Council's achievements in planning 2024

Published on 24 January 2025

Council’s focus on reducing planning permit application times saw the rollout of a new online portal in 2024, together with continued strong performance in assessing applications.

The new portal is powered by Greenlight and accommodates both planning and building permit applications. It gives applicants greater and easier control over their application and provides instant status updates.

Council officers can more efficiently manage open applications and connect with permit applicants, developers and stakeholders through Greenlight. An example of this is the new option for online payments, avoiding the need for officers to spend time processing payments manually via phone. The time to determine new applications has already decreased since Council began using the new system.

Kirsty Swinton from Taylor Engineering + Design spoke highly of the portal.

“Greenlight has given me greater control over my communication with Council staff, including across different departments,” she said.

“There’s more accountability and traceability of my requests and applications.

“Where there were teething issues, Council dealt with them quickly and graciously.

“Overall, Greenlight works well for me. It is an effective management tool that I feel will only improve,” Ms Swinton said.

The portal will continue to be improved as Council adapts to the new functionality and receives more feedback from users.

Council received 157 planning permit applications during 2024. 167 applications were determined, representing approximately $42.3 million of development in Mansfield Shire.

The average time for Council to determine an application was 46.5 days, lower than the statutory timeframe of 60 days and the current statewide average of 128.7 days. Sixty-nine percent of applications in Mansfield Shire were determined within the statutory timeframe.

Mayor Cr Steve Rabie said Council is planning for growth in several ways.

“Council can’t control population growth, but we can respond to the challenges it brings,” he said.

“Adopting Greenlight means we can process planning and building applications in a more timely manner. That’s an important part of keeping up with our Shire’s demand for homes.

“We’re also developing strategic plans to guide the future of our outlying communities. We engage with those communities and listen to what they value about their area now, as well as what new amenities and services are needed and where Council can help,” said Cr Rabie.

Strategic plans for Bonnie Doon and Merton have already been completed. Work is underway on plans for Goughs Bay and the Delatite Valley.

"We’re continuing to work on amendments to the Mansfield Planning Scheme so we can protect the character of our towns when it comes to new development applications,” Cr Rabie said.

“Amendment C56mans is one example currently out for public exhibition, focussing on Mansfield’s township approaches. Other amendments are ready to go and just waiting for approval from the Department of Planning,” he said.

Greenlight can be accessed via Council’s website: mansfield.vic.gov.au. For information on upcoming strategic plans and planning scheme amendments visit engage.mansfield.vic.gov.au.