At the moment we've got the set zoning (R1Z, R2Z, R3Z, B1Z, IN1Z Green Wedges etc..) which are all set out with their strict regulations. Councils do interpret them but to an extent. For example Yarra Ranges council in Vic has a significantly stronger restriction on removing trees than most. It's the council planners that pass on their views on development to the surveyors, private planners, designers, architects and developers.
Essentially the process is the same for subdivision and development with the exception being what council planners focus on for their suburbs.
If we have each individual council making their own changes to the new planning scheme there will no doubt be absolute confusion across the board. Sure the principles will be the same but at the moment there is a good balance of consistency between councils- give them any more slack on their end and it will get messy fast.
I'm hoping that these changes don't get put through (or to such parameters as outlined), as it means we will have to start from square one with each development and go through the planning scheme with council for individual projects. Sounds incredibly time-consuming and a waste of already stretched resources in the industry.
