As of 21 November 2024, local policies in the Whitehorse Planning Scheme have been translated into the Planning Policy Framework (PPF), which aims to streamline the operation of planning policy in Victoria using a 3-tier structure that integrates state, regional and local policy.

While the planning scheme looks different, it is important to note that the policy intent has not changed. The PPF merges all policy content in the planning scheme into a single policy source.

Translation of the scheme

The new Planning Policy Framework (PPF) and Municipal Planning Strategy (MPS) structure were introduced to all planning schemes and the Victoria Planning Provisions by Amendment VC148 in July 2018. All Councils in Victoria were required to translate their Local Planning Policy Framework into the PPF.

The new PPF and MPS was intended to:

• Strengthen planning policy
• Align and integrate state and local planning policy under themes
• Make policy easier to navigate and use
• Ensure that policy is consistent and concise
• Simplify the review and update of policy

The Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) established a set of translation “rules” to ensure a consistent approach across all Councils and set out what the PPF translation would, and wouldn’t, include. Specifically, the PPF:

• Relocates the local policy content of the planning scheme to the appropriate theme-based clauses in the PPF, MPS and relevant local schedules, with the intended effect of the original clauses remaining unchanged.
• Clarifies and updates the style, format, language or grammatical form of content in accordance with the Practitioner’s Guide to Victorian Planning Schemes, with the intended effect of the original clauses remaining unchanged.
• Updates clause references, department names, legislation names, document references, terminology, and statistical data.
• Deletes or adjusts incompatible content that conflicts with State planning policy of the Victoria Planning Provisions (VPP).
• Removes repetitive content.
• Removes or updates outdated content.

Since the introduction of the PPF, councils across Victoria have updated their planning schemes to fit into the new structure. This has now occurred for Whitehorse, with the local policy content contained in the old Local Planning Policy Framework (LPPF) translated, or restructured, into the new PPF and a new Municipal Planning Strategy (MPS).

The translation for Whitehorse was policy neutral, meaning it did not change the strategic intent or direction of existing local content or introduce new policies or guidance. As a result the PPF was implemented using a ‘fast track’ planning scheme amendment process under section 20(4) of the Planning and Environment Act 1987, known as a Ministerial Amendment. This means that there was no public exhibition of the amendment.

Amendment C234 to the Whitehorse Planning Scheme has now replaced the Local Planning Policy Framework (in Clauses 21 and 22) with a new Municipal Planning Strategy (MPS) at Clause 02 and local provisions in Clauses 11-19 of the Planning Policy Framework (PPF) and made a selected number of operational provisions in a manner consistent with changes to the Victoria Planning Provisions introduced by Amendment VC148.

The Minister for Planning approved Amendment C234 on 15 November 2024, and the amendment came into effect when it was gazetted on 21 November 2024. Together, the new PPF and MPS form the new strategic foundation of the Whitehorse Planning Scheme.

Movement of previous local policies

The table on this page shows where existing information contained in the old LPPF has been moved. In some cases, it has been deleted.

Old LPPF clause	New PPF translation
21.00 Municipal Strategic Statement	02 MPS
21.01 Municipal Profile	02.01, 02.03
21.02 Key Issues	Deleted
21.03 A Vision for the City of Whitehorse	02.02
21.04 Strategic Directions	02.03, 02.04
21.05 Environment	02.03, 12.01-1L, 18.02-4L, 19.02-6L, 19.03-4L, 72.08s, 74.01s & 74.02s
21.06 Housing	02.01, 02.03, 02.04, 13.07-1L, 15.01-5L (Preferred neighbourhood character), 15.01-5L-01 (Tree conservation), 16.01-1L (Housing change), 16.01-1L-01 (Student accommodation), 18.02-4L (Car parking), 72.08s, 74.01s & 74.02s
21.07 Economic development	02.03, 11.03-1L (Activity centres), 11.03-1L-02 (Box Hill MAC), 11.03-1L-04 (Burwood Heights MAC), 17.03-2L, 19.02-1L, 19.02-2L, 19.02-3L, 72.08s, 74.01s & 74.02s
21.08 Infrastructure	02.03, 18.02-1L, 72.08s, 74.01s & 74.02s
21.09 Monitoring and Review	Deleted
22.01 Heritage conservation	15.03-1L, 43.01s & 72.08s
22.02 Visual amenity and advertising signs	02.03-5, 15.01-1L-01 (Signs) & 19.03-4L
22.03 Residential development	15.01-5L (Preferred neighbourhood character), 16.01-1L (Housing change) & 72.08s
22.04 Tree conservation	02.03-5, 15.01-5L-01 (Tree conservation), 42.01s1-2, 42.02s1, 3 & 5, 42.03s1-9 & 72.08s
22.05 Non-residential uses in residential areas	02.03-3, 13.07-1L & 18.02-4L
22.06 Activity Centres	02.03-1, 11.03-1L (Activity centres), 11.03-1L-05 (Expansion of activity centres), 74.02s & 72.08s
22.07 Box Hill MAC	02.01, 02.03-1, 11.03-1L-02 (Box Hill Metropolitan Activity Centre) & 72.08s
22.08 Tally Ho Activity Centre	02.03-1, 11.03-1L-03 (Burwood East-Tally Ho MAC), 43.02s9 & 72.08s
22.09 Blackburn and MegaMile (West) Activity Centres	02.03-1, 11.03-1L-01 (Blackburn NAC) & 72.08s
22.10 ESD	15.01-2L & 72.08s
22.11 Burwood Heights Activity Centre	02.03-1, 11.03-1L-04 (Burwood Heights MAC) & 72.08s
22.12 Former Brickworks site	02.03-1, 11.03-1L-04 (Burwood Heights MAC) & 72.08s
22.13 Federation Street	Deleted
22.14 Student Accommodation	02.03-6, 16.01-1L-01 (Student accommodation) & 72.08s
22.15 Public open space contribution	02.03-9, 19.02-6L & 72.08s
22.16 Industrial areas design guidelines	02.01, 15.01-1L (Industrial development), 18.02-4L & 72.08s
22.17 Gaming	52.28s & 72.08s

Please note that references to amended policy, such as clause numbers, have been updated throughout other sections of the Whitehorse Planning Scheme.