Council is reviewing the Cardinia Planning Scheme to make sure it remains up to date, efficient and fit for purpose. The review is being delivered in two parts to allow time to properly consider recent changes to Cardinia Planning Scheme.

Why is the planning scheme review being undertaken in two parts?

Cardinia Shire’s Planning Scheme was recently restructured by the Minister for Planning under Planning Scheme Amendment C271card on 13 March 2026 to replace the Local Planning Policy Framework with a new Municipal Planning Strategy, as part of a statewide update. Council’s Planning Strategy and Urban Design team requires time to analyse these changes and identify where updates may be needed within the Cardinia Planning Scheme.

To ensure this work is done thoroughly and transparently, the review has been split into Part A and Part B.

• Part A – Administrative (now on exhibition)
• Part B – Policy (to be delivered mid to late 2026)

What is included in Part A?

Part A focuses on:

• A review on how the planning scheme has performed since 2018
• An overview of stakeholder consultation undertaken to date
• Efficiencies identified within the planning scheme
• Proposed administrative updates and corrections.

Part A does not include new planning policy changes.

Council is seeking community feedback on Part A to:

• confirm the key issues identified through stakeholder consultation
• gather feedback on the proposed administrative updates and corrections.

You can submit your feedback by:

You can provide feedback by making a written submission to Council, including your full name, address and contact details for future correspondence.

📧 Emailing Council’s Planning Strategy and Urban Design Team

mail@cardinia.vic.gov.au

📨 Posting your submission to:

Cardinia Shire Council

Attn: Planning Strategy and Urban Design Team

PO Box 7

Pakenham 3810

Please include the heading:

‘Submission – Planning Scheme Part A 2026’

Council is reviewing the Cardinia Planning Scheme to ensure it remains effective, efficient, and aligned with the Victorian Government planning objectives. This is a strategic review, not a rezoning process. It focuses on how well the planning scheme is working and where improvements can be made.

The Review will help shape future planning decisions and help ensure the planning scheme reflects community needs and priorities.

Council last undertook a comprehensive review of the Cardinia Planning Scheme in 2018, and since then there have been major policy changes from the State Government of Victoria.

A new Planning Policy Framework (PPF) was introduced to all planning schemes and the Victorian Planning Provisions by Amendment VC148 on 31 July 2018. All Councils in Victoria have been required to translate their Local Planning into the new Planning Policy Framework.

On the 28 February 2025 the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) released a new planning strategy called Plan for Victoria, to replace Plan Melbourne (2017-2050). Plan for Victoria will guide future population growth, employment, community development and sustainability based on five pillars:

• Pillar 1: Housing for all Victorians

• Pillar 2: Accessible Jobs and Services

• Pillar 3: Great Places, Suburbs and Towns

• Pillar 4: Sustainable Environments

• Pillar 5: Self Determination and caring for Country

Plan for Victoria was formally introduced into all Victorian Planning Schemes on the 8th September 2025 via Ministerial Amendment VC283. Plan for Victoria, has significant implications for the delivery of housing targets for each municipal council, with Cardinia Shire required to deliver 30,000 houses (Established and Greenfield) by 2051.

Recently Cardinia’s Planning Scheme was restructured to insert a new Municipal Planning Strategy and local policies to replace the former Local Policy Framework, known as a Planning Policy Framework Translation. This was done via Planning Scheme Amendment C271card on the 13th March 2026 and was a policy neutral planning scheme amendment undertaken by the State Government of Victoria. Given this, the Cardinia Planning Scheme review will be undertaken in two parts; A and B.

• Part A focuses on text and ordinance corrections to zones, overlays and particular provisions which were not affected by the recent PPF Translation. In simple terms, the updates are corrections and anomalies which are not affected by PPF. It also identifies process efficiencies for continual improvement of the scheme.
• Part B of the Cardinia Planning Scheme Review will be delivered in October 2026. This will address substantial changes to PPF identified through stakeholder engagement and the Planning Scheme Review.
• Next Steps

The next steps are to undertake public consultation on the proposed administrative changes to the planning scheme and respond to the findings of stakeholder consultation.

On completion of a review, Cardinia Shire Council must without delay report the findings of the review to the Minister for Planning in accordance with the requirements of Section 12B of the Planning and Environment Act (1987).

A Planning Scheme Amendment (PSA) would be subsequently undertaken to update the Cardinia Planning Scheme with the results of this review. It is expected that this will be submitted to the Minister for Planning for Authorisation in early 2027. This is due to the timing of the Victorian State Election in November 2026.

Council is required by law to review the Cardinia Planning Scheme every four years and within one year of adopting a new Council Plan and must ensure it achieves the objectives for planning in Victoria (Section 12B of the Planning and Environment Act 1987).

The Review will cover the period from December 2018 to June 2026, and the final report will be submitted to the Minister for Planning by 30 June 2026.

This is the first stage of community engagement and there will be another opportunity to provide further feedback in early-mid 2026. We’re also considering feedback from other recent community consultations to build on what we’ve already heard.

Help us ensure our Planning Scheme is relevant to the community by completing an online survey. Whether you’re a local resident or a professional user of our Planning Scheme, your feedback matters. We want to know, what’s working well in the Planning Scheme? What’s not working well or causing issues? What could be improved?

Your feedback will be part of the technical analysis that informs the Draft Cardinia Planning Scheme Review 2026 which will be shared for further community feedback in early-mid 2026.

Council will be holding four drop-in sessions across the Shire where you are invited to come along and ask questions about the Cardinia Planning Scheme and gain information about this Review.

Click on one of the tabs below to complete either the Community Survey or the Professional Survey, whichever best suits your role and experience.

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