The Minister for Planning is responsible for a range of functions, and in certain circumstances has the power to intervene on matters associated with planning and heritage processes.
The Minister may:
- amend a planning scheme without the usual notice requirements
- advance the processing of an amendment to a planning scheme
- take responsibility for a planning application being assessed by council
- take responsibility for a planning application that is before the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT)
- take responsibility for recommendations for registration and permits under the Heritage Act that are being considered by the Heritage Council or VCAT.
These powers are provided for under the Planning and Environment Act 1987, the Heritage Act 2017 and the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 1998.
The Minister for Planning approves amendments to planning schemes and issues Ministerial Directions to planning authorities.
The Minister for Planning issues directions to planning authorities about the preparation of planning schemes and amendments to planning schemes.
Planning authorities must comply with the Ministerial Direction on the Form and Content of Planning Schemes, issued under Section 7(5) of the Planning and Environment Act 1987. The direction applies to planning scheme layout and required information - including amendments to those planning schemes - and should be read together with the Victoria Planning Provisions.
Planning authorities must consider all Ministerial directions when preparing a planning scheme or an amendment to a planning scheme.
- Ministerial Direction - The Form and Content of Planning Schemes - (PDF, 1.8 MB) Local Provision Templates in MS Word to assist with the drafting ordinances only.
- Direction No. 1 Potentially Contaminated Land (PDF, 25.5 KB) or (DOCX, 49.2 KB)
- Direction No. 9 Metropolitan Planning Strategy (PDF, 21.7 KB) or (DOC, 72.5 KB)
- Direction No. 11 Strategic Assessment of Amendments (PDF, 18.8 KB)or (DOC, 52.5 KB)
- Direction No. 12 Urban Growth Areas (PDF, 26.0 KB) or (DOC, 37.0 KB)
- Direction No. 13 Managing coastal hazards and the coastal impacts of climate change (PDF, 58.1 KB) or (DOCX, 44.0 KB)
- Direction No. 14 Ports Environs (PDF, 1.4 MB) or (DOCX, 7.7 MB)
- Direction No. 15 - the planning scheme amendment process (PDF, 22.4 KB) or (DOC, 55.5 KB)
- Direction No. 17 - Localised Planning Statements (PDF, 27.0 KB) or (DOC, 2.1 MB)
- Direction No. 18 - Victorian Planning Authority Advice on Planning Scheme Amendments (PDF, 36.5 KB) or (DOCX, 23.7 KB)
- Direction No. 19 and information requirement for amendments that may result in impacts on the environment, amenity and human health (PDF, 617.3 KB) or (DOCX, 27.9 KB)
- Direction No. 20 - Major Hazard Facilities (PDF, 21.4 KB) or (DOCX, 40.6 KB)
- Direction No. 21 - Golf Course Redevelopment (PDF, 7.7 KB) or (DOCX, 26.6 KB)
- Preparation and Content and Reporting Requirements for Development Contributions Plans (PDF, 69.0 KB) or (DOC, 83.0 KB)
To view the Ministerial Direction for Infrastructure Contributions Plans go to Infrastructure Contributions.
- Direction No. 1 Potentially Contaminated Land (PDF, 20.4 KB) or (DOC, 1.7 MB)
- Direction No. 2 Werribee Growth Area Plan (PDF, 7.8 KB) or (DOC, 1.8 MB)
- Direction No. 3 South-eastern Growth Area Plan (PDF, 7.8 KB) or (DOC, 1.8 MB)
- Direction No. 4 Port Phillip Plan (PDF, 12.8 KB) or (DOCX, 12.6 KB)
- Direction No. 5 Gippsland Lakes Strategy (PDF, 9.3 KB) or (DOC, 2.0 MB)
- Direction No. 6 Rural Residential Development (PDF, 6.5 KB) or (DOC, 28.5 KB)
- Direction No. 6A Rural Residential Development (PDF, 7.4 KB) or (DOC, 1.7 MB)
- Direction No. 7 Plenty Valley Growth Area (PDF, 7.8 KB) or (DOC, 1.7 MB)
- Direction No. 8 Local Variations to Techniques of the Good Design Guide for Medium Density Housing Revision No. 2, April 1998 (PDF, 65.2 KB) or (DOC, 2.0 MB)
- Direction No. 10 Urban Growth Boundary (PDF, 58.3 KB) or (DOC, 2.1 MB)
- Direction No. 16 - Residential Zones (PDF, 6.6 KB) or (DOCX, 16.4 KB)
The Minister for Planning is the Responsible Authority and Planning Authority for certain large-scale developments.
The Minister for Planning has the power to 'call in' or assume responsibility for certain planning permit applications.
Ministerial interventions in planning applications
In certain circumstances the Minister for Planning has the power to intervene by:
- amending a planning scheme
- advancing the processing of an amendment to a planning scheme
- calling in a matter before the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
More about Ministerial intervention in planning scheme amendments
In addition to the Planning and Environment Act and Regulations, the Minister for Planning has responsibility for other legislation. This is specified in a General Order which is replaced or amended from time to time.
View more information about this and the General Order on the Department of Premier and Cabinet website.
Page last updated: 05/04/23