Environment, native vegetation, wildfire, flooding
This page contains practice notes and advisory notes published by DPCD about environment, native vegetation, wildfire and flooding planning.
Biodiversity
- explains the importance of biodiversity
- identifies the role of planning schemes in achieving biodiversity objectives
- outlines what planning authorities can do to establish a local biodiversity framework in their planning schemes
- provides examples of planning tools which can be used in planning schemes.
Biodiversity, March 2002 (PDF - 303 KB)This VPP Practice Note:
Advisory note 21: Interim measures for bushfire protection - Amendment VC61, September 2009 (PDF - 188 KB)This advisory note provides information about the introduction of interim Clause 52.43 which streamlines vegetation controls to enable landowners to prepare their properties for the 2009/10 bushfire season.
Bushfire replacement buildings - Amendment VC57, May 2009 (PDF - 172 KB)This advisory note provides information about new Clause 52.39 which enables landowners to rebuild houses and buildings damaged or destroyed by the 2009 bushfires without having to satisfy the normal planning scheme requirements.
Buildings and Native Vegetation removal, revised July 2009 (PDF - 250 KB)This practice note provides guidance on the operation of planning permit exemptions for native vegetation removal associated with constructing and maintaining buildings, including dwellings.
Farming and Native Vegetation removal, revised July 2009 (PDF - 239 KB)This practice note provides guidance on the operation of planning permit exemptions for native vegetation removal associated with farming activities.
New exemptions for native vegetation removal in planning schemes, September 2008 (PDF - 371 KB)This advisory note provides information about the exemptions to native vegetation removal introduced in Amendment VC49 on 15 September 2008.
Managing native vegetation in the planning system, September 2008 (PDF - 204 KB)This VPP practice note provides guidance on how to plan for the protection and removal of native vegetation using a native vegetation precinct plan, property vegetation plan or works program.
Preparing a native vegetation precinct plan, September 2008 (PDF - 213 KB)This VPP practice note provides guidance for planning authorities preparing a native vegetation precinct plan about when to use one, its content and implementation.
Native vegetation offsets, September 2008 (PDF - 197 KB)This VPP practice note provides advice for planning authorities about native vegetation offsets, including: deciding when an offset is required; identifying an appropriate offset; and securing an offset.
Assessing applications involving native vegetation removal, March 2006 (PDF - 139 KB)This VPP practice note provides guidance for responsible authorities assessing planning permit applications involving the removal of native vegetation including when a permit is required, the process for assessing a permit application and making a decision.
New native vegetation provisions in planning schemes, March 2006 (PDF - 156 KB) This advisory note provides information about recent changes to the native vegetation provisions in the Victoria Planning Provisions and planning schemes including changes to clarify the native vegetation provisions in the planning scheme; changes to the referral provisions and providing a set of planning tools that allow native vegetation to be strategically managed.
Wildfire protection and native vegetation- additional exemptions to manage native vegetation around dwellings, November 2006 (PDF - 99 KB)This advisory note provides information about the additional exemptions to the requirement in Clause 52.17 of the Victoria Planning Provisions and planning schemes for a planning permit to remove, destroy or lop native vegetation.
Planning for wildfire protection, July 2002 (PDF - 687 KB)This VPP Practice Note gives guidance about the wildfire provisions in planning schemes and the application and operation of the Wildfire Management Overlay. The related document 'Building in a Wildfire Management Overlay Applicant's Kit' (CFA 2002) may be viewed from the CFA web site.
Vegetation protection in urban areas
Vegetation protection in urban areas, August 1999 (PDF - 453 KB) This VPP Practice Note provides guidance on how to assess the significance of vegetation in urban areas and how to protect significant vegetation through the planning scheme.
Flooding
Applying for a planning permit under the flood provisions - a guide for councils, referral authorities and applicants, August 2000 (PDF - 182 KB)This VPP Practice Note provides guidance about making an application for a planning permit where flooding is a consideration and explains how an application will be assessed. It is one of two practice notes on planning for flooding. The other practice note, 'Applying the Flood Provisions in Planning Schemes - A guide for councils', provides guidance about applying the flood provisions in planning schemes including the preparation of policy, identifying land affected by flooding, preparing a local floodplain development plan and the application and operation of the flood provisions.
Applying the flood provisions in planning schemes - a guide for councils, August 2000 (PDF - 2.2 MB)This VPP Practice Note provides guidance about applying the flood provisions in planning schemes including the preparation of policy, identifying land affected by flooding, preparing a local floodplain development plan and the application and operation of the flood provisions, including the preparation of schedules. It is one of two practice notes on planning for flooding. The other practice note, 'Applying for a planning permit under the flood provisions - A guide for councils, referral authorities and applicants', explains the requirements of the flood provisions and provides guidance about making an application for a planning permit where flooding is a consideration and about how an application will be assessed.
Contaminated land
Potentially Contaminated Land General Practice Note June 2005 (PDF - 73 KB)This general practice note provides guidance about identifying and assessing potentially contaminated land, conditions on permits and use of the Environmental Audit Overlay.
Writing schedules
- explains the role of schedules in planning schemes
- provides guidance on how schedules should be written
- provides practical examples of the use of schedules
Writing Schedules, May 2000 (PDF - 581 KB)This VPP Practice Note: