Amendment C233mbek - Planning Scheme Fixes and Heritage Updates

Project progress
  1. AuthorisationAuthorisation
  2. ExhibitionExhibition
  3. Consider public submissionsConsider public submissions
  4. Panel hearing Panel hearing
  5. Panel reportPanel report
  6. Council decisionCouncil decision
  7. Submit to ministerSubmit to minister
  8. Final decisionFinal decision

The Merri-bek Planning Scheme guides how land is used and developed across the municipality and helps Council make planning decisions. To keep the Planning Scheme accurate and up to date, Council regularly undertakes fix-up amendments to correct errors, update outdated information, and improve how the scheme operates.

This amendment includes correcting zoning and overlay anomalies, updating heritage provisions and mapping, and fixing outdated references and mapping inaccuracies.

What Amendment C233mbek does?

As part of its four-yearly review of the Planning Scheme, Council adopted the Planning Scheme Review 2022. This review, along with the Heritage Action Plan Implementation Plan 2022–2025, identified the need for a range of minor or administrative updates to improve accuracy and clarity.

Amendment C233mbek proposes the following changes:

Zoning and overlay updates

  • Remove overlays that are no longer needed

  • Correct zoning and overlay inconsistencies

  • Rezone some parkland to the Public Park and Recreation Zone

Heritage updates

  • Update planning permit exemptions

  • Revise statements of significance

  • Improve Heritage Overlay schedules

  • Correct mapping errors and remove incorrect heritage overlays

  • Update heritage design/demolition guidance

General corrections

  • Fix spelling, grammar, and formatting errors

  • Correct mapping inaccuracies

  • Update references to strategies, policies, and other documents

Overall, Amendment C233mbek aims to fix errors and inconsistencies and improve the clarity, accuracy, and effectiveness of the Planning Scheme.

Exhibition of Amendment C233mbek

Amendment C233mbek is currently on public exhibition from 29 October to 30 November 2026

Find out more about Amendement C233mbek

  • Amendment C233mbek is a 'fix-up' amendment to the Merri-bek Planning Scheme. It corrects errors, removes outdated provisions, updates heritage information, and fixes mapping inaccuracies. It does not introduce new strategic policy directions or significantly change how land can be used or developed across the municipality.

  • Council regularly reviews its Planning Scheme to make sure it is accurate and working effectively. In 2022, Council adopted its Planning Scheme Review, which identified a range of corrections and improvements needed. The Merri-bek Heritage Action Plan Implementation Plan 2022–2025 also identified specific heritage updates required. Amendment C233mbek implements these recommendations.

  • The amendment makes three broad types of changes:

    • Zoning and overlay updates — removing overlays, including DDO1 and EAO (from 384 properties) that are no longer needed, correcting zoning and overlay inconsistencies, and rezoning some longstanding parkland areas to the Public Park and Recreation Zone.
    • Heritage updates — updating planning permit exemptions, revising statements of significance for heritage precincts, improving Heritage Overlay schedules, correcting mapping errors, and updating design and demolition guidance for heritage places.
    • General corrections — fixing spelling, grammar and formatting errors, correcting mapping inaccuracies, and updating references to strategies, policies and other documents.

  • If your property is directly affected by the amendment, you should have received a letter describing the specific change proposed. If you have not received a letter and believe your property may be affected, you can check the amendment documents at merri-bek.vic.gov.au/c233mbek or contact Council on 9240 1111.

  • No new heritage places are being added through this amendment. The heritage changes are corrections and improvements to existing provisions, updating names, fixing mapping errors, revising statements of significance, and improving permit exemption documents. Some properties that were incorrectly included in heritage overlays will have those overlays removed.

  • DDO1 was originally applied to properties adjacent to significant heritage buildings to guide development near those places. Its application has been limited and has not been replicated in more recent heritage amendments, making DDO1 redundant. Removing it reduces unnecessary complexity without reducing heritage protection.

  • The Environmental Audit Overlay (EAO) is applied to land that may be contaminated, requiring a certificate of environmental audit before sensitive land uses can occur. Where the land has already completed the audit process and been confirmed suitable for all beneficial uses, there is no longer a need for the overlay. Removing the EAO from these 384 properties reflects the fact that their contamination obligations have been met and reduces unnecessary administrative burden.

  • Most of Merri-bek's parks are zoned Public Park and Recreation Zone (PPRZ), which reflects their purpose and use. However, some parcels of parkland have been in other zones due to mapping anomalies over time. This amendment corrects those anomalies by rezoning these parcels to PPRZ, ensuring the zoning accurately reflects the land's use.

If you would like to find out more about Amendment C233mbek, please contact Strategic Planning by emailing info@merri-bek.vic.gov.au  or on 9240 1111.

Have your say about Amendment C233mbek

Amendment C233mbek is now on public exhibition, and you are welcome to make a written submission. Submissions must be received by 30 November 2026. Submissions received after 30 November 2026 may not be accepted. 

All submissions must include your name and contact address and clearly state why you support or oppose the amendment and describe any suggested changes.

You can submit your views:

            Strategic Planning Unit

            Merri-bek City Council

            Locked Bag 10

            Brunswick VIC 3056

 

Amendment C233mbek: Submission

Use of your personal information

Following 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. 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 include 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 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 email at PrivacyOfficer@merri-bek.vic.gov.au

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

Acknowledge and agree

Use of your personal information

Following 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. 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 include 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 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 email at PrivacyOfficer@merri-bek.vic.gov.au

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

Acknowledge and agree

By clicking 'I agree' below you acknowledge and agree that you are aware that your submission and personal information may be made available and you acknowledge and agree that to have a valid submission the details described above must be provided.

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 and 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 our website during the Planning Scheme Amendment process. All submissions made available online will be redacted to remove personal names, telephone numbers, and address details. Submissions will be removed from the website once the Amendment is finalised.

Use of your personal information

Following 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. 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 include 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 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 email at PrivacyOfficer@merri-bek.vic.gov.au

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