Legislative Council Select Committee Inquiry

The process for introducing new regulation in Victoria (such as those watering down the building regulations to support Activity Centres and Catchment Areas) require the minister to table amendments to the regulations for 10 sitting days of parliament before they can be gazetted. During this 10 day period the parliament or the minister may refer the changes to a committee for review. The committee investigates the proposals and takes submissions from experts and the public and may hold public hearings. The outcome is a report to parliament which may recommend to change or disallow the amendments. A member of parliament may then move a disallowance motion. Parliament can Disallow the regulation in whole or part, Take no action, or Encourage the minister to amend the regulation based on the report.

Following significant lobbying efforts across Melbourne, the Liberals, Greens, and the Legalise Cannabis Party have jointly initiated an Upper House inquiry into the Victorian Planning Provisions introduced through amendments VC257, VC274, and VC267, which impact development in major activity centres.

The Select Committee will inquire into, consider and report whether the amendments to the Victorian Planning Provisions made through VC257, VC274 and VC267 give proper effect to the objectives of planning in Victoria, and the objectives of the planning framework, as set out in section 4 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987.

The inquiry includes a public submissions and hearings process with the final report due by 13th May 2025.

Submissions

Anyone can make a submission, and we strongly encourage you all to do so. LMV will be submitting a response however there is also a real push for community members to submit their own heartfelt responses. Let your voices be heard! Submissions can be uploaded here.

The closing date for submissions is 24th April 2025.

Public Hearings

Liveable Moonee Valley has been invited to present at the public hearing and we are very grateful for the opportunity to put our case to the committee. We will be presenting to the committee on Wednesday the 30th of April at 9:00am

The 1st public hearing for the Inquiry is being held on Thursday, 17th April at 10.45am.  If you are interested in watching or listening, it will be broadcast on the Committee’s website (via link provided). The Committee will hear from officials from the Department of Transport and Planning as well as planning experts Dr Stephen Rowley, Professor Michael Buxton, Jim Holdsworth and Professor Andrew Butt.

The Committee will also hold further sessions of public hearings on 29th April and 30th April 2025.

Kind regards

Liveable Moonee Valley Committee