Amendment C231mbek for Council's Transport and Open Space Strategies

Project progress
  1. AuthorisationAuthorisation
  2. ExhibitionExhibition
  3. Consider public submissionsConsider public submissions
  4. Panel HearingPanel Hearing
  5. Panel reportPanel report
  6. Council decisionCouncil decision
  7. Submit to MinisterSubmit to Minister
  8. Final decisionFinal decision

Amendment C231mbek seeks to change the Merri-bek Planning Scheme by introducing new policy from Merri-bek's latest transport and open space strategies:

It does this by deleting existing content from the Municipal Planning Strategy and Planning Policy Framework that supported Council’s previous transport and open space strategies and introducing new context and strategic directions.

The changes will ensure that the Merri-bek Planning Scheme's transport and open space policies are up to date and achieve the vision of the transport and open space strategies. It also includes removing outdated policy and references to older strategies, the Moreland Integrated Transport Strategy (2019) and Moreland Open Space Strategy 2012-2022.

About the Amendment 

All documents associated with Amendment C231mbek can be found below. They are also available on the Victorian Government's Department of Transport and Planning website. 

Approval of Amendment

On Friday, 8 August 2025 Council received a notice that Amendment C231mbek had been approved. The Department of Transport and Planning also advised the Amendment will come into effect when a notice is issued in the Victorian Government Gazette. The final timing of this issuing is unknown, but expected to be iminent.  

Adoption of Amendment

On Wednesday, 12 February 2025 Council considered the recommendations of the Independent Planning Panel and resolved to adopt the Amendment. 

The Amendment was then submitted to the Minister for Planning for approval. 

Panel Hearing

The Panel conducted the Hearing by video conference on Monday, 25 November 2024.  

The following documents were made available as part of the panel hearing process.

Council Submissions

Panel Report

We received the Panel Report on 9 December 2024.

The Panel report may be viewed below:

A report for a final decision on the Amendment will be presented to a Council meeting in early 2025.

Exhibition and Submissions

Submissions closed on Monday, 19 August 2024.  Thank you to those who made a submission.

On Wednesday, 11 September 2024 Council considered the Amendment and resolved to request an Independent Planning Panel to consider submissions. 

The Council Report and associated attachments can be found on the Council meetings and past agendas page.

Copies of redacted submissions to the amendment can be viewed below:

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Moving Around Merri-bek is a long-term strategic document that guides the way Council manages and makes changes to Merri-bek’s transport system. It replaces Councils current transport strategy, the Moreland Integrated Transport Strategy 2019. 

    Council adopted the Moving Around Merri-bek strategy at its meeting on 10 March 2024 (Council Report 7.2).

  • The Merri-bek Open Space Strategy (2024*) is Council’s new open space strategy. It will guide the way Council plans, delivers, and maintains open space in Merri-bek. It replaces Council’s current open space strategy, the Moreland Open Space Strategy 2012-2022.

    Council initially adopted the Merri-bek Open Space Strategy (2024) at its meeting on 10 April 2024 (Council Report 7.2). Council adopted the final version at its meeting on 12 February 2025 (Council Report 7.5)

  • Introducing new content into the Municipal Planning Strategy (MPS) and Planning Policy Framework (PPF) will support implementation of Moving Around Merri-bek and the Merri-bek Open Space Strategy.

    It also makes sure that the policies in the Planning Scheme are up to date with Council's latest transport and open space strategies. 

    It also makes sure the Council's Open Space Strategy, and an accompanying technical report, are part of the Planning Scheme to give support to future changes to the Planning Scheme. This includes Amendment C235mbek for a revised public open space contribution rate. More about this is on the C235mbek webpage.

Find out more

If you would like to find out more about Amendment C231mbek, please contact Strategic Planning by emailing StrategicPlanning@merri-bek.vic.gov.au or on 9240 1111

Privacy and the planning scheme amendment process

Please be aware that we collect information from organisations and individuals during the planning scheme amendment process through submissions made to an Amendment. Submissions may be handwritten, electronic (both written and audio-visual), and often contain images, maps, and plans. Submissions frequently contain personal information which at times may be sensitive for commercial, health, or other reasons.

Natural justice and transparency are important parts of the Planning Scheme Amendment process. Council must make all submissions to an Amendment available for any person to inspect at its offices for a period of two months after the Amendment is finalised. This is a requirement of the Planning and Environment Act 1987. This includes all personal information such as names, address details, phone numbers email addresses. Your submission may also be emailed or posted to interested parties during the Planning Scheme amendment process.

We use submissions when assessing the Amendment and summaries of your submission are included in any Council report that considers the Amendment following the close of the exhibition. Your submission will also be used and disclosed in the public process of a Panel Hearing if one is required. Any submission forwarded to Planning Panels Victoria will be managed in accordance with their privacy policy.

Publication of Submissions on our website

We will make all submissions available to view online on its website during the Planning Scheme Amendment process. All submissions made available online will be redacted to remove personal names, telephone, and address details. Submissions will be removed from the website once the Amendment is finalised.

Use of your personal information

In accordance with the 'Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 (VIC)' and 'Health Records Act 2001 (VIC)' the personal information submitted by you is being collected by Merri-bek City Council for the submission process and it will not be disclosed to any other external party without your consent, except as a requirement of the 'Planning and Environment Act 1987 (VIC)'. If we provide a copy of your submission to another person, we will provide a disclaimer that it is made available for the purpose of the planning scheme amendment process as set out in the Planning and Environment Act 1987 and that the information must not be used for any other purpose or distributed to another party or published online.

If you do not provide your name and address Council will not be able to consider your submission.

You can gain access to your personal information you have provided to Merri-bek City Council and if you wish to alter it, please contact Council’s Privacy Officer via telephone on 9240 1111 or e-mail at PrivacyOfficer@merri-bek.vic.gov.au

You can find more information regarding privacy on our Privacy page.