Hepburn Shire permanently hands greater planning power to staff

Hepburn Shire Council receives more than 300 planning applications each year and, following a council meeting, has voted to change the process in an effort to cut down backlogs and speed up decisions. 

❓What happened: This week’s June council meeting saw Hepburn Shire vote to give staff greater decision-making power for planning applications without a councillor vote. 

• This change will mean a planning application will be dealt with by council staff.

• To reach councillors, a threshold of five objections must be reached for farming-zone applications, or 10 objections for general applications before it requires a council vote to go ahead. 

• This process has been implemented through an 18-month trial that began in December 2024. 

What evidence? An 18-month trial implementation of the process showed increased efficiency and reduced wait times. 

Dissent in the ranks: Councillor Tim Drylie was the only member of council to vote against the change. 

🗣️: “Council has only been able to determined one application in the last 18 months… there’s actually been quite a reduction in local democratic oversight,” Councillor Drylie told the chamber. 

Director of Development and Community Ron Torres said the trial report showed how the rights of constituents were being protected through the change. 

• “Applicants have been able to share feedback on conduct, the processing and the decisions,” Mr Torres said. “Part of that feedback also includes their ability to challenge an officer’s decisions at VCAT [Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal]. It shows that applicants are exercising their rights appropriately.”  

Council CEO Bradley Thomas stated the councillors had been regularly updated in detailed briefings throughout the trial period that have ensured they are well-informed. 

Councillor Brian Hood told the Brolga he welcomes the improvement in processing times.