiet regarding the consequences of the relaxation of planning controls introduced by tne Kennett Govt in the mid-90s, and the subsequent introduction of the new “performance-based” (discretionary) planning schemes in 1999.
The recommendations of David Whitney’s Reference Group warned that tighter regulation of planning controls was necessary, both at council and VCAT level. One of their key observations was that:
“The Reference Group considers that, in seeking to introduce a more flexible system to cope with these changes, the pendulum has swung too far and that the level of flexibility outweighs the desirable degree of certainty which is sought by the development industry, the community and their elected representatives.”
“The current balance in the system has gone too far in favour of flexibility and performance-based controls to the detriment of certainty and this should be reviewed.”
Whitney Report #1 (Local Policy). 2002