Further planning amendments to support bushfire rebuilding have been welcomed by the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV).

The amendments were introduced by the Planning Minister Justin Madden last week to fast-track rebuilding in Victorian communities devastated by the Black Saturday fires, streamlining the approval process for replacement dwellings.

Madden said Victorian Planning Provisions and all planning schemes had been amended to make it easier to rebuild damaged or destroyed buildings as a result of the February bushfires.

“Given the scale of devastation caused by the bushfires and the number of people who lost their homes, initiatives such as this are now needed with people ready to rebuild," he said.

“Understandably, many of those seeking to rebuild will simply want to build on the same location as their previous dwelling, so the need to obtain new approval will now be unnecessary."

MAV President Bill McArthur said councils had worked closely with the MAV and the Department of Planning and Community Development to identify and propose additional streamlining opportunities.

  

“Without this amendment most affected properties would have needed to go through the normal planning permit process. Councils have been working ‘double time’ to make that as simple as possible, but this amendment provides welcome support.

 

“Councils will now be able to meet community expectations. It provides more certainty for fire-affected residents and enables councils to provide clear advice to property owners."