VICTORIAN Planning Minister Matthew Guy last week announced that car parking provisions for Victoria have been reformed.

Mr Guy said reforms to the planning scheme would provide for greater clarity and certainty, a reduction in resource and administrative costs and more streamlined and informed decision-making.

The Minister said the new provisions highlight the government's commitment to improving the planning system, while enabling councils to easily adapt to new provisions for their local planning needs.

According to the government, the new car parking provisions to be incorporated in planning schemes include:

• Streamlined provisions, and clarifying when a permit is required;
• Simplified opportunities for councils to localise the standard car parking requirements;
• Clearer decision guidelines; and
• More transparent mapping of areas with special local car parking requirements.

Mr Guy said particular attention has been placed on urban design, neighbourhood character and safety in car parking design to achieve a high quality urban environment.

"Enhancing Victoria's liveability through sustainable and managed growth depends on making good planning decisions and encouraging alternative modes of transport where possible, such as walking, cycling and public transport," Mr Guy said.

The Coalition Government established an independent Advisory Committee to provide advice, saying the former Labor government failed to act on a 2008 report into improving the system for car parking.

The new provisions implement the advice of the committee with the input of local councils, peak bodies and trader associations.

The new provisions and related documents (including a copy of the 2011 Advisory Committee report) are available from the Department of Planning and Community Development website at <http://www.dpcd.vic.gov.au/planning>. The changes to the car parking provisions in planning schemes came into effect as of 5 June 2012.