Victorian Government Planning System Reform: Latest Updates

In September 2023, the Victorian Government released Victoria’s Housing Statement – The decade ahead 2024-2034 (the Housing Statement) in response to the housing supply and affordability crisis. 

In June 2024, draft housing targets for all Victorian Councils were released and on 24 February 2025, the Victorian Government released final housing targets that are to be delivered over the next 30 years to 2051:

• Frankston City Council’s initial draft target was an additional 36,000 dwellings to 2051.
• The draft target has been revised to a final target of an additional 33,000 dwellings to 2051.

For further information, please refer to:

Premier’s Media release

Statewide housing targets

In 2021, Council commenced work on a structure plan for our City Centre, known as the FMAC Structure Plan. More information on this project, and its associated Planning Scheme Amendment can be found here:

Engage Frankston

Amendment C160fran

During the development of the FMAC Structure Plan, the Housing Statement was released, which re-confirmed Frankston’s role as a Metropolitan Activity Centre, and that it would be 1 of  the first 10 pilot activity centres, delivering 60,000 new homes, to be planned for by the Victorian Government. 

In August 2024, the Draft Frankston Activity Centre Structure Plan (VPA) was released, prepared by the Victorian Planning Authority (VPA) on behalf of the Victorian Government – Department of Transport and Planning (DTP). This document refers to the commercial core of the FMAC, proposed to be guided by Council’s endorsed Frankston Metropolitan Activity Centre (FMAC) Structure Plan – Tract, September 2024  and the proposed surrounding catchment areas to be planned for by the Victorian Government.  

Following its release, Council made a submission to this work which can be read here:

• Frankston Plan for Victoria Submission to DTP(PDF, 2MB)
• Cover Letter - Frankston Draft Activity Centre Plan (VPA DTP 2024)(PDF, 187KB)
• Frankston Draft Activity Centre Plan (VPA DTP 2024)(PDF, 1011KB)

On 23 February 2025 the Victorian Government released revised Activity Centre plans and surrounding catchment for the first 10 pilot activity centres including Frankston.  The Victorian Government has indicated that the updated activity centre plans will take effect sometime in March 2025, subject to the Victorian Government Gazette.  This includes the Council prepared, Planning Scheme Amendment C160fran.

For further information refer to:

Premier’s Media release

Department of Transport and Planning

During February and March 2025, a number of changes were made to all Victorian Planning Schemes (in preparation for future local changes) through the Gazettal of Amendment VC257 which included:

• The Built Form Overlay (BFO) which will set out specific design and built form requirements to facilitate the preferred scale of development in identified activity centres and priority precincts.
• Housing Choice Transport Zone (HCTZ) which will aid diversity of housing at increased densities in locations around identified activity centres and other well-serviced locations with convenient access to jobs, public transport and services.

Amendment VC267 was also Gazetted which implemented new residential development planning assessment provisions to boost housing construction to meet the needs of Victorians. It aims to create deemed to comply standards for assessing multi-residential developments of three storeys or less, by setting out standards for development

 It replaces Clause 55 and Clause 57 which are currently known as ResCode.

Premier’s Media release

On 28 February 2025 Plan for Victoria was released which is the new metropolitan ‘big picture’ plan for the State of Victoria.

Plan for Victoria has five pillars:

1. Housing for all Victorians
2. Accessible jobs and services
3. Great places
4. Sustainable environments
5. Self-determination and caring for Country

Premier’s Media release