Planning referrals
Public Transport Victoria is a referral authority under the Planning and Environment Act for major residential, retail, commercial, office and industrial developments. Therefore, Responsible Authorities (generally local councils) must refer nominated applications to the DPT to help integrate land use and transport planning.
Information on this page
Planning matters requiring referral
The following types of planning applications must be referred to the Public Transport Victoria for consideration:
- a residential development comprising 60 or more dwellings or lots
- a residential building comprising 60 or more lodging rooms
- a residential village comprising 60 or more dwellings
- a retirement village comprising 60 or more dwellings or lots
- a new retail premises of 4000 or more square metres of leasable floor area
- an increase of more than 1000 square metres to the leasable floor area of an existing retail premises which is 4000 or more square metres leasable floor area
- an office development of 10,000 or more square metres of leasable floor area
- a place of assembly comprising 400 or more seats or 600 or more square metres of gross floor area
- an education centre
- a major sports and recreation facility
- any alteration or development of public transport infrastructure or stops.
For details of public transport requirements for new developments, visit transport.vic.gov.au (link opens in a new window)
Application process
1) Submit the application
Under Section 55 of the Planning and Environment Act, Responsible Authorities must refer planning applications to Public Transport Victoria (PTV) as a referral authority.
2) Application considered and direction provided
PTV will consider the application and advise the Responsible Authority in writing of one of the following directions:
- it does not object to the grant of the permit
- it does not object to the grant of the permit providing that certain conditions are included on the permit, or that certain matters are done to its satisfaction
- it objects to the grant of the permit on specified grounds.
PTV may provide other information which it considers relevant and of assistance to the Responsible Authority in making a decision. Such information must be clearly distinguishable from the directions.
PTV must reply to the Responsible Authority within 28 days from the date of receiving the referral (including mailing times). Alternatively, a request for further information must be provided to the Responsible Authority within 21 days of receiving the application (including mailing times).
3) Application decision
The Responsible Authority must then follow the directions of PTV to:
- refuse the application if PTV has objected, or
- include any condition on the permit and/or not include other conditions which would conflict with those required by the DPT
The Responsible Authority must then provide PTV with a copy of its decision and a copy of any notices of its decision to grant or refuse a permit.
If PTV's conditions are not met, it can apply to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal to cancel or amend the permit.
Background
Victoria's planning system operates under the Planning and Environment Act 1987. The Act covers the Victorian Planning Provisions which are used as the base for planning schemes for each municipality in Victoria. As part of planning schemes, planning permits may be required for land use and development.
Planning schemes were amended in October 2006 to make PTV a planning referral authority, as some proposed developments may affect existing or proposed public transport services and facilities.
This means that the DPT may impose conditions or, when appropriate, refuse planning permit applications based on the impact on public transport. Therefore, bodies responsible for administering planning schemes must act in accordance with the DPT's directions.
