Cardinia Planning Scheme Review 2026

The Cardinia Planning Scheme is a legislative document that sets out the planning policies, objectives, strategies, and controls for use, development, protection, and conservation of land across the Shire.  

Each local government area across Victoria has their own planning scheme. A planning scheme includes state, regional and local policies and maps that identify where planning zones, and overlays apply to land. These components direct how land can be used and developed, how buildings can be built, and when a planning permit is needed. The purpose of a planning scheme is to make sure land use and development align with the State Government’s planning objectives and the community's vision for planning in Cardinia Shire. 

All Victorian local Councils must regularly review their planning scheme in accordance with the Planning and Environment Act 1987, and the findings must be reported to the Minister for Planning once the review is complete. 

The Cardinia Planning Scheme Review will focus on: 

• Responding to Victorian Government planning objectives. 
• Responding to Victorian Government planning reforms. 
• Identifying what’s working well and what could be improved. 
• Identifying drafting or mapping mistakes. 
• Evaluating progress of recommendations of the last Planning Scheme Review. 
• Assessing alignment with the goals of the Cardinia Shire Council Plan 2025. 
• Responding to land use trends. 
• Identifying whether any new policies are needed. 
• Identifying any ‘further strategic work’ needed. 
• Preparing a plan to implement the Planning Scheme Review findings. 

The Cardinia Planning Scheme Review 2026 will not involve changing zoning or overlays for specific properties and will be a high-level analysis of the Planning Scheme as a whole. 

Council encourages the community to participate by completing an online survey available on the Creating Cardinia website. These surveys provide an opportunity for the community and other interested parties to voice their opinions. 

During this initial phase of consultation Council is seeking feedback from anyone with experiences or ideas about the Cardinia Planning Scheme or the planning application process. This feedback will help shape the Draft Cardinia Planning Scheme Review 2026 report. The report will be shared with the community in early-mid 2026 for further community consultation. 

This first phase of consultation on the Cardinia Planning Scheme Review 2026 closes on 10 December 2025. For more information and to share your feedback in a survey, please visit www.cardinia.vic.gov.au/haveyoursay