Current status – panel’s report available
The independent planning panel appointed by the Minister for Planning to review Planning Scheme Amendment C162 has released its report.
Download a copy of the Melbourne Planning Scheme Amendment C162 Municipal Strategic Statement review panel report (PDF, 883kb)
The new Municipal Strategic Statement presents the major strategic direction for the future sustainable growth of the city. It specifies the areas of the city where greatest change will occur and where the Council has now completed more detailed structure planning in Southbank, City North and Arden Macaulay.
While the panel supported the strategic direction and the content of the Municipal Strategic Statement, it recommended changes to the document structure and format and minor terminology changes.
The Council will consider the recommendations of the panel report and adoption of a final version of the Municipal Strategic Statement towards the middle of the year.
To view all steps in this amendment process, download the Municipal Strategic Statement Amendment C162 – Next steps (PDF, 95kb) 
Achieving the vision
A new Municipal Strategic Statement has been prepared. It sets out a long term vision and strategy for the growth and development of the municipality to ensure the city is well-designed and managed and continues to be a liveable, vibrant and sustainable 24-hour city.
What is the Municipal Strategic Statement and Amendment C162?
The City of Melbourne manages the municipality’s land use and development through the Melbourne Planning Scheme, of which the Municipal Strategic Statement is a part. The statement sets the high level strategic direction for all the controls in the planning scheme.
Planning Scheme Amendment C162 is the legal way the City of Melbourne will include the new Municipal Strategic Statement into the Melbourne Planning Scheme.
Key directions
The key directions in the new Municipal Strategic Statement are:
- planning for long-term growth in identified areas
- a well-connected and accessible city
- new developments to complement public places and spaces
- creating an 'eco-city'
- supporting a vibrant diverse and complementary mix of uses.
Consultation
The new Municipal Strategic Statement was on public exhibition July and August 2010. Consultation is now closed.
The City of Melbourne received 152 submissions from the community and stakeholders.
In December 2010, the Future Melbourne (Planning) Committee of the Council formed a Municipal Strategic Statement subcommittee to review the administration’s assessment of the submissions and the revised Municipal Strategic Statement, and propose amendments. It considered all written submissions in addition to considering 16 verbal presentations.
Download table of submissions (Word, 968kb)
In March 2011 the Municipal Strategic Statement subcommittee approved changes to the draft MSS, based on all submissions and presentations received. This version was sent to the Minister for Planning who appointed an independent panel to review the document.
Panel hearings
An independent panel, appointed by the Minister for Planning considered submissions at public hearings from 18 to 21 July, and from 10 to 11 August.
At the panel’s request, an additional hearing was held from 12 to 16 December focusing on the urban renewal designation south of Macaulay Road in the Arden Macaulay area.