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Useful planning information
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Heritage guidelines
Any application within a Heritage Overlay is to be designed to accord with the City of Moonee Valley Heritage Guidelines (PDF, 9.3 MB).
For more information, you may visit the Heritage page.
For information regarding the installation of solar panels in a Heritage Overlay area, please visit the solar panels and heritage requirements page.
Planning controls
Which zone or overlay affects your land
To see which zone or overlay applies to your land, visit the VicPlan website . Once you know what controls apply to your property you read about them in the Moonee Valley Planning Scheme .
If you want specific advice about how local policies, zones, overlays or particular provision may affect your proposal we strongly recommend that you consult an independent town planning professional.
If you already have a proposal in mind and want some advice before lodging, you can request a pre-application meeting.
Zones, overlays and particular provisions
Zones determine what land uses are permitted in any given area. Zones also specify whether buildings and works require a planning permit.
Specific land uses are categorised in each zone as either:
- Section 1 (known as ‘as of right’ – no planning permit required)
- Section 2 (a planning permit is required before the use can commence)
- Section 3 (the use is prohibited in this zone)
Examples of zones in Moonee Valley include the General Residential Zone, Commercial 1 Zone and Activity Centre Zone.
Overlays typically regulate buildings and works, rather than land use, and often relate to certain physical characteristics of an area.
For example, overlays can include areas of local cultural, social or architectural significance. These areas may be affected by a Heritage Overlay. Within this overlay, there is a list of planning permit triggers for physical changes to the appearance of a property.
Other examples include:
- the Special Building Overlay, which affects land in urban areas liable to inundation by overland flows from the urban drainage system
- the Melbourne Airport Environs Overlay, which aims to ensure land use and development is compatible with the operation of Melbourne Airport
The particular provisions assist Council when assessing whether an application is acceptable. These are generally the same for every Council area in Victoria.
Examples of particular provisions include:
- Car parking (sets out how many car spaces are required to be provided for certain land uses as well as outlining how car spaces should be designed)
- Signs (outlines what type of signage can be displayed in certain areas)
Sustainable development
There are lots of things that need to be considered when planning a development. Visit our sustainable development page to read more.
Waste management planning guidelines
- If your planning application requires a Waste Management Plan (WMP) please see Council’s Waste Management Plans – Guidelines for Planning Applicants (PDF, 2.4 MB).
- Visit Waste for businesses and new developments page for more information.
- If you don’t have a professional waste consultant, you can find guidance for establishing and managing waste systems in residential, commercial and industrial buildings at Sustainability Victoria website .
- Visit Sustainability Victoria to download resources including a WMP checklist and template for multi-unit developments (MUDs). Please use these resources to help prepare and submit a WMP to Council for consideration and review as part of your planning application, where required.
VCAT
The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) is a state government tribunal that deals with different types of disputes, including appeals against Council planning permit decisions.
When reviewing a Council's decision regarding a planning permit, VCAT’s role is to reconsider the whole application afresh on its merits.
VCAT decides planning applications by permit applicants, permit holders, objectors and responsible authorities involving disputes over the use and/or development of land.
You can find out more information about how to apply to VCAT and how the review process works from the VCAT website .
In certain circumstances VCAT directs responsible authorities like Council to publish plans (and other relevant material) prior to VCAT proceedings. We publish this information as soon as practical.
In certain circumstances VCAT directs responsible authorities like Council to publish plans (and other relevant material) prior to VCAT proceedings. We publish this information as soon as practical.
Application is reviewed by VCAT (if required)
If you are unhappy with Council’s decision with regard to a planning permit, you can lodge an appeal with VCAT. This includes:
- objecting to the granting of a permit
- objecting to a refusal of a permit.
Moonee Valley Planning Scheme
Planning in the City of Moonee Valley is governed by the Moonee Valley Planning Scheme (the scheme). The scheme contains a purpose and vision (including Municipal Planning Strategy), a planning policy framework, zones, overlays, particular provisions, general provisions and operational provisions.
In many instances, a clause of the scheme (i.e. zone, overlay and/or particular provision) will outline specific planning permit triggers. Clauses in the scheme will also often outline application requirements, as well as decision guidelines or criteria for the Responsible Authority (i.e. Council) to consider when assessing applications.
Each Council has its own set of local policies in a planning scheme.
Examples of local planning policies in Moonee Valley include:
- Stormwater Management (water sensitive urban design).
- Licensed Premises Policy (Guidelines for licensed premises operating in the municipality)
Examples of incorporated documents within local planning policies in Moonee Valley include:
The Victorian Government and/or Council may make amendments to the planning scheme to reflect policy updates.
To find out more about current and previous planning scheme amendments, visit Moonee Valley Planning Scheme.