Statutory Planning - Know Your Council

Time taken to decide planning applications

Median number of days taken between receipt of a planning application and a decision on the application

Whitehorse City (2018-2019)

67 days

Similar Councils (2018-2019)

85.98 days

All Councils (2018-2019)

69.6 days

Performance Trend

Reporting Period	Whitehorse City	Similar Councils	All Councils
2015-2016	71 days	90.91 days	70.43 days
2016-2017	99 days	97.75 days	72.54 days
2017-2018	81 days	92.82 days	69.69 days
2018-2019	67 days	85.98 days	69.6 days

Whitehorse City Council Says...

Council have made significant improvements to processes for assessing and managing applications, reducing the time taken to decide on applications, despite an increase in the number of applications lodged.

Planning applications decided within required time frames

Percentage of VicSmart planning application decisions made within 10 days and regular planning application decisions made within 60 days

Whitehorse City (2018-2019)

37.97%

Similar Councils (2018-2019)

62.35%

All Councils (2018-2019)

70.17%

Performance Trend

Reporting Period	Whitehorse City	Similar Councils	All Councils
2015-2016	57.01%	58.72%	69.56%
2016-2017	46.08%	58.83%	70.06%
2017-2018	44.40%	58.99%	69.63%
2018-2019	37.97%	62.35%	70.17%

Whitehorse City Council Says...

The significant increase in VicSmart applications from new tree controls applied through the Significant Landscape Overlay (SLO9) has significantly impacted Council's ability to satisfactorily meet statutory timeframes this year. An incredible effort has been seen with 1654 planning application decisions made compared to 1296 made for 2017/18 financial year. There has also been increased level of community interest in applications, which leads to an increased timeframe for assessment due to the need to undertake community engagement.

Cost of statutory planning service per planning application

Direct cost to council of the statutory planning service per planning application received

Whitehorse City (2018-2019)

$2,288.70

Similar Councils (2018-2019)

$2,810.14

All Councils (2018-2019)

$2,615.43

Performance Trend

Reporting Period	Whitehorse City	Similar Councils	All Councils
2015-2016	$1,560.60	$2,151.43	$2,131.65
2016-2017	$1,895.81	$2,469.69	$2,311.71
2017-2018	$2,573.96	$2,757.12	$2,459.07
2018-2019	$2,288.70	$2,810.14	$2,615.43

Whitehorse City Council Says...

Cost remains steady with an increase in staffing numbers seeing improvements in the time taken to decide planning applications reducing while staff work through a backlog of planning applications. Results between 2014/15 to 2016/17 were calculated based on total applications received (including amendments) instead of only "new applications" resulting in lower comparative results for this indicator.

Council planning decisions upheld at VCAT

Percentage of council planning application decisions subject to review by VCAT that were not set aside

Whitehorse City (2018-2019)

56.90%

Similar Councils (2018-2019)

52.54%

All Councils (2018-2019)

52.64%

Performance Trend

Reporting Period	Whitehorse City	Similar Councils	All Councils
2015-2016	40.66%	58.19%	66.75%
2016-2017	48.98%	54.14%	58.73%
2017-2018	58.11%	56.56%	61.19%
2018-2019	56.90%	52.54%	52.64%

Whitehorse City Council Says...

The lower number of planning decisions upheld at VCAT over the four year period is likely to reflect the continuing pressure for applications to be resolved outside of VCAT's merits hearing process. This means that applicants, Council and the community involved in proceedings are strongly encouraged to find a point on all applications at which all parties can agree, thereby eliminating the need for a full merits hearings. Poorer planning applications are not receiving full VCAT support, and objector appeals are less often resulting in overturned decisions.