Mansfield’s Voice on Planning Reform Gains Statewide Backing
Published on 17 October 2025
A motion first championed by Mansfield Shire Council calling for a fairer, more transparent planning system has gained overwhelming support with 97% of councils backing the position at the recent Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) State Council meeting.
The motion, which originated from the advocacy position first formed by Mansfield Shire Council in July, was submitted by the Hume Region Local Government Network (HRLGN), and calls on the Victorian Government to ensure its review of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 respects the specific needs of local communities.
This result means that the position first championed by Mansfield Shire Council and its regional partners has now been adopted as the collective stance of local governments across all of Victoria.
The motion calls for any changes to the Act to uphold five key principles: Keep it Country, Keep it Local, Keep it Transparent, Keep it Fair and Keep it Simple.
Mayor Cr Steve Rabie said the result sends a powerful and unified message to the State Government.
“This is a huge validation of our community’s concerns and shows that Mansfield Shire is leading the way on this critical issue. Our Council adopted a strong position based on five key pillars, and to see that position now adopted by the MAV, which is the representative body for all local governments is a fantastic outcome,” said Cr Rabie.
“While the details of planning legislation can be complicated, our message is clear – the current top-down approach to planning reform is not working. From rural shires to metropolitan cities, we are all saying that planning decisions need to be kept local, transparent and fair.
“This overwhelming support shows that the concerns we have in Mansfield Shire about losing our local character and our right to have a say are shared right across the state. We listened to our community’s concerns back in July, and we acted on them. Now, the whole sector is standing with us.”
Council also saw strong support for other motions put forward by the HRLGN on issues critical to rural communities, including calls for a fairer emergency services levy and improved drought support for farmers.
“This is an important outcome for our advocacy efforts and shows the power of a collective voice. We will continue to stand up for our shire and work with the MAV to ensure the State Government listens to the united voice of local government,” said Cr Rabie.