We conducted a review of our plans and strategies to incorporate findings and recommendations into the Alpine Planning Scheme.
What is a Planning Scheme?
A planning scheme is planning authority framework approved by the Victorian Government that outlines objectives, policies, and controls for the use, development, and protection of land for each municipality across Victoria.
A planning scheme is a legal document that controls land use and development within a municipal district. Any planning application we receive is assessed against the Alpine Planning Scheme.
What is a Planning Scheme Review?
A planning scheme review is a health check of the current planning scheme for a local government area, assessing its effectiveness and relevance against strategies, policy, and direction adopted over the previous period.
A planning scheme review will seek to:
- correct drafting errors;
- identify policy gaps;
- introduce new policy since the last review in 2015; and
- provide recommendations for advocacy, strategic work, and process improvements.
A planning scheme review must be undertaken every four years and generally requires an update to the planning scheme via a planning scheme amendment to implement its findings and recommendations.
What is a Planning Scheme Amendment?
Changes to the planning scheme are known as planning scheme amendments. The process to undertake amendments is set out in the Planning and Environment Act 1987.
An amendment may involve a change to a planning scheme map, such as a rezoning, a change to the written part of the scheme, or both.
Key outcomes of the Review
Over the previous period, a number of plans and strategies have been subject to significant consultation and subsequently considered by Council. The review seeks to incorporate the findings and recommendations from these plans and strategies into the planning scheme.
These plans and strategies include:
- Community Vision 2040 and Council Plan 2021-2025
- Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan (incorporated into the Council Plan 2021-2025)
- Myrtleford Resilience Plan 2019
- Economic Development Strategy 2022
- Alpine Shire Events Strategy 2021
- Rural Land Use Strategy 2015
- Climate Action Plan 2021-2024
- Sport and Active Recreation Plan 2022-2033
- Affordable Housing Analysis and Action Plan 2022
Key findings of the Review
Key findings of the Review include:
- Process improvement;
- Resourcing for Strategic Work Program;
- Resourcing Statutory Planning;
- Strengthening Planning and Statutory Planning; and
- Engaging a Dinner Plain advisor.
What are the next steps?
The findings and recommendations of the Alpine Shire Planning Scheme Review 2023 are being implemented into the Alpine Planning Scheme through Amendment C65alpi.