Open letter: Planning Amendment (Better Decisions Made Faster) Bill

Published on 12 November 2025

I am writing on behalf of Banyule City Council and our local community to express our deep concerns about the Planning Amendment (Better Decisions Made Faster) Bill 2025, currently before Parliament.

While Council supports the need to reform Victoria’s planning system to deliver more efficient processes and better land-use outcomes, especially to boost affordable housing and housing diversity, we believe the current Bill falls short of these goals.

Our concerns centre on:

  • Lack of genuine consultation: Local government, which will be responsible for implementing these changes, has not been adequately engaged in the development of the Bill.
  • Reduced community input: The Bill risks eroding public trust by limiting opportunities for local voices in planning decisions.
  • Loss of parliamentary oversight: Removing checks and balances for planning scheme amendments undermines transparency and accountability.
  • Unrealistic timelines: Councils face significant pressure to meet new decision-making deadlines, which may compromise thorough assessment and community outcomes.
  • Safety risks: Fast-tracked processes and bypassing referral authorities could jeopardise the safety and insurability of properties, particularly in flood and fire-prone areas.

We urge you, as our local representative, to listen to the MAV (Municipal Association of Victoria) request to advocate for a full public inquiry into the Bill. This will allow more time for meaningful consultation and refinement, ensuring that any changes to the Planning and Environment Act (1987) truly serve the best interests of Victorian communities.

Council stands ready to work constructively with the State Government to improve the planning system for everyone.

Yours sincerely,

Cr Elizabeth Nealy
Mayor
Banyule City Council

Email your MP: ask them to speak up 

Contact your local Member of Parliament and encourage them to speak up in Parliament - by asking for a full public inquiry into the Bill.

Find your MP

  1. Enter your suburb into the VEC search tool
  2. Select the district from the result to load the district details and sitting member for the area
  3. Follow the link on the page to the Parliament of Victoria website for details about the member and their contact details

Otherwise contact details for the Members of Parliament our open letter was addressed to can be found by clicking on their names at the start of this page.

Starter templates

Feel free to use one of these templates to help get your email going.

Template suitable to include personal local example

Please support a public inquiry into the Planning Amendment Bill 2025

Dear {{Member of Parliament name and title}},

I’m a resident of {{suburb}} in the {{electorate}} electorate. I support a faster, fairer planning system that helps deliver more homes.

However, the Planning Amendment (Better Decisions Made Faster) Bill 2025, as drafted, raises five serious concerns:

  • Consultation: councils and communities haven’t been adequately engaged.
  • Community voice: reduced local input erodes public trust.
  • Oversight: fewer checks for planning scheme amendments.
  • Timelines: compressed deadlines risk poorer quality decisions.
  • Safety: bypassing referral authorities could jeopardise homes—especially in flood and fire‑prone areas.

My ask is simple: please advocate for a full public inquiry before the Bill proceeds. That inquiry should:

  1. Invite councils, experts and community members to participate;
  2. Retain essential safety referrals and targeted oversight;
  3. Ensure councils are resourced to meet new timeframes without cutting corners.

{{Insert a local example that applies to your circumstances for instance "Our street backs onto a flood zone and safety referrals matter"}}. Fast decisions must still be safe, transparent and trusted.

Please let me know your position and whether you will support an inquiry.

Kind regards,

{{Signatory name}} 
{{Signatory contact}}

Alternative template

Please support a public inquiry into the Planning Amendment Bill 2025

Dear {{Member of Parliament name and title}},

I support faster approvals, but this Bill- without adequate consultation, community input, oversight, realistic timelines, and safety referrals - risks trust and safety.

Please support a full public inquiry so the reforms deliver fast and reliable decisions.

Kind regards,
{{Signatory name}}
{{Signatory contact}}

Council meeting - 10 November 2025

Following discussion by councillors, this motion was moved and adopted by Council:

That Council:

  1. Recommends a full public inquiry into the Planning Amendment (Better Decisions Made Faster) Bill 2025 before parliament this week.
  2. Supports the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) Local Government Position: Planning Amendment Bill 2025 report in response to this bill, acknowledging that;
    1. A full review of the bill has yet to be made by Council or the MAV.
    2. The MAV report has highlighted some significant issues for local councils and our communities.
    3. There has not been sufficient time for Council to receive and adopt a formal position given the limited timeframe of the proposed bill.
  3. Writes to members of the legislative assembly and legislative council the Hon. Vicki Ward MP, The Hon. Anthony Carbines MP, The Hon. Colin Brooks MP, Mr Shaun Leane, Mr Richard Welch, Ms Sonja Terpstra, Mr Nick McGowan, and Mr Aiv Puglielli advising Council’s position and to request they support the MAV position and a public inquiry.
  4. That a further report be brought back to a future meeting of Council in respect of the Planning Amendment (Better Decisions Made Faster) Bill 2025, at the appropriate time.

Ask your local MP to speak up

Contact your local Member of Parliament (MP) and encourage them to speak up in Parliament about this important issue.

To help get your MP asking for a full public inquiry into the Bill:

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