Sweeping reforms announced for Victorian planning laws
The VIC government has introduced sweeping reforms to the Planning and Environment Act 1987 that will significantly impact how major projects are approved and how quickly.
What this means for major projects and consulting professionals
For teams working on infrastructure, resources, energy, or major developments, these reforms bring both opportunity and responsibility:
Opportunity: Projects that align with the criteria (scale, affordable housing, strategic locations) may benefit from accelerated approval pathways, meaning shorter lead times, less process drag, and greater certainty.
Responsibility: The “fast track” environment demands rigorous project-planning, early stakeholder engagement, clear design standards, and strong documentation. Compliance, design quality and alignment with the new planning codes/spatial controls matter more than ever.
Strategic shift: For consultancies like ours, we’re not just reacting to changes; we’re helping clients proactively shape project pathways. That means: clarifying what constitutes ‘significant’ development under DFP, designing projects to meet ‘deemed to comply’ standards (where appeal rights are limited), and structuring planning strategies that align with the new zones and overlays.
What to do now
Review your ongoing and upcoming projects: Do they meet thresholds for the DFP or new codes? Can you plan to align with ‘deemed to comply’ standards to reduce review/appeal risk?
Consult with planning teams early: Ensure design, stakeholder strategy, environmental/social assessment and land-use strategy reflect the new legislative environment.
Monitor for further changes: The current reforms are significant, but the VIC government has indicated more legislative and regulatory changes are coming. Staying ahead means staying informed.
If your organisation is navigating the changing planning regime in VIC and needs a partner to help structure a smooth path, let’s talk.
