The Planning and Development (Local Planning Schemes) Regulations 2015 enable local governments to prepare Local Planning Policies (LPPs) that may address strategic or operational considerations on planning matters.

This policy aims to:

• Ensure that sufficient technical and contextual information is submitted to support the meaningful assessment of Scheme Amendments.
• Encourage early community engagement through Preliminary Advertising where considered appropriate by the City.
• Support timely and transparent decision-making in accordance with sound planning principles.
• Ensure that proposed amendments are consistent with strategic planning frameworks, or that clear justification is provided when they are not.
• Provide a consistent and practical approach to the assessment and processing of Scheme Amendments.

This policy applies to all Standard and Complex Scheme Amendments as defined by the Regulations within the City of Melville. It does not apply to Basic Amendments as defined in the Regulations.

The Planning and Development (Local Planning Schemes) Regulations 2015 define three types of Scheme Amendments:

• Basic Amendments are minor or administrative changes — for example, correcting a typographic error or making a change that has no material impact on landowners.
• Standard Amendments are more significant changes that may affect land use or zoning.
• Complex Amendments are proposals with potentially major impacts on the community, environment or strategic planning framework.

This policy applies to Standard and Complex Amendments only. It does not apply to Basic Amendments. If you are unsure which category applies to your proposal, contact the City's Planning team.

This policy is intended to apply to new scheme amendment applications lodged after it comes into effect. Note that the City has been applying the policy's principles in practice ahead of formal adoption. If you have a proposal currently being assessed, contact the City's Planning team to discuss how the policy may apply to your application.

Possibly, yes — but only for certain proposals. The policy allows the City to undertake an early, informal round of community consultation (called Preliminary Advertising) before a scheme amendment goes through the formal statutory advertising process. This would generally apply where a proposal has significant land use implications, is not consistent with the City's planning strategy, or is likely to generate substantial community interest.

Preliminary Advertising is not a replacement for the formal advertising process. It is an additional step designed to identify and resolve issues early. Not every scheme amendment will require it.

If you are thinking about applying to rezone your land, this policy sets out what information the City will expect you to provide with your scheme amendment application. For example, an explanatory report, a land use scoping statement, and in some cases a concept master plan or technical studies.

The policy also means the City may ask for early community feedback on your proposal before it formally progresses. This is designed to help identify and work through any issues early, which can make the overall process smoother for everyone.

It is recommended you contact the City's Planning team to discuss your proposal before lodging an application.

Community consultation allows the City to collect information from impacted stakeholders and valid considerations that will help inform good decision-making. 

When preparing a submission there are two principles you should consider - facts and impacts.

Below is a checklist to help you make a good submission.

1. Give yourself enough time: Act promptly upon receiving notification. Early preparation is key.

1. Be informed: Ensure you have all the necessary information. Review the draft, check the FAQs on this page, or consult with a Planning Officer if you needadditionaldetails to address all your points.

1. Stick to the facts: Understand what is happening and why. Clearly state whether you believe the proposal is the best approach and provide factual reasons to support your view.

1. Explain the impact: If you believe a proposal will unduly impact you or your property, explain this clearly and support your explanation with as many facts as possible.

1. Submit one comprehensive submission: Avoid submitting multiple submissions, as this can delay the compilation process.

1. Submit on time: Ensure your submission is on time, as late submissions may not be able to be considered.

You are being asked to comment on draft Local Planning Policy 1.23, specifically whether the policy's requirements, consultation approach, and assessment process are appropriate.

Your feedback may influence whether the policy is adopted as drafted, amended before final adoption, or not adopted at this time. If objections are received during the advertising period, the policy will be presented back to Council for further consideration.

We consider all submissions in reporting to Council for consideration.

We are engaging with the broader City of Melville community.

The decision maker for this proposal is the City of Melville Council.

If no submissions are received during the advertising period, the CEO is authorised to adopt the policy without returning to Council. If objections are received, the policy will be presented to Council for consideration of final adoption.

Public comment period is a structured process that allows individuals to submit their opinions and feedback on proposals to the City of Melville. This process requires submitters to provide personal details to verify their identity and confirm that they are electors or ratepayers within the City.

Key points about the public comment period:

1. Invitation to participate: The community and stakeholders are invited to provide their input on various proposals.

1. Submission consideration: All received submissions are reviewed and considered as part of the assessment process. However, these submissions do notobligatethe City or Council to follow the suggestions or opinions provided.

1. Anonymity and public reporting: When the City compiles and reports on the submissions, personal details such as names, addresses, and other identifiable information are removed unless the submitter has expressly agreed to share this information.

 This process ensures that the community's voice is heard while maintaining the privacy and authenticity of each submission.

We take your privacy seriously. Any personal information you provide will be managed in accordance with the Privacy and Responsible Information Sharing Act 2024 (PRIS Act) and the City's Privacy Policy.

Your information will only be used for the purpose for which it was collected, such as administering an engagement activity, analysing community feedback or providing project updates. Personal information is only accessed by authorised City officers and, where necessary, consultants engaged by the City to support a project.

Feedback and engagement findings may be reported publicly; however, individual participants will not be identified unless required by law or with their consent.

For full information about how we handle your personal information, visit the below webpage.

City of Melville Privacy

Yes, submissions could be completed on their behalf, provided consent was given.

Alternative ways to participate are always available through online, by phone, or in person, and the City of Melville can assist if required.

You can stay in the loop by following the project page for updates straight to your inbox. Simply visit the page and click the ‘Follow Engagement’ button at the top.

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