Committee Chair Sonja Terpstra said the Planning and Environment Act impacts a wide range of issues, from housing affordability to environmental sustainability and heritage protection.

“We want input from the community on improving the Act to take account of 21st century planning issues in our fast-growing state,” she said.

In particular, the Committee is seeking community views on:

• the high cost of housing in the context of the planning system;
• environmental sustainability and vegetation protection within the planning framework;
• delivering certainty and fairness in planning decisions for communities; and
• protecting heritage in Victoria.

The Committee prefers submissions that are up to 20 pages and intends to hold limited public hearings in the first half of 2022. It is the Committee's intention to table its report in mid-2022.

Submissions should be received by 28 January 2022.

For further information, contact 03 8682 2869, email planninginquiry@parliament.vic.gov.au or visit the Parliament of Victoria's — Inquiry into the Protections within the Victorian Planning Framework page.