Refer to the Complete VicSmart Guide to check if your planning application qualifies as a VicSmart application.

Below is a list of the VicSmart application type checklists to help ensure you prepare all the relevant documentation.

The above fact sheets also outline the required documentation to be submitted for each VicSmart application type.

Before preparing and lodging an application, you can discuss your proposal with a council planning officer who can advise on:

• whether you need a planning permit and why
• whether your proposal falls under VicSmart
• the nature and amount of supporting information you need to submit with your application
• the relevant planning controls
• whether the consent of a referral authority will be required prior to lodging an application.

Once all relevant documentation has been prepared lodge your application with Whitehorse Council. Council officers will liaise with the applicant only (the person who is named as the applicant for the application).

Officers will prepare a report that considers the proposal against the relevant policies and planning scheme requirements and referral comments and will make a recommendation. The recommendation will be determined at officer level under delegation signed off by an authorised Council Planning Officer. 

There are two types of decisions that may be issued:

Approval

If there are no objections and the planning officer recommends approval, a planning permit will be issued. An applicant can apply to VCAT within 60 days to have the conditions reviewed.

Refusal

If the planning officer recommends not to support the application a refusal to grant a permit will be issued. The applicant can apply to VCAT within 60 days of the date of the decision to have the decision reviewed.

Applicants can appeal to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) to review Council’s decision (as explained above) with regard to a planning permit. This includes:

• objecting to the granting of a permit;
• objecting to a refusal of a permit; and
• objecting to the conditions placed on a permit/or lack of conditions.

VCAT will reconsider the whole application from the beginning. Through this process, VCAT becomes the "decision maker" and can overturn a Council decision.

You can find out more information about how to apply to VCAT and how the review process works through the VCAT website. 

Who can appeal?

Permit Applicant

If you are a Permit Applicant, you have 60 days from the date of the decision to lodge an appeal to VCAT against a decision.  Fees apply based on the type of application being appealed.  

Any decision made by VCAT is final, and there are no further opportunities to challenge this decision. The exception to this is if there is a question of law raised, which would require the matter to be appealed to the Supreme Court of Victoria. If this course of action is considered, it is suggested professional advice be sought.