We’re proposing an update to the Mount Alexander Planning Scheme and want to know what you think.

The proposed update, referred to as Amendment C101malx, comes out of the 2024 Planning Scheme Review process. Reviews help identify policy deficiencies, areas for simplification and opportunities for improvement.

The proposed amendment will improve the performance of the planning scheme and will not change its intent.

Community members are invited to learn more about the proposed amendment and make a submission in support or against the amendment.

What is a planning scheme review and why do we need to undertake one?

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:

• Fix drafting errors
• Identify policy gaps
• Introduce new policy after 2015
• Provide recommendations for advocacy, strategic work, and process improvements.

A Planning Scheme Review normally occurs every four years and provides an update to the Planning Scheme via a Planning Scheme Amendment. Council as the planning authority for the Mount Alexander Planning Scheme is required to review its planning scheme every four years under Section 12(B) of the Planning and Environment Act 1987.

What is a planning scheme amendment?

Changes to the planning scheme are called amendments. The process to make 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.

What will change in the Mount Alexander planning scheme as a result of this amendment?

The updates are mainly administrative matters (e.g. updating department names) or to incorporate Council or State adopted strategic planning work into the scheme.

The planning scheme review has identified many policy-neutral changes that should be made to the planning scheme to bring it into alignment with the Ministerial Direction on the Form and Content of Planning Schemes.

These are administrative matters and do not change the policy intent of the scheme. There are several factual changes that should be made to the Municipal Planning Strategy to bring it up to date with the most recent ABS and economic data, and the Council Plan 2021-2025.

Who can I contact if I have questions specific to my land?

For further information you can contact the Strategic Planning team on 03 5471 1700 or email strategicplanning@mountalexander.vic.gov.au

You can also come in and view the amendment documentation at the Civic Centre, corner of Lyttleton and Lloyd Streets, Castlemaine.