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Pre-application advice for planning permits

Talk to a planning officer before you submit your planning permit application.

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Planning advice is specific to the land and the proposed use or development.  As a minimum, the planner needs to know the address of the property for your enquiry and a general outline of what you want to do.

 

Types of advice we offer

If your project fits into one of the categories below, call or email us for advice.

  • Extensions or alterations to existing buildings, unless in a Heritage Overlay
  • Minor amendments to planning permits
  • Liquor license
  • Signage
  • Minor buildings and works (<$100k)
  • Outbuildings associated with dwellings, e.g. sheds, garages, pergolas
  • 2-lot subdivisions
  • Small-scale vegetation removal
  • VicSmart applications
  • Title related applications (vary covenants/restrictions)
  • Single dwelling applications, unless in Rural Conservation Zone/Farming Zone/Heritage Overlay
  • Dwellings in a bushfire management overlay
  • Condition 1 plans
  • Miscellaneous consent or satisfaction matters

Contact

Contact Planning

Get preliminary planning advice and understand planning controls for your property. Submit an enquiry, request a call-back, or book a free Duty Planner appointment at our Bendigo office.

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Need Planning advice in writing?

Planning Information Request (PIR)

If you need planning information confirmed in writing, you can apply for written advice using our Planning Information Request (PIR) service. Two levels of information are available: 

Standard
A standard response lists the relevant planning controls and provisions that impact the land, general information and whether a planning permit is required.

Detailed
A detailed response has the addition of tailored advice about application requirements, policy or Planning Scheme requirements, a planning permit history or involves significant research. Please specify the additional information you require with your application. 

What to provide with your application:

  • A current copy of title (within 3 months)
  • Covenants, Section 173 agreements or Memorandum of Common Provisions (MCP) if listed on the title
  • Site plan showing existing buildings and the proposed development
  • Floor and elevation plans, if applicable
  • Fee - see our fee schedule for the applicable fees

A request for written planning advice can be made using our online services. Your request must be accompanied by the applicable fee.

You’ll be asked to describe:

  • The current use of the land
  • Number and use of existing structures or dwellings on the land

Details of the proposed use or development:

  • Size of the proposed buildings and works
  • Earthworks, if applicable
  • Setbacks of the proposed buildings and works from all adjoining properties

Details of vegetation proposed to be removed:

  • Type of vegetation (native or non-native)
  • Details and purpose of removal or lopping
Apply and pay for planning information

Pre-application meeting

For larger or more complex developments, a planning pre-application meeting can help to identify any planning issues prior to lodging an application and understand the information you need to include in your planning application. It provides all parties with a better understanding of the Planning Scheme requirements, Council policies and Planning officers' views. Following discussions, the Planning officer will share the advice and next steps with you in writing.

There are three types of pre-application meeting service offered by the Planning unit: Standard, Detailed and Comprehensive.

Recommended for Standard pre-applications
  • Rural subdivisions
  • Small subdivisions (3-15 lots)
  • New commercial/industrial development <$3M
Recommended for Detailed pre-applications
  • Single dwelling in a Rural Conservation Zone or Farming Zone
  • Multi-unit development
  • Mixed use development
  • Medium subdivisions (15-100 lots)
  • Land use applications (Section 2/discretionary use)
  • Childcare or medical centres
  • Medium-large projects ($3M-$15M)
  • All Heritage Overlay applications
  • Amendments to permits which were decided by Council or VCAT
Recommended for Comprehensive pre-applications
  • Applications with high potential for environmental or amenity impact
  • Significant community interest
  • Place of Assembly applications
  • Applications on Public Land
  • Large projects (over $15M)

Please note, after reviewing your request, the Planning unit may recommend a different type of pre-application service depending on the complexity of your proposal.

Request a pre-application meeting

As part of the online application process, you will need to attach documents to help with the planner’s research before scheduling a meeting.  You may wish to compile these documents before starting your application.

Please check your title for any covenants or section 173 agreements.  If these restrictions are listed on your title, please include them in your documentation as they may affect the information we can provide.

Please provide:

  • A clear description of what you are proposing
  • Location/site plan
  • Plans of the proposal
  • Photos of the site and surrounds (this is helpful, but not mandatory)

After your request has been lodged in our systems, the fee will be determined based on the complexity and we will email you an invoice.

Please note, if you have not provided any of the documents above with your request, we will be unable to schedule the pre-application meeting. The Planning unit will contact you and tell you what’s missing. You will be given 7 days to provide the documents. If you can't meet this timeline, please contact us as your request will lapse.

If you’re unable to complete an online application, please contact us to request a PDF copy.

Submit a request for a Planning pre-application meeting

Next steps

When payment has been made a planner will contact you within 3-5 business days of payment to offer a meeting date. If the meeting is to be held online, we will send you an invitation with a link. If relevant, officers such as a Heritage Advisor or a Traffic Engineer may be invited to the meeting. 

The planner will compile and share the meeting notes with you within 3-5 business days of the meeting. 

A pre-application meeting does not guarantee that a planning permit application will be approved. 

Please note, if your proposal looks straightforward the next step may just involve a planner contacting you by phone or email to discuss. If this occurs and you have paid a fee for a pre-application meeting or written advice, you will receive a refund.

Planning fees schedule