Planning & building
Each year the MAV hosts a Rural and Regional Planning Conference.
We sometimes host a Planning Improvement Conference.
We also run forums on special topics. Sector conversation notes from these events are available.
You can watch video presentations on planning and building on our Vimeo channel.
Presentations are available from the following events:
- 2019 Rural and Regional Planning Conference
- 2018 Rural and Regional Planning Conference
- 2017 Rural and Regional Planning Conference
- 2016 Rural and Regional Planning Conference
- 2015 Rural and Regional Planning Conference
- 2014 Rural and Regional Planning Conference
- 2013 Rural and Regional Planning Conference
- 2012 Rural and Regional Planning Conference
- 2014 Planning Improvement Conference
- Sector Conversation Notes
2019 Rural and Regional Planning Conference
This conference provides an opportunity to:
- Share cutting edge practice in rural and regional planning
- Gain insights into future proofing rural and regional Victoria through best practice examples
- Equip you to plan more effectively for your municipality
- Workshop challenges in rural and regional Victoria
- Create a platform for innovation and land use change
- Hear from the decision makers in the industry.
This conference, which is usually held in June or July, is tailored for planners, senior managers, CEOs, councillors and associated professionals interested in rural and regional land use planning practices.
Conference theme: Population.
Presentations
- 2019 Rural and Regional Planning Conference - Program (PDF - 3.54MB)
- Population Growth and Opportunities: DELWP’s Planning Vision for Rural and Regional Victoria – Jane Homewood, Executive Director Statutory Planning Services, DELWP (PDF - 4.27MB)
- Looking at Population: The Hows and Whys - Andrew Howe, Regional Population Unit, Australian Bureau of Statistics (PDF - 4MB)
- Population Profiling and Forecasting for Local Government: The Regional Victoria Experience - Glenn Capuano, Demographic Consultant and Local Government Client Manager, .id Consulting (PDF - 2.13MB)
- Live Work Latrobe - Nathan Misiurka, Senior Strategic Planner, Latrobe City Council (PDF - 12.9MB)
- The Panel of Animal Industry Experts - Mick O'Keefe, Coordinator, Panel of Animal Industries Experts, Agriculture Victoria (PDF - 1.96MB)
- Navigating Farm Development - Priit Kaal, Knowledge Management Specialist, Agriculture Victoria (PDF -)
- See the live Navigating Farm Development tool.
- Open Data for Public Good - What’s needed? - Suneel Jethani, Engagement Manager, Open Data, Digital Design and Innovation Branch, Department of Premier and Cabinet (PDF - 782KB)
- Environment Protection Reforms: Victoria Unearthed - Jeremy Aarons, Project Manager, Environment Protection, DELWP (PDF - 1.2MB)
- A Central Point of Contact for Industry, Local Government and Producers - Garry Button, CEO, Freight Victoria (PDF - 1.38MB)
- Education’s Role in Rural-Regional Sustainability - Dr Philip Roberts, Associate Professor Curriculum Inquiry / Rural Education, Faculty of Education, University of Canberra (PDF - 822KB)
- Planning Panels Victoria - Nick Wimbush, Acting Chief Panel Member & Andrea Harwood, Senior Project Manager, Planning Panels Victoria (PDF - 3.91MB)
- VCAT Planning and Environment List - Alison Glynn, Member, VCAT (PDF - 1.9MB)
- Ballarat: Creative City, Design Led City, Historic City - Justine Linley, CEO, City of Ballarat (PDF - 1.43MB)
- Shadeways and the Smart City: Route Planning to Adapt Cities to Extreme Heat - Associate Professor Marco Amati, RMIT University (PDF - 4.48MB)
- VCAT (and Planning Panels) How To Workshop: Various Procedural Issues - Greg Tobin, Principal & John Hannagan, Senior Associate, Harwood Andrews (PDF - 1.76MB)
- VPA Working with Partners to Deliver Strategic Planning Projects - Damien Kennedy, Director Regional Victoria, Victorian Planning Authority (PDF - 2.82MB)
- Useful Tips for Grant Applications - Suzane Becker, Manager Transport Choices, City of Port Phillip (PDF - 1.08MB)
- Latrobe Major Pipelines DDO1 Review Project - Sarah Auld, Auld Planning & Projects & Lorrae Dukes, Strategic Planning Coordinator, Latrobe City Council (PDF - 1.49MB)
- Northern & Western Geelong Growth Areas: Framework Plan (March 2019) - Nat Anson, Project Manager, Northern and Western Geelong Growth Areas, City of Greater Geelong (PDF - 2.8MB)
- Greater Launceston Transformation Project - Dr Murray Herron, Researcher, Deakin University & David McCloskey, Founding Director, Sensing Value (PDF - 6.34MB)
- Understanding Heritage through Technology - Matthew Swards, Manager Business Improvement, City of Ballarat (PDF - 5.34MB)
- Planning for Peri-Urban Areas - Emily Allsopp, Senior Planner, Mia Davison, Manager Places and Precincts, Bronwyn Fry, Principal Planner Planning Projects & Chris Funtera, Senior Project Officer Planning Implementation, DELWP (PDF - 3.03MB)
- EPBC Approval: Native Grasslands: West Sale Airport - Andrew Wolstenholme, Environmental Planner, Wellington Shire Council (PDF - 2.1MB)
- Moyne Wind Farms Overview - Michelle Grainger, Executive Manager Major Projects, Moyne Shire Council (PDF - 941KB)
- Population Growth: Making the Most of Our Opportunities - Associate Professor Janet Stanley, Principal Research Fellow, Melbourne Sustainable Society Institute, University of Melbourne (PDF - 1.67MB)
2018 Rural and Regional Planning Conference
Conference theme: Seizing Opportunities.
Presentations
- 2018 Rural and Regional Planning Conference - Program (PDF - 1.28MB)
- DELWP Update - Christine Wyatt, Deputy Secretary, Planning, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (PDF - 2.29MB)
- “EMPA – Another bloody acronym!” - David Bergin, Executive Manager Planning Services & Lisa Sturgess, Team Leader Planning Business Support, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council (PDF - 1.93MB)
- Engaging Communities - Lisa Francis, Project Manager, KJA (PDF - 2.19MB)
- Environmental Sustainable Design Subdivision - Sarah Brennan, Senior Consultant, AECOM & Bridie Guy, Strategic Planner, City of Wodonga (PDF - 2.72MB)
- Hazard Planning: Flooding - Steve Muncaster, Senior Manager Floodplain Management, Statewide Infrastructure and Rural Strategy, Water and Catchments, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (PDF - 618KB)
- Hazard Planning: Planning and building safer and more resilient communities - Georgina Cann, Senior Policy Officer, Planning, Building and Heritage, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (PDF - 851KB)
- Hazard Planning: Using population data to assess vulnerability and risk - Fiona McKenzie, Principal Researcher, Forward Policy and Research, DELWP (PDF - 1.62MB)
- How to prepare, present and write policy for VCAT - John Hannagan, Senior Associate, Harwood Andrews (PDF - )
- Infrastructure Contribution Plans - John Phillips, Director Planning Systems, DELWP (PDF - 1.26MB)
- Plan Greater Bendigo and transformational infrastructure projects - Bridget Mapleston, Coordinator Growth and Liveability, City of Greater Bendigo (PDF - 2.52MB)
- Planning for Sustainable Animal Industries - Julie Simons, Director, Agriculture Victoria (PDF - 2.88MB)
- Planning Panels - Kathy Mitchell, Chief Panel Member , Planning Panels Victoria (PDF - 4.07MB)
- Regional Liveability - Cr Margaret O'Rourke, Mayor of Greater Bendigo and Chair of Regional Cities Victoria (PDF - 2.24MB)
- Smart Planning: Partnering in reform - Rick Dixon, Director, Smart Planning Program, Planning, DELWP (PDF - 2.02MB)
- Solar energy opportunities for local government - Ken Guthrie, Director, Sustainable Energy Transformation (PDF - 809KB)
- Victorian Multicultural Commission Civic Participation Kit - Elizabeth Blades-Hamilton, Senior Cabinet Policy Officer, Department of Premier & Cabinet (PDF - 350KB)
- Visual Impact Assessment of Renewables Facilities - Hayden Burge, Visual Impact, Landscape and Urban Design Practice Lead and Alicia Burnett, Senior Planning Consultant, ERM (PowerPoint - 19.9MB)
- What's up in Shep? - Geraldine Christou, Director Sustainable Development, City of Greater Shepparton (PDF - 6.08MB)
External resources
- Design options for the Maude Street Mall which was the focus of the walking tour can be found on the City of Greater Shepparton website
- The “Greater Shepparton - Great Things Happen Here” videos can be viewed on their YouTube page
- Victorian Multicultural Commission Civic Participation Kit (web version) (PDF - 1.41MB)
2017 Rural and Regional Planning Conference
Conference theme: Through the looking glass - alternative approaches to planning.
Presentations
- Climate Risk and Resilience Information Provision for Property Buyers - Rebecca Lamble & Stella Whittaker, East Gippsland Shire Council and Ramboll Environ (PowerPoint - 17.2MB)
- DELWP Regional Research including 'A Regional Career - Migration Histories Survey, Bendigo anfd Ballarat - David Sykes, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (PowerPoint - 6.50MB)
- Digital Age - Empowering teams to succeed - Andrew Paxton, Cardinia Shire Council (PowerPoint - 8.48MB)
- From Planning to Placemaking: Creating resiliant communities and local economies - Gilbert Rochecouste, Village Well (PDF - 24.2MB)
- Kerang - Victoria's Renewable Energy Capital - Roger Griffiths, Gannawarra Shire Council (PowerPoint - 4.06MB)
- Movement and Place - What do we really care about? - Steven Burgess, MRCagney (PowerPoint - 1.94MB)
- Planning Panels: Year in Review - Kathy Mitchell, Planning Panels Victoria (PowerPoint - 7.55MB)
- Real World Application of Drone Technology in Local Government and Other Industry - James Rennie, Australian UAV (PowerPoint - 34.3MB)
- Regional Migration - Dr Andrew Butt, La Trobe University (PowerPoint - 4.31MB)
- Riding the wave or wiping out? A case study on place identity in regional Victoria - Matt Novacevski, Pyrenees Shire Council (PowerPoint - 3.41MB)
- Rural & Regional Transformation via Broadband & Mobile Network Connectivity - Matt Evans, Evans Planning (PowerPoint - 10.7MB)
- Smart Planning Program Digital Reforms - Rick Dixon, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (PowerPoint - 8.73MB)
- State of Regional Australia - Jack Archer, Regional Australia Institute (PowerPoint - 2.89MB)
- Stawell Underground Physics Lab - Managing Transition - Sanjay Manivasagasivam, Northern Grampians Shire Council (PowerPoint - 20.4MB)
- The State of Play of Renewables in Australia - Simon Corbell, Victorian Renewable Energy Advocate (PowerPoint - 6.11MB)
- Unlocking the potential of our regional towns and cities - Stuart Moseley, Victorian Planning Authority (PowerPoint - 8.84MB)
- Urban futures and the role for water - Dr Briony Rogers, Monash University (PDF - 5.61MB)
- VCAT: Year in Review - Megan Carew, Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (PowerPoint - 2.26MB)
2016 Rural and Regional Planning Conference
Conference theme: Rural and Regional Victoria – realising its potential.
Presentations
- Clustering for growth - Ifor Ffowcs-Williams, Cluster Navigators, New Zealand (PDF - 5.97MB)
- Growth imbalance: Victorian regional trends and distribution - Paul Shipp, Urban Enterprise (PDF - 2.35MB)
- LDA Canberra Brickworks Precinct redevelopment project - MosiacLab (PDF - 138KB)
- Music festivals: Some lessons from Buloke - Jessie Holmes (PowerPoint - 606KB)
- The next wave of the industrial revolution & its implications for regional Victoria - Nathan Taylor, CEDA (PowerPoint - 1.13MB)
- Opportunities for Australian agriculture - and how to secure them - Mick Keogh, Agricultural Commissioner (PowerPoint - 15.5MB)
- Planning for a stronger regional Victoria - Christine Wyatt, Deputy Secretary - Planning, DELWP (PDF - 6.85MB)
- Planning for sea level rise: Port Fairy Coastal & Structure Planning Project - Chris Renkin, Moyne Shire Council (PowerPoint - 5.84MB)
- Regional infrastructure challenges and opportunities - Michel Masson, Infrastructure Victoria (PowerPoint - 17.1MB) [Video on YouTube]
- Shared services and land use planning - Warren Groves, Northern Grampians Shire Council (PowerPoint - 1.88MB)
- Spring Creek Precinct Structure Plan - MosaicLab (PDF - 124KB)
- Unlocking the creative and cultural economy within your municipality - Tara Callinan, SGS Economics & Planning (PowerPoint - 9.92MB)
- Victorian Liveability Indicator Program: Definition, Measurement and Application - Dr Iain Butterworth, Melbourne School of Population & Global Health (PDF - 4.94MB)
- Wye River and Separation Creek: 2015 Christmas day bushfire response - Doug McNeill, Colac Otway Shire (PowerPoint - 24.6MB)
- Working with conflict and passionate objection to planning projects - MosaicLab (PDF - 4.70MB)
- Year in review: Planning Panels Victoria - Kathy Mitchell (PowerPoint - 0.98MB)
- Year in review: VCAT - Ian Potts (PowerPoint - 1.43MB)
Videos
Defend Port Fairy - Chris Renkin, Moyne Shire Council
Wye River & Separation Creek bushfire - Drone footage
2015 Rural and Regional Planning Conference
Conference theme: Plan – To deliver on bold ambition.
Presentations
- Austrade presentation - Chris Stamford (PowerPoint - 9.77MB)
- Driving the revival of main streets in rural and regional Victoria - Stephen Sully (PowerPoint - 6.80MB)
- Facilitating brownfield development in industrial areas - Marshall Sullivan, Greater Geelong (PowerPoint - 13.3MB)
- Managing residential character in regional Victoria - Lisa Riddle (PDF - 4.36MB)
- Managing residential character in regional Victoria - Lisa Riddle (PowerPoint - 34.9MB)
- Place DNA - Making the great small cities of the world - James Larmour-Reid, Planisphere (PDF - 11.8MB)
- Place DNA - Making the great small cities of the world - James Larmour-Reid, Planisphere (PowerPoint - 19.2MB)
- Plan - to deliver on bold ambitions - Marcus Spiller, SGS (PDF - 1.86MB)
- Planning in the context of population decline - A case study of Broken Hill, NSW - Dr. Laura Schatz, University of Western Sydney (PowerPoint - 18.9MB)
- Regional Economic Development and Services Review update - Hon John Brumby (PDF - 1.11MB)
- Reviving main streets: What you need to know; what you need to do - Chris McNeill, Spade Consultants (PowerPoint - 10.5MB)
Video
Preservation of primary agricultural land for farming - Wayne Caldwell, University of Guelph, Canada
2014 Rural and Regional Planning Conference
Conference theme: Future proofing Victoria - the journey of transformation.
Presentations
- CSG in Gloucester NSW - Winners, losers and lessons learned, Graham Gardner (PDF - 7.50MB)
- Detroit Future City, Dan Kinkead (PDF - 31.2MB)
- Diversifying rural communities and the role of land use planning, Camperdown Dairy and Corangamite Shire (PDF - 1.06MB)
- Future proofing regional Victoria, Christine Wyatt, DTPLI (PDF - 3.86MB)
- Geelong - Future proofing regional Victoria, Tim Hellsten (PDF - 2.64MB)
- Making Shepparton greater, Colin Kalms and Geraldine Christou (PDF - 2.17MB)
- Pathway to future proofing housing stock in rural and regional Victoria, Natasha Palich, CASBE (PDF - 1.50MB)
- Regions can make their own luck, Gary White, MacroPlan Dimasi (PDF - 3.12MB)
- Securing regional industries for Victoria, Gary Dawson, Australian Food and Grocery Council (PDF - 1.62MB)
- The MPA and regional Victoria, Tim Peggie (PDF - 1.74MB)
- Transforming cities to achieve a financially and ecologically sustainable future, Prof Rob Adams AM (PDF - 42.5MB)
- VCAT decisions, Megan Carew (PDF - 1.87MB)
- Wind power - A South Australian perspective, Kelvyn Steer, EPA SA (PDF - 1.41MB)
- Year in review, Kathy Mitchell, Planning Panels Victoria (PDF - 1.06MB)
2013 Rural and Regional Planning Conference
Conference theme: Game Changers: Repositioning rural and regional Victorian in fast moving times.
Presentations
- Decisions that have shaped planning in rural and regional Victoria, Kathy Mitchell (PowerPoint - 1.47MB)
- Decisions that have shaped planning in rural and regional Victoria, Philip Martin (PowerPoint - 4.10MB)
- Fast moving times - planning reform and rural and regional Victoria, Prue Digby (PowerPoint - 2.98MB)
- Heritage - How do we plan for it in regional Victoria - what is its economic and social value, Susan Fayad and Ray Tonkin (PowerPoint - 8.58MB)
- The dynamics of the agrifood sector, David McKinna (PowerPoint - 14.1MB)
- Transforming rural and regional Victoria - learning from NSW and Newcastle, Victoria Tompsett (PowerPoint - 11.2MB)
- What infrastructure investment is needed to reposition regional Victoria, John Henshall (PowerPoint - 1.96MB)
2012 Rural and Regional Planning Conference
Conference theme: Plan and deliver: creating growth ready regions.
Presentations
- ABS presentation, Heather Burns (PowerPoint - 1.62MB)
- Beyond the big prawn, Lyndal Kearney, Elmwood Consultants (PDF - 12.7MB)
- Delivering housing diversity and choice in rural and regional Victoria, Rob Vines, Places Victoria (PowerPoint - 19.5MB)
- Features of a competent planning system, Gary White (PowerPoint - 3.48MB)
- MAV Regional Forum, Sam Sangster, Places Victoria (PowerPoint - 9.42MB)
- Moving towards sustainable communities, Sophie Segafredo, Macedon Ranges (PowerPoint - 10.9MB)
- Peri-urban Victoria - proactively changing the future of the region, Prof. Michael Buxton, RMIT University (PowerPoint - 12.7MB)
- Prioritising and delivering infrastructure regionally to transform and leverages business activity locally, Scott Lennon, PWC (PowerPoint - 702KB)
- The future for Australian agriculture - what can we expect, Mick Keogh, Australian Farm Institute (PowerPoint - 23.0MB)
- Top 10 things you need to know about planning (PowerPoint - 1.10MB)
2014 Planning Improvement Conference
This conference focuses on improving the quality and efficiency of the planning process in councils.
This October showcase provides planners, senior decisions makers, CEOs and councillors from metropolitan and rural councils, as well as stakeholders who interact with local government a forum to explore best practice and innovation.
Conference theme: Operation Excellence
Presentations
- Effectiveness and efficiency in local government - Vincent Mifsud, City of Marion SA (PowerPoint - 10.5MB)
- ePlanning, new vision and delivery - Clare Huxley, NSW Dept Planning and Environment (PowerPoint - 7.24MB)
- Leadership and culture change - Janet Dore, TAC (PowerPoint - 4.75MB)
- Lean thinking, a business success story - Kathy Alexander, Melbourne City Council (PDF - 3.43MB)
- Numbers in the real world - Christie Kahukiwa, Place Design Group (PDF - 2.25MB)
- People - A new paradigm in statutory planning - John Oska (PowerPoint - 841KB)
- Pre-application, getting it right to start with - Rachel Lunn, Greater Dandenong (PowerPoint - 1.76MB)
- Process - Improvements in Wangaratta Planning Department - Harj Singh (PowerPoint - 841KB)
- Process improvement at Melbourne Water - David Ryan (PowerPoint - 4.22MB)
Sector conversation notes
View commentary from the local government sector on a range of planning and building issues discussed at our forums.