Before lodging a submission for an application, it is important that you view the associated plans and documents to understand what is being proposed. If you have questions, contact Statutory Planning on 03 5348 2306, planningsupport@hepburn.vic.gov.au or attend our counter at Duke Street, Daylesford.
The submission and the personal information provided on the form are collected by Hepburn Shire Council for the purposes of the application process as set out in the Planning and Environment Act 1987 (the act). If you do not provide your name and address, Council will not be able to consider your submission.
Once submitted, your objection or support statement is a public document and will be available at Council's office for any person to inspect on request with the public availability requirements in the act and copies may be made available on request to any person during the application process. This includes the applicant, councillors or other interested parties.
You may still object to a proposal if you are not formally notified, if you have valid grounds. A submission may be lodged any time after the advertising period has commenced but can only be considered if received by Council before a decision is made on the application.
You can lodge a submission to a planning application by searching the list of applications on advertising by clicking the button below. If you wish to manually complete a submission form, contact Statutory Planning on 03 5348 2306, planningsupport@hepburn.vic.gov.au or attend our counter at Duke Street, Daylesford for a copy of the form.
To lodge or withdraw a submission
- Click on the below button and find the application you wish to object to.
- View the application information like status, plans and further information.
- Click the Lodge a Submission button.
Lodge a submission
Consultation and our decision
Once the advertising period has ended, the responsible planner will begin assessing objections.
Simple issues may be resolved through informal discussions or conditions may be able to be included as part of any decision to address the concern that is raised. The applicant will be supplied with a copy of your objection and may provide a written response back to you and any other objectors. You may also be asked to attend a consultation meeting to address more complex issues.
If agreement or resolution is reached, objectors can withdraw their objection by advising Council in writing. Then a planning permit can then be issued.
If agreement is unable to be reached, the responsible officer will finish their assessment. If a decision is made to refuse the application, objectors will be notified. If the responsible officer supports the application, the number of objections received will determine if the application is decided by the officer under delegation, or by councillors.
If the responsible officer has delegation, a Notice of Decision (NOD) will be issued and sent to the applicant and objectors. Objectors then have opportunity to appeal the decision within 28 days to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).
If the responsible officer does not have delegation, a planning conference will be held. This is meeting hosted by the councillors, where the responsible officer, applicant and objectors have the opportunity to present to councillors. From there, the application is presented by the responsible officer to a Council briefing and then councillors make a decision on the application at an ordinary Council meeting.
If Council does not support the application, the applicant has the right to appeal to VCAT.
Petitions
An objection can also be in the form of a petition. The petition must identify a contact person who informs all of the other petitioners about the process of the application and who will receive a copy of the final decision.
A petition is considered to be one submission and must explain how the people that sign it are affected by the application.