Climate Change & Planning in Victoria

The report outlines the intersections between climate change, planning, and the built environment, with changes and recommendations aimed at urgently addressing climate change at local and state levels.

It contains a total of 42 initiatives. The overarching recommendations are:

1. Recognise the fundamental role the Planning Scheme plays in guiding decision-makers, and its weight as statutory law.

Ensure planning scheme reform:

• Makes the importance of considering climate change in decision-making explicit, rather than generic references to sustainability.
• Fills gaps where there is a policy void in key areas.
• Introduces mandatory development standards in targeted areas.

2. Ensure the scheme and its application of controls is consistent with the scientific evidence base and best practice.

This includes updating datasets & benchmarks to reflect current scientific understanding of hazards , delivering best practice adaptation, and recognising required urgency in emission reductions

3. Focus on changes to get the fundamentals right for future development areas.

This includes changes to planning for precincts and subdivisions, both in ensuring appropriate urban structure is delivered but also in a much stronger focus on net zero and climate resilient communities

For the full suite of initiatives, download the report