Overview
The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) has updated the Planning Policy Framework and Clause 53.10 of the Victoria Planning Provisions. To learn more about the changes and consultation process, visit Engage Victoria.
Submissions closed at 5:00 pm on 16 December 2019.
Land use buffers and separation distances can help manage the location and siting of both industries and sensitive uses, such as residential development, to minimise land use conflict.
DELWP is reviewing how the planning system can better manage buffers between industries and sensitive uses.
How best to manage the interface between industries and sensitive uses is a longstanding planning issue. Currently, planning approaches to address buffer issues can vary, be complex and lead to inconsistent decision making.
In addition to the impact of land uses with offsite impacts on the amenity of sensitive uses, unplanned encroachment of sensitive uses can constrain the operation of industries, including critical infrastructure.
DELWP engaged Environmental Resources Management Australia Pty Ltd (ERM) to review how land use buffers and separation distances are currently managed in the Victorian planning system. The ERM technical report (PDF, 2.3 MB) provides an assessment of the current planning policy and tools in the Victoria Planning Provisions and analyses local and international case studies to understand how planning currently manages conflicting land uses.
The DELWP review responds to:
Guiding principles
The following principles have been identified to guide feedback and discussion about managing buffers and separation distances in Victoria and the future planning reforms.
Have your say
Have your say about the review of planning for land use buffers and separation distances
Status: Closed
Planning for buffers and separation distances
Submissisions have now closed.
Public Exhibition
Submissions opens on
9.00am - Monday 18 November 2019
Submissions close on
5.00pm - Monday 16 December 2019
Consultations have now closed, If you need further information, please contact planning.systems@delwp.vic.gov.au.
Documents
Supporting Documents
All supporting documents for this project will be placed here.
- Planning for buffers and separation distances: Consultation Report, May 2019 (PDF, 372.0 KB) or (DOCX, 55.8 KB)
- ERM Improving Planning Responses for Buffers/Separation Distances - Technical Report
- Action 4 of the government response to the Major Hazard Facilities Advisory Committee (PDF, 1.5 MB) or (DOC, 153.0 KB)
- The government response to the Independent Inquiry into the Environment Protection Authority
- Action 98 of Plan Melbourne 2017-2050
Have Your Say feedback questions
Initial consultation
Feedback informed options to reform the planning controls and how buffers can be better managed in the planning system.
The feedback was primarily focused on general industries and infrastructure uses with potential off-site amenity and safety impacts. Separate work related to Major Hazards Facilities is currently being undertaken by DELWP and will form part of a separate discussion process.
In responding to this feedback request, examples of when buffers have or have not worked and an explanation of why were requested.
The accompanying ERM Improving Planning Responses for Buffers/Separation Distances - Technical report is also available online.
Submissions for the first consultation have now been closed. Thank you for your feedback.
If you have any queries, please contact planning.systems@delwp.vic.gov.au
Feedback questions - initial consultation
Planning policy
Does current planning policy adequately deal with managing land use conflicts?
How can it be improved?
Reverse Amenity
Should the Victoria Planning Provisions (VPP) include specific mechanisms to protect industrial, warehouse or infrastructure uses from encroachment of sensitive uses? How can it be improved?
What type of activities and under what circumstances should a buffer be applied to manage encroachment of sensitive uses?
Who should own or control the buffer area?
How should sensitive uses be managed in the buffer area?
What uses should be considered as sensitive uses? Are there different categories of sensitive uses?
How can the planning system manage new development in areas where sensitive uses are already established in the buffer area?
Clause 53.10 improvements
How can clause 53.10 be improved to assist its operation and useability?
What impacts should clause 53.10 take account of?
Is the list and description of uses in clause 53.10 adequate or can it be improved? If so, how? For example, classifications of industry types rather than lists of individual industries.
Should the threshold distances in clause 53.10 set out a minimum mandatory separation distance that must be met? If so, what industries or for what impacts should this apply to?
What additional features in clause 53.10 are required, for example application requirements and decision guidelines?
Zones and overlay improvements
How well does the existing suite of zones and overlays manage buffers?
How can the existing industrial zones be improved to better manage buffers?
Is a new overlay to identify and manage buffers required, and if so, what scope and features should it include?
Advice and guidance
What information and guidance is required to support the management of buffers in the planning system?
What role should the EPA’s Recommended Separation Distances for Industrial Residual Air Emissions, the State Environment Protection Policies (SEPPs) and other relevant documents have in the VPP to assist decision making?