Council may advertise planning applications before making a decision on the application. Latrobe City Council advertises planning permit application documents for viewing to the public.
Please note: not all documents related to advertised planning permit applications are available for viewing online. To inspect all documents and plans submitted with an application, please attend the relevant Service Centre during office hours 8.30am to 5.15pm.
Making an Objection
If you feel a planning permit application may negatively affect you, you can lodge an objection with Council.
An objection must be made in writing, and provide the reason(s) for your objection, including how the proposal would affect you if a permit was granted. Constructive suggestions on how your concerns could be addressed through changes to the proposal are welcomed. The objection must also include your name and address, the planning permit application number and the address of the proposal.
An objection can be made individually or jointly. We understand that it may be beneficial and effective for a group of community members or residents who share certain interests or concerns to lodge an objection together. Lodging individually is recommended where you have concerns that specifically relate to you.
Where a joint objection is submitted, the head signatory is considered to be the representative of the submission, which counts as a single objection. Where there is more than one person at the same address objecting, this is considered as a single objection. Council will send all correspondence to the first name listed on the objection.
Under existing planning laws, Council’s ability to consider some submissions is limited. Council can only consider submissions that:
- Relate to the applicable zone and overlay controls and applicable policies within the Planning Scheme, and
- Are within the scope of the Planning and Environment Act.
For example, we cannot consider the following factors as a valid submission:
- Loss of property values – i.e. development in your area results in a reduction in your property’s value
- Side Fencing – i.e. the impact a proposal will have on boundary fencing between two private properties. This is considered under the Fences Act, and should be discussed with your neighbour
- Impact of the construction process – i.e. if the construction process will create dust or damage property. This is covered in a building permit stage
- Impact on availability of street parking if an application does not seek to reduce the statutory car parking requirement
Before submitting an objection, please review the application to understand what will be assessed, and for requirements that may be exempt from assessment. This will help ensure we can consider your concerns.
Objections can be forwarded to Latrobe City Council by mail to PO BOX 264, Morwell or by email to latrobe@latrobe.vic.gov.au or online. Please note that you must register to submit an online objection. You can submit an objection up until a decision is made on the permit application, which means we must have received your objection prior to that time.
Please note: pursuant to Section 57(5) of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 your objection, including your name and residential address, will become a public document available to the public for viewing only in person at Latrobe City Council Headquarters at 141 Commercial Road, Morwell until a decision is made on the application and the review (appeals) period for that decision has ended. Privacy laws do not limit who can view and read an objection. A copy may be provided to the permit applicant to enable them to assess whether any grounds of the objection can be addressed. If you wish to view objections, this is to be organised by appointment.
Once a decision has been made and the review period ended, access to objections may be sought through Freedom of Information. Further information on Freedom of Information is available here.