PSP is short for Precinct Structure Plan. A Precinct Structure Plan is a master plan which sets out the location and requirements for future growth in a particular area.
Victorian Planning Authority (VPA) along with Council identifies areas for growth. For this instance, Baw Baw Shire’s growth areas were identified through Settlement Management Plan 2013.
After the growth areas are identified then the following steps are followed:
The following consultations occurred as part of the preparation and finalisation of the PSPs:
PSP’s are created by the State Government in conjunction with the local Council. They are created for areas experiencing significant growth. The benefit of a PSP is that growth is planned for in advance, with infrastructure items like shopping centres, schools, parks, walking tracks and road links all pre-planned. This is to ensure that the level of infrastructure provided is appropriate for the increased population predicted and located in positions central to the intended users.
PSPs are self-funding with the major infrastructure funded by a Development Contribution Plan (DCP). All Developers in the PSP area are required to contribute financially to the DCP, which is then used to fund road, drainage, parks, walking track, community centre and recreation reserve projects. Click here to learn more about DCPs and how they work.
No, planning permit applications in a PSP area are not subject to advertising to neighbouring properties or the wider community. This is because community consultation was carried out as an important part of the creation of the PSP, with the community able to raise concerns or important considerations at that time.