Over the past few years, Victoria’s Planning System has undergone a period of generational reform. This has created a series of new planning approval pathways for projects that demonstrate a higher standard of design quality, while at the same time seeking to codify and streamline building siting and design matters across activity centres and residential neighbourhoods.
As a result, the role and importance of ‘good design’ for a project has changed from something that previously formed one part among many to an element that can fundamentally alter how a project navigates the planning system. ‘Design excellence’ is no longer a supporting consideration; it has become a decisive lever that can materially influence approval timeframes, risk profiles and project viability. These reforms have also reshaped the roles of architects, planners, developers and decision-makers, creating new models of advocacy and collaboration within the planning process.
Kerstin will be joined on the panel by Matt Cohen, Director of Development Assessment at the Department of Transport and Planning, Briony Massie, Associate Director at Fieldwork, and Jessie Legge, Senior Development Manager at Milieu.