Liveable Victoria

The Liveable Victoria Charter

A statement of purpose, context and the reforms needed to restore democratic planning across Victoria.

February 2026

Who We Are

Liveable Victoria is a statewide alliance of community organisations and individuals standing up for the liveability of Victoria's cities, towns and non-urban areas as the pressure for housing and infrastructure grows.

Liveable Victoria brings together the many community organisations and individuals fighting against a planning system that has shut communities out. Through disingenuous consultation, opaque decision-making and concentration of power at state level, local voices are being marginalised. We exist to change that by networking communities, amplifying shared concerns and demanding accountability in planning decisions that will shape Victoria for generations.

We believe growth must be well planned, locally informed and democratically determined. Development should enhance not erode what Victorians value: amenity, character, environment, biodiversity, cultural heritage, open space, farmland, Green Wedges and scenic landscapes.

Our Mission

To restore democratic planning for a liveable Victoria by networking community organisations and individuals seeking genuinely consultative, transparent and accountable planning for all Victorian cities, towns and developments.

Our Vision

A Victoria where planning includes communities — it is not imposed on them. A liveable Victoria where housing and infrastructure planning supports affordable, sustainable, climate-resilient communities, where environmental and cultural values are protected, and where transparency, accountability and community participation are central to planning.

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What Has the State Government Done?

Since 2023, the State Government has initiated an unprecedented overhaul of how planning decisions are made.

In its attempt to meet housing targets linked to population growth, the Government has imposed 14 major planning amendments and legislative changes that shift decision-making to the development industry, 'fast-track' decision-making and curtail the rights of citizens.1Based upon expected population of Victoria of 10 million with 8 million in Melbourne by 2051. Increase of 43% for Victoria and 45% for Melbourne. 70% of growth in established cities/townships except Ballarat and Greater Geelong, 60%. The same fast-track has been applied to renewable energy and other major infrastructure projects.

These changes have introduced a new planning system without citizen consultation. Fast track provisions have set up a separate planning system run by the planning minister which excludes councils and residents and uses extraordinary powers to exempt the minister from consulting affected citizens. The Government has now approved over 8,000 dwellings and many major private projects this way.

The broad planning changes include the introduction of the Activity Centre Program, the Planning Amendment (Better Decisions Made Faster) Bill 2025, changes to ResCode,2ResCode – the Residential Building Code for Victoria. Building Codes establish the standards for multi-dwelling developments (townhouses, apartments). E.g. distances from boundaries, overlooking, overshadowing, access to daylight, private open space and neighbourhood character assessment. A new code for townhouses and apartments up to 3 storeys that lowered the standards was introduced in March 2025. A second new code for 4–6 storey apartments will complete the replacement of ResCode. This second code again lowers standards. It is expected to take effect in 2026. Neither code has been released for public consultation, with the Government explicitly instructing councils not to do so for the second code. amendments to the Victorian Planning Provisions, and legislation enabling major infrastructure (such as the Suburban Rail Loop, solar, windfarms and energy transmission).

Despite their profound impact, few Victorians are aware of these changes, their impacts on the character, liveability and amenity of their communities and the fact that Victorians no longer have a say about the future of their communities.

Liveable Victoria was formed in response to this moment.

What Is the Problem with the Planning Changes?

The Government claims that affordable housing can only be delivered by centralised decision-making, deregulation of planning rules and removal of citizens' rights. Vast areas of Melbourne are now open for developers to replace today's liveable homes with four to six storey apartments.3The Activity Centre program has identified an initial 60 centres. Consolidation of existing lots to create 1,000 sqm with a 20m frontage enables 4 storey apartments throughout new "10 minute walkable catchments" around these centres. The program is intended to deliver 360,000 new dwellings. Regional cities have been identified for similar densification.4"Plan for Victoria" identifies Greater Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo and six regional cities for significant housing growth with townhouses and apartments to deliver up to 70% growth.

Melbourne's renowned high amenity and heritage will be lost forever. None of this is necessary to meet the Government's housing targets. We can retain what we value whilst enabling housing growth in Melbourne's established suburbs and regional cities. Council housing strategies already delivering housing growth have been usurped by rushed and generic 'plans' for sixty Activity Centres in Melbourne.

High taxes, levies, building and land costs – not planning rules, councils or residents – are preventing construction of affordable housing. Local councils routinely approve over 90% of planning applications, the vast majority within statutory time limits. Approximately 120,000 council-approved dwelling permits have not been acted on. Around 8,000 completed apartments remain unsold.5Charter Keck Cramer, April 2025.

In the regions, renewable infrastructure projects are being fast tracked. Local communities and Victorians are not being presented with an integrated vision and statewide strategy for population, energy and infrastructure needs. Affected communities are denied a genuine voice in the planning.

New fast track programs and new building codes have removed or substantially curtailed citizens' rights to be notified, to object and to seek independent review of planning decisions. Amendments to Victorian planning legislation, rushed through Parliament in February 2026 without broad consultation, have entrenched this top-down approach to decision-making.

These concerns are outlined in more detail below:

  1. Liveability is being compromised

    Liveability is what we value about where and how we live. It is what makes a place a pleasant place to live. Liveability in Melbourne and Victoria is key to its global brand for business and investment. It includes affordability, amenity, character, heritage, climate resilience, natural environments, infrastructure, access to work, transport and community services, and social factors.6Access to sunlight & daylight (setbacks from the street and boundaries), open spaces, gardens, tree canopy, streetscape, bio-diversity, neighbourhood character, safety.

    Victorians are being told to accept a future of high-density housing in extensive areas of our cities, particularly the middle-ring suburbs in Melbourne. Green space and tree canopy will decline at even faster rates. Biodiversity will be lost. Car parking requirements for apartments have been reduced. Vast areas of heritage buildings will be rebuilt, heritage precincts will be degraded and valued streetscapes overshadowed by towers. Privacy will diminish, bedrooms overlooked without screening, solar systems overshadowed. There will be more urban heat islands and lower climate resilience. The individual character of great swathes of Melbourne and regional cities will be lost.

    There has been no planning for community spaces, for enhancing places, for creating employment or more open space. There is no plan for upgrading already strained essential infrastructure needed for these dense suburbs to thrive as liveable communities.

    The new outer urban growth corridors will continue to be dominated by detached single dwelling housing with little housing diversity. The infrastructure needed to support these rapidly growing suburbs to thrive as liveable communities is not being built.

  2. Democracy is being undermined

    For generations, Victorian governments have understood that including communities in decision-making leads to better, enduring outcomes. Local knowledge improves the quality of decisions. Communities are more likely to accept change when they have participated in shaping it. Citizen participation in decision-making is fundamental to a democratic society.

    An increasingly autocratic government has removed citizens' rights. A Parliamentary Inquiry into three planning amendments in 2025 found that the government did not properly consult on these amendments which will help turn large parts of Melbourne into a high-rise and far denser city.7Legislative Council Select Committee Inquiry – Victoria Planning Provisions (VPP) Amendments VC257, VC267 and VC274. The advice of independent planning experts, appointed by the Minister to review the implementation of the Activity Centre Program for the first ten centres, was largely rejected.

  3. Housing supply and affordability is unlikely to be improved

    The idea that simply "building more homes faster" will improve supply and affordability is misguided. Amendments to the Planning and Environment Act 1987 have not set a minimum proportion of social or affordable dwellings in larger developments, nor is there an indication if such powers will be used. A Parliamentary Inquiry in 2025 into the Activity Centre Program, ResCode changes and SRL East housing precincts, found that:8Legislative Council Select Committee Inquiry – Victoria Planning Provisions (VPP) Amendments VC257, VC267 and VC274.

    Little convincing evidence was advanced to the Inquiry that the State Government's announced planning changes will guarantee additional housing and no substantive evidence was advanced that the Government's plan would with certainty provide additional affordable housing. (Finding 5)

    The Government failed to provide the Inquiry with any modelling about the expected effect of any of the amendments on housing supply generally, and the effect of increased supply on house prices, and has not responded to a recommendation to do so.9VPP Inquiry, Finding 4.10VPP Inquiry – Recommendation 3: That the Victorian Government publish publicly modelling to demonstrate how the planning scheme amendments will impact on housing supply and affordability.

  4. Melbourne's planning is not linked to its hinterland and regions

    Melbourne's future liveability is inextricably linked to the protection of its hinterland from urban development. Maintenance of the Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) is an essential element in improving urban planning, particularly by preventing the wasteful use of land in urban growth corridors. A large number of urban land uses are permitted in Melbourne's Green Wedges, fatally undermining the intent of a UGB to limit the outward spread of the city. The Green Wedges provide crucial liveability elements such as recreation, nature conservation and agriculture. Existing planning provisions are inadequate to protect these essential values.

    Strategic planning does not effectively relate Melbourne's development to a Victoria-wide plan for regional development, infrastructure provision, rural land agricultural production, nature conservation and recreation.

  5. Major projects planning is equally flawed

    Major infrastructure project planning across Victoria is consistently rushed, desired outcomes are not being achieved, and liveability is being compromised.

    Land-use planning is not being integrated with economic and social development in Victoria's regions, leading to serious inadequacies in jobs, public transport and infrastructure provision.

    Renewable energy infrastructure projects across Victoria have unnecessarily inflamed regional communities due to poor or non-existent consultation with landowners and centralised decision-making.

    A clear planning framework to guarantee well-serviced, employment-rich, liveable precincts around the ten SRL East stations is missing. Delivery is fast tracked by stripping councils of planning powers and community participation. The project is crowding out investment in urgent priorities such as infrastructure for outer growth corridors, Melbourne Airport and urban renewal projects at Fishermans Bend and Arden.

Restoring Democratic Planning for a Liveable Victoria

Liveable Victoria:

  1. Seeks a return to a planning system that includes citizen rights. Notice, objection and independent review must be reinstated. Fit-for-purpose planning requires better ways to invite community participation in decision-making.
  2. Seeks the repeal of the Government-imposed rezoning of land and restoration of previous planning zones.
  3. Seeks the repeal of planning permit assessment codes that require a permit to issue if "deemed to comply" provisions are met.11E.g. Townhouse and Low Rise Code, VC267, imposed in March 2025 without community consultation.
  4. Seeks a return to council-led, strategy-based planning for housing growth with best practice community consultation. We support the planned evolution of our cities and towns.
  5. Believes Governments must build more social and public housing.
  6. Believes that renewable electricity development should not occur at the expense of environmental impact assessments and community consultation.
  7. Believes fast-track planning approval pathways to the Minister for Planning should be abolished and decision-making returned to local councils.
  8. Believes in the provision of infrastructure and services to enhance the liveability of localities where increased population growth and development is occurring.
  9. Believes planning rules should be improved if they are not fit-for-purpose. Improved planning rules will provide housing and infrastructure in ways that make our cities and towns better places to live.
  10. Supports the State Government's target of a 30% tree canopy in urban areas.
  11. Supports a rethink of the urban development currently occurring in outer urban growth corridors. New suburbs should provide for diverse and affordable housing types grouped around traditional town centres, supported by employment, infrastructure and services.
  12. Supports the creation of an assessment and continuous improvement mechanism for Victorian planning, as recommended by the Victorian Attorney-General in 2008 and again in 2017.
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