Overview
The Minister for Planning has appointed an independent Standing Advisory Committee known as the Distinctive Areas and Landscapes Standing Advisory Committee (the Committee). The Committee can advise on draft Statements of Planning Policy and any other planning policy and implementation matter referred to it by the Minister for Planning. The Committee comprises Kathy Mitchell (Chair), Lester Townsend (Deputy Chair), Con Tsotsoros (Deputy Chair), Peter Boyle, Shannon Davies, Peter Edwards, Ian Hamm, Sophie Handley, Gabby McMillan, Natasha Reifschneider, and Geoff Underwood.
See the Committee Member biographies (PDF).
The work and scope of the Committee are guided by the Terms of Reference (PDF) issued by the Minister for Planning. The Committee is administered by Planning Panels Victoria. To learn more visit the Planning Panels Victoria website.
Draft Surf Coast Statement of Planning Policy
On 8 November 2020, the Minister for Planning referred the draft Surf Coast Statement of Planning Policy (SPP) and proposed landscape planning controls to the Committee for advice.
View the letter of referral (PDF)
The Committee has been requested to consider all written submissions received, convene a public hearing and advise the Minister for Planning on the robustness of the draft Surf Coast Statement of Planning Policy and proposed landscape planning controls in meeting the objects of Section 46AN the Planning and Environment Act 1987 . This includes making recommendations on any amendments needed to the draft Surf Coast SPP and proposed landscape planning controls.
This webpage will be updated as any further referrals are received from the Minister for Planning.
Committee Process
Public Exhibition
The draft Surf Coast Statement of Planning Policy and proposed landscape planning controls will be on public exhibition between Thursday 19 November and 4.00pm on Friday 22 January 2021.
You are invited to make a submission to the Committee during this time.
Submissions may address any matter the submitter considers relevant, including whether the draft Surf Coast Statement of Planning Policy and proposed landscape planning controls are supported or objected or any recommended changes. Submissions must relate to information and topics covered in the draft Surf Coast Statement of Planning Policy and proposed landscape planning controls.
When making your submission you can nominate to be heard and participate in the Public Hearing. If you make a submission, you will be notified about the timing and format of the Public Hearing after the exhibition period has closed.
Anyone seeking to be heard and participate at the Public Hearing must submit a written submission and indicate they would like to be heard and participate on the submission form.
Public Hearings
The Public Hearing involves two main components: the Directions Hearing and the main Hearing.
Directions Hearing
A Directions Hearing will be held on Thursday 11 February 2021. Further information about the Directions Hearing arrangements, including venue and time, will be published when determined.
The purpose of the Directions Hearing is to:
- consider any preliminary or procedural issues and give directions about the conduct of the Hearing including the exchange of any expert witness reports
- make arrangements for the Hearing, including the Timetable, Hearing venue and any site inspections
- answer any questions people may have about the Hearing.
you should attend the Directions Hearing if you have not made a submission before on a planning matter, or if you wish to raise any issues.
Main Hearing
The main or Public Hearing allows:
- DELWP to set out their case in full and provide evidence in support of the draft Surf Coast Statement of Planning Policy and proposed landscape planning controls
- Municipal Councils, agencies, community groups and submitters to speak to their submissions and call evidence if required.
The Hearing will commence in the week of 15 March 2021 and will run for four to six weeks,
generally sitting four days per week (Monday to
Thursday). The Hearing is open to the public at all times, and
anyone can view the proceedings.
All submitters who have requested to be heard will be allocated a dedicated time to present to the Committee. The Committee will prepare a timetable for the Public Hearing following the Directions Hearing, based on the information provided on the online submission form.
The Committee will consider all written submissions when
preparing its report, including those from submitters
who do not wish to speak to their submission at the Public
Hearing.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic the Committee hearing process may be conducted online by video conference. If the hearing is held by video conference, detailed information including instructions will be provided to submitters who wish to be heard and participate in the hearing
Make your Submission
You are invited to make a submission to the Committee on the proposal.
Submissions are invited between Thursday 19 November and 4.00pm on Friday 22 January 2021 and should be lodged using the submission form below.
- Each submission will be treated as a public document. Only one submission addressing all of your views about the proposal is needed.
- You must read the Privacy Collection Notice provided below prior to lodging your submission.
- You must make a written submission if you wish to speak and participate in the Hearing and indicate on the submission form that you would like to be heard.
Please contact Planning Panels Victoria at 136 186 (select option 6) if you need to make a hard-copy submission or have issues lodging your submission on the form below. Please note that electronic submissions are preferred.
Privacy and Intellectual Property
Please note that your submission will be treated as a public document in accordance with the Privacy Collection Notice (which can be accessed through Document Library) which may include provisions to other parties and display in the Hearing. You should not include any other personal information in the body of your submission, such as physical addresses, photographs of children, email address and phone details, unless that information can be made publicly available. You can request access to your personal information held by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) by contacting the Freedom of Information Unit on (03) 9637 8186 or FOI.unit@delwp.vic.gov.au
Distinctive Areas and Landscapes Standing Advisory Committee
This Privacy Collection Statement relates to all submissions collected in relation to the Distinctive Areas and Landscapes Standing Advisory Committee (the ‘Committee’). Planning Panels Victoria (PPV) is providing administrative services to the Committee.
PPV is part of the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning and submissions will be managed in accordance with the Department’s Information Privacy Policy. The Department’s Information Privacy Policy is online at https://www2.delwp.vic.gov.au/doing-business-with-us/information-privacy.
Use of your submission
Your submission has been collected by the Committee for the purpose of helping to formulate its advice to the Minister for Planning in accordance with the Terms of Reference.
Natural justice to participants and transparency are important parts of the Committee process. In meeting its legislative requirements and complying with the Terms of Reference, the Committee may do the following with your submission:
- Publish a copy of your submission, in its entirety, on the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning website, Engage Victoria website or other Victorian Government website as required
- The name of the submitter
- Provide a copy of your submission to the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Local Councils, Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation, Government Agencies and other parties (submitters) to the process
- Display a copy of your submission in the Planning Panels Victoria Office
- Display a copy of your submission at relevant Local Council, local Library or Government Offices as appropriate
- If a face to face Hearing is to be held, provide a copy of your submission in the Hearing room.
Publication of your personal information on the Internet
The Committee Report will be published on the internet and may include:
- Direct quotes from some of the submission
Planning Panels Victoria will remove your submission from the web pages that it controls within three months after the Committee has reported. Planning Panels Victoria cannot guarantee that your submission will be removed from external web pages outside its control.
Hearing of submissions
The Committee will conduct its proceedings through a Hearing.
The Hearing may be held face to face, via telephone conference or via video conference or a combination of these. You should be aware the Committee may:
- broadcast submissions and proceedings live on the internet
- record submissions and proceedings
- make the recording available on request to submitters and parties to the hearing of submissions and third parties
- publish the recording on the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning website, Engage Victoria website or other Victorian Government website
- use your phone contact details to contact you during a telephone/video hearing of submissions as is necessary.
The Committee will direct that parties do not record online hearing of submissions or use them for any other purpose. However, the Committee is unable to guarantee that third parties will not be recording online hearing of submissions, and the use of any such recordings outside the hearing of submissions context cannot be regulated by the Committee.
All participants are reminded that during the Committee process, the privacy of others should be respected and to refrain from the defamation of others.
After the Committee has reported
After the Committee has reported to the Minister for Planning all submissions will be removed from all public display within three months.
Your original submission and any additional material provided to the Committee will be held at Planning Panels Victoria for two years and then sent to the Public Records Office of Victoria. All additional copies of the submissions and other material held by Planning Panels Victoria will be securely destroyed.
If you have any concerns in respect to the way your personal information or submission will be used please contact Planning Panels Victoria on (03) 8392 5114 or Planning.Panels@delwp.vic.gov.au
For questions about the Committee process and making a submission please contact:
| Name | Planning Panels Victoria |
|---|---|
| Phone | 136 186 |
| planning.panels@delwp.vic.gov.au |
For questions in relation to the Distinctive Areas and Landscapes program please contact:
| Name | Places and Precincts, DELWP |
|---|---|
| Phone | 136 186 |
| planning.implementation@delwp.vic.gov.au |
