A Development Contributions Plan (DCP) is a planning tool. A DCP identifies infrastructure projects that will be delivered by Council (and other authorities where relevant) that can be partially or fully funded by contributions from future developments. In established areas like the City of Whitehorse, infrastructure projects in a DCP would be partially funded by the development contributions. Council must deliver the projects over the life of the DCP.

The Whitehorse DCP identifies some of the infrastructure projects that will be delivered by the Whitehorse City Council over a 20 year period. It also shows the associated levies to be imposed on new developments towards funding this infrastructure.

The DCP applies to all land in the City of Whitehorse. It exempts certain types of development from paying a contribution. Some of the exemptions include, alterations and additions to an existing dwelling, outbuildings normal to an existing dwelling, fences, demolition of a dwelling followed by construction of a replacement dwelling on the same land and reinstatement of a dwelling which has been accidentally damaged or destroyed. Land that is vacant at the time of gazettal of this amendment will be exempted from DCP payment for two years. Council’s developments for Council or community use are also exempted

For details of all exemptions refer to Clause 4.0 of the DCPO1 on the document below:

• Development Contributions Plan Overlay Schedule 1

The need to consider development contribution mechanisms for the City of Whitehorse was realised when significant growth began to occur in Box Hill.

In 2017, strategic work commenced to inform a suitable development contributions mechanism for the Box Hill Metropolitan Activity Centre (Box Hill MAC). This work recommended considering the application of an Infrastructure Contributions Plan (ICP) should it become available for use in established areas. However, at the time of the Box Hill work and at present, the ICP mechanism was only available in 'greenfield' growth areas and the DCP for metropolitan Councils.

The Victorian Auditor-General’s Office (VAGO) report in 2020 on Managing Development Contributions noted the need for development contributions. The report mentioned that Council was missing out on receiving contributions from the significant development that has occurred across the municipality, particularly in the Box Hill MAC. 

Whitehorse has been experiencing continued population growth, significant development intensification in activity centres. Furthermore, steady pace of incremental development happens across the established residential neighbourhoods. A major share of the residential growth is expected to occur within the Box Hill MAC, Burwood East, Blackburn, Mitcham and Mont Albert areas and the residential growth corridors along Burwood Highway and Whitehorse Road. 

Similarly, non-residential developments such as retail, commercial and industrial developments are projected to increase within the activity centres in the municipality.  Box Hill MAC, Mega-Mile Activity Centre in Nunawading, Burwood Heights Major Activity Centre, Forest Hill Chase Shopping Centre, and the Tally Ho commercial precinct are expected to accommodate the majority of the retail and commercial developments. Retail and commercial developments in neighbourhood activity centres may occur, proportionate to the population growth of local areas. 

The predicted population growth, increase in dwelling stock and retail, commercial and industrial developments will continue to increase the demand for additional community and development infrastructure. This puts pressure on the existing infrastructure for upgrades, expansion or even replacement. 

Council constantly upgrades the existing infrastructure and provides new infrastructure to meet the needs of changing and growing communities. The Whitehorse DCP is one of the planning mechanisms available for Council to be able to collect contributions from new developments that generate the demand. The contributions will be used towards delivering the required infrastructure for the changing and growing community and businesses. 

In order to formally use the Development Contributions Plan Overlay, an amendment to the Whitehorse Planning Scheme was required. Amendment C241whse allows Council to collect levies from new developments. The collected levies will help fund the infrastructure projects that Council delivers to meet the demand of the growing population and businesses. 

In particular, the amendment to the Whitehorse Planning Scheme: 

1. Inserted Clause 45.06 – Development Contributions Plan Overlay 
2. Inserted a new Schedule 1 to Clause 45.06 - Development Contributions Plan Overlay 
3. Made minor policy changes to Clauses 21.07 (Economic Development) and 21.08 (Infrastructure) to reference the Whitehorse Development Contributions Plan 2022
4. Inserted six new Development Contributions Plan Overlay maps (DCPO maps) to all land in the municipality 
5. Replaced the Schedule to Clause 72.03 to reflect the new DCPO maps included in the Planning Scheme  
6. Replaced the Schedule to Clause 72.04 to include the Whitehorse Development Contributions Plan
    

The approved Planning Scheme Amendment C241whse documents and the Whitehorse Development Contributions Plan can be viewed below:

• Development Contributions Plan Overlay Schedule 1
• Clause 21.07 ( PDF 150.87KB)
• Clause 21.08 ( PDF 113.19KB)
• Schedule to Clause 72.03 ( PDF 61.92KB)
• Schedule to Clause 72.04 ( PDF 67.48KB) inserting the Whitehorse Development Contributions Plan, 2023 as an Incorporated Document
• Whitehorse Development Contributions Plan report, 2023 ( PDF 2.79MB)

Planning Scheme Maps of the proposed DCPO1

• Whitehorse C241 DCPO Map 1 Exhibition
• Whitehorse C241 DCPO Map 2 Exhibition
• Whitehorse C241 DCPO Map 3 Exhibition
• Whitehorse C241 DCPO Map 4 Exhibition
• Whitehorse C241 DCPO Map 5 Exhibition
• Whitehorse C241 DCPO Map 6 Exhibition

The amendment does not prohibit development. New developments that are not exempted from the DCP, are required to pay the relevant development contributions. The contributions will be used for providing the identified infrastructure in the DCP. 

Amendment C241whse has been approved by the Minister. The approval of the Amendment has been published in the Victoria Government Gazette on 21 December 2023 and is effective from this date.