Our decision

There are three types of decisions we can make for planning permit applications. Learn more.

When we make our decision on your planning permit application, we'll notify all concerned parties in writing. We must consider all objections that we get up until we make our decision.

What can we decide?

There are three types of decisions that we can make:

1. Issue a planning permit

If your application is successful, we'll issue you with a planning permit and you can start your land use or development. It's important to remember that a planning permit is subject to specific conditions that must be met. These conditions may require you to change the plans before we endorse them and may require a fee to be paid to Council before plans are endorsed (e.g. Council street tree replacement, bike parking infrastructure payment).

Bike parking infrastructure fees can be made using the button below; for Council street tree replacement, please contact Planning Admin on 03 8470 8850, as an invoice will need to be issued.

Apply and pay for bike parking infrastructure

2. Issue a notice of decision to grant a planning permit

If there are objections to your planning permit application, we can only issue a notice of decision to grant a permit.

This is not a planning permit. It's a legal notice stating we support your application if the land use or development meets certain conditions. We'll explain these conditions on the notice and send a copy to all concerned parties.

3. Issue a notice of decision to refuse a planning permit

If we think your proposed land development or use is not acceptable, we'll refuse to issue a planning permit.

We'll list the reasons for our refusal and send a copy to all concerned parties.

Who makes the decision?

Our planning officers make most decisions on planning applications. However, a decision can also be made at our council meeting, in line with our instrument of delegation. For more information, call our planning department on 03 8470 8850.

Appealing a decision

If you don't agree with our decision, you can appeal to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT). For more information, visit our appeal a decision page.

Your notice of decision to grant a planning permit will set out the appeal process. The closing date for appeals is 28 days after the date the responsible authority issues the notice.