Planning scheme amendments

In this section:

• Current amendments
• Historic amendments
• Planning policy projects

Melbourne Planning Scheme

The Melbourne Planning Scheme sets out policies and provisions for the use, development and protection of land in the City of Melbourne.

Each municipality in Victoria is covered by a planning scheme. These are legal documents prepared by the local council or the minister for planning and are approved by the minister.

The Department of Planning and Community Development (DPCD) has more information at Melbourne Planning Scheme.

Local Policy Team

The City of Melbourne's Local Policy Team is responsible for amendments to the Melbourne Planning Scheme. The team develops policies to guide development and land use to deliver the outcomes identified in City of Melbourne's City Plan and the Council's Municipal Strategic Statement. These policies are reflected in the Melbourne Planning Scheme.

Amendments to the scheme

From time to time, changes to the Melbourne Planning Scheme are proposed to reflect new circumstances or to improve the scheme. The Minister for Planning, the Council or an applicant can instigate an amendment.

The amendment could involve a change to the planning scheme map (such as a change to the zone of the land or the introduction or removal of an overlay control) or a change to the Planning Scheme ordinance, written part of the scheme or both.

The process for an amendment to the Planning Scheme is outlined in the Planning and Environment Act 1987. Details of the process are at the DPCD's Amendments to planning schemes.

DPCD also provides a list of Melbourne Planning Scheme Amendments since March 1999.

Current list of planning scheme amendments

For a list of current proposed amendments to the Melbourne Planning Scheme, go to Current amendments. A list of all current and past amendments to the Melbourne Planning Scheme and their status is also available from DPCD at Planning scheme amendment information.

Planning scheme amendment submissions

Any person can make a submission about a planning scheme amendment.  A submission must be made in writing and must include the amendment number, details of the submission, your name, postal address and daytime telephone number.

You can write a letter or complete a planning scheme amendment submission form.

Planning scheme amendment submission form (PDF, 54kb) 

Submissions must be received on or before the date specified in the public notice of the amendment and be forwarded to:

By mail:

Development Planning Branch
City of Melbourne
GPO Box 1603
Melbourne Vic 3000

In person:

Council House 2
Level 3
240 Little Collins Street
Melbourne

By fax:

(03) 9650 1026

By email:

The email address of the relevant Planning Officer can be found on the public notice of the amendment.

Request an amendment

DPCD provides a Process guide for planning scheme amendments, which includes the information on each step of the amendment request process and fees.