Advocacy

Protecting Our Voice in Planning

The Victorian Government is making significant changes to the state's planning system. While Mansfield Shire Council supports reform that makes planning simpler and fairer, we have serious concerns that the current process is being done without genuine consultation and threatens to silence the voices of our local community.

These top-down reforms risk removing your right to have a say on developments in your neighbourhood and could allow state-wide rules to override the local policies that protect our Shire's unique country character.

Council is standing up for our community's right to shape its own future.

Our Position: Five Principles for Fair Planning

We believe any changes to the planning system must respect our community and our landscape. Our advocacy to the State Government is built on five simple but essential principles.

  • Keep it Country: Ensure changes allow Council to protect our local vision, values, and country character.

  • Keep it Local: Ensure planning decisions for our community continue to be made locally.

  • Keep it Transparent: Ensure the community continues to be notified about planning proposals and has the right to provide input.

  • Keep it Fair: Ensure our community can participate in the planning process and has the right to have decisions reviewed.

  • Keep it Simple: Ensure any changes reduce complexity so everyone can engage in the system without undue cost.

Add Your Voice: Stand with Us for Mansfield

Your voice is powerful and essential. We are asking our community to send a clear message to the State Government that top-down planning doesn't work for Mansfield.

We have written a letter to the Minister for Planning, Sonya Kilkenny, outlining our community's concerns. We encourage you to download a copy, add your name, and send it directly to the Minister.

 Letter-to-the-Minister-Template.docx(DOCX, 34KB)

How to Send the Letter

  1. Download the letter using the link above.

  2. Add Your Details at the bottom of the letter.

  3. (Optional) Make it Personal: Add a short paragraph explaining in your own words why you are concerned. Personal stories about what you value in our community have a significant impact.

  4. Send the letter to the Minister for Planning. Contact details are included in the letter template.

 

Back to top