Referral Authorities and The Planning System (Planet)

Event Outline

Referral authorities play an important role in the operation of the Victorian planning system. The planning permit process provides referral authorities with opportunities to have their views considered and incorporated into development. This course has been designed to provide referral authority staff with a clear understanding of:

• the role of referral authorities in the planning system
• the structure and content of planning schemes
• what parts of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 are relevant
• in what circumstances planning permits are referred
• what the timelines are
• what issues a referral authority can include as a permit condition
• what a valid planning permit condition is and how to write one
• what the role of VCAT is and how referral authorities can participate.

---

Who should attend?

The staff of any referral authority engaged in assessing planning permit applications. This includes staff of service providers (water, power etc.); VicRoads; government departments such as Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP); VicRoads and Catchment Management Authorities. This course would be useful to new graduates and referral staff that have only recently become involved in assessing planning permit referrals.

---

Issues covered include:

• understanding of the applicable legislation, including timelines
• understanding of the planning system
• ability to draft a concise response to a planning application referral, including permit conditions and
     letter of advice.