Notes from the planning coalface.
Scheme changes, VCAT decisions, and practical planning strategy — written by the planners actually running the matters.
Who pays for a protection works fight? The costs asymmetry nobody warns you about
Consultant fees are recoverable, padded claims get slashed, and almost nobody gets their hearing costs back. What the Building Appeals Board's costs decisions actually say — from a firm that has run these fights on both sides.
Victoria's Mid-Rise Housing Code: What Changes from April 2026
The new Victorian Mid-Rise Housing Code takes effect on 16 April 2026, introducing a dedicated planning pathway for four-to-six storey residential buildings. Here is what developers and architects need to understand before lodging a permit application.
VCAT appeals — when to fight, and when to re-apply
A refusal notice is not the end of the road, but an appeal isn't always the right response. A practical guide to the three forks in the road after a refusal.
Dual occupancy in Victoria — what the new Townhouse and Low-rise Code means for your project
Amendment VC267 rewrote Clause 55 from the ground up. For dual-occupancy sites, the deemed-to-comply pathway changes both the design brief and the risk profile.
Solar farms in Victoria — choosing the right approvals pathway
Solar farm planning in Victoria sits across several possible pathways depending on scale and strategy. Choosing the right one at the start saves months.
Got a site, a permit, or a refusal on your desk?
An obligation-free conversation is the fastest way to see if we can help. We respond within 24 hours — usually much sooner.