Merri-bek Planning Scheme

About the Merri-bek Planning Scheme

Each Council area in Victoria has its own planning scheme.

A planning scheme sets out policies and provisions for the use, development and protection of land in a municipality. It is a legal document prepared by the local Council or the Minister for Planning, and approved by the minister.

All land in Merri-bek is affected by the Merri-bek Planning Scheme. Visit Moreland Planning Scheme online for:

  • maps of Merri-bek with zones and overlays
  • The Planning Policy Framework (PPF) which sets out the objectives of planning in Victoria at a state, regional and local level. The PPF includes the Municipal Strategic Statement (MSS) and local polices which outline the overall vision to guide future land use and development in the municipality, and includes seven key strategic directions for:
  1. Activity Centres
  2. Land for Industry and Economic Regeneration
  3. Housing
  4. Good Design
  5. Environmentally Sustainable Development
  6. Open Space Network
  7. Transport Network 

Planning Scheme Review 2018

A four year review of the Merri-bek Planning Scheme (MPS) was completed in mid 2018 as required by the Planning and Environment Act 1987. The Planning Scheme Review is an examination of the entire MPS and includes recommendations for future work to reflect adopted polices, strategies and State Government reforms. The review found that the MPS is operating well and significant improvements have been made in recent years.

To make sure the Merri-bek Planning Scheme continues to work well, the Planning Scheme Review Report recommended the following future work:

  • Identifying ways to streamline zone and overlay controls, to improve useability and reduce planning permits for minor matters;

  • Reviewing the built form and land use controls for Brunswick and Glenroy Activity Centres to strengthen employment outcomes on former industrial land and simplify the controls;

  • Review the Neighbourhood Character Local Policy to make sure it aligns with the new Residential Zones;

  • Ensuring the MPS supports housing to meet the needs of our growing and changing population; and

  • Ensuring the MPS contributes to growing the Urban Forest and protecting creek corridors.

Download:

Reformed Residential Zones (2017)

On 27 March 2017, the Minister for Planning introduced reformed residential zones based on the recommendations of the Managing Residential Development Advisory Committee to all planning schemes in Victoria by Amendment VC110.

Changes include introducing a new term "garden area" and mending the Neighbourhood Residential Zone, General Residential Zone, Residential Growth Zone and Mixed Use Zone.

See Reformed Residential Zones for further information about the residential zones review, fact sheets and transitional arrangements. See Amendment VC110 to view the new zones.

Local Planning Policy Framework (LPPF) and Municipal Strategic Statement (MSS) (2015)

On 29 January 2015 the Minister for Planning gazetted the approval of a revised Local Planning Policy Framework (incorporating the Municipal Strategic Statement and Local Planning Policies) to be included in the Merri-bek Planning Scheme. See Amendment C152 to the Merri-bek Planning Scheme for further information.

Reference and incorporated documents to the Merri-bek Planning Scheme

Below are the most commonly used documents that are referenced in the Merri-bek Planning Scheme or relate to building and planning in some way. 

As some of these documents date back a while, we can only provide the PDF version in some instances. 

If you have trouble viewing any of these documents, contact Council to arrange an appointment to view these documents at the Moreland Civic Centre, 90 Bell Street, Coburg.

Reference documents to the Merri-bek Planning Scheme (listed at Clause 21.04 of the MSS)

Development of four or more storeys

Design and development overlay reference documents

Moreland heritage studies

Former City of Coburg studies

Former City of Brunswick studies

City of Merri-bek studies

There are some documents that are only available as PDFs on this page. If you have trouble opening or viewing a PDF document, you can contact us through our Contact page and we will arrange to provide the information in a format that suits your needs. You can also go to our Accessibility page to find out further details.