Planning Scheme Review 2018

Legislative Requirement

Council is required to formally review the Mornington Peninsula Planning Scheme every four years. The Scheme has been reviewed in 2018 and will be due for review again in 2022. Monitoring, auditing and reporting of the Scheme’s performance is a mandatory requirement under the Planning and Environment Act 1987.

Mornington Peninsula Planning Scheme

The Mornington Peninsula Planning Scheme commenced on 6 May 1999 – two years after the amalgamation of the Flinders, Hastings and Mornington Shires. The range and detail of the Scheme’s provisions reflect a notable history of planning initiatives at local, regional and state level of the past half century that were devised to respond to the diverse issues and values of the Peninsula at the time.

The Mornington Peninsula Planning Scheme is often characterised as one of the most expansive and comprehensive in the State. The thoroughness of the Scheme is largely the result of the Peninsula’s diverse planning issues, regional context, and legacy as a ‘special place’ which has been formally recognised by successive state and local governments.

The 2018 Review

The 2018 Review provided a significant opportunity to develop a more strategically robust and streamlined Scheme that responds to the Peninsula’s special planning needs in a more effective, efficient and reliable manner. During this review, Council looked to strengthen our local policy in response to the recent changes introduced by the State government to reformat the structure of planning scheme policies.

Following the public exhibition period, the feedback was reviewed and where appropriate incorporated into the draft Planning Scheme Review prior to adoption by Council on the 19 November 2018, and submission to the Minister for Planning.

Key Recommendations

The 2018 Review provides a commentary and analysis of:

  • The strategic background to the Review, including an audit of strategic work undertaken by Council since the last formal review in 2014;
  • Relevant case law and planning panel reports that have implications for the content and operation of the scheme;
  • The State and local strategic context, including recent significant policy changes;
  • The major planning issues facing the Mornington Peninsula, including both existing and emerging themes; and
  • The strategic performance of the Scheme in implementing State planning policy, effectively expressing local policy directives, and appropriately and efficiently utilising zone and overlay controls to deliver desired planning outcomes for the Peninsula.

Program Outline 

The 2018 Review outlines a program for continuous review and further strategic work, finishing with a suite of overall recommendations and an implementation plan to:

  • Reduce red tape (i.e. reduce the need for planning permits and/or streamlining requirements for various uses/developments);
  • Identify and prioritise a program for future strategic planning work (including scheme amendments) to improve the performance, effectiveness and operation of the scheme; and
  • Clarify and strengthen local policy in response to recent changes proposed by State government to reformat the content and structure of planning schemes.

Download the Adopted 2018 Review

Planning Scheme Review 2018(PDF, 3MB)

Further Information

Phone: 5950 1003

Email: strategic.planning.projects@mornpen.vic.gov.au

Back to top