Planning And Land Use

The comprehensive planning laws governing land use in Victoria can impede efficient land use and development. Often local governments take liberties in the exercise of discretion in the rezoning of land and the issuing of permits for land use.

Councils have very significant power but not untrammelled power. Where local councils do not know the boundaries of their power,  a private landowner or developer can suffer long delays and serious costs. Access and use of strategic legal advice will reduce the costs and delay. Permits will be won, which will be valuable where local councils are required to comply with the planning scheme. Often the council officers act outside of their legal authority and do not know what to do with an application.

McDonald Murholme provides fast, efficient and affordable planning law advice. The advice complements the work of other necessary professionals, who include:

• Town planners
• Surveyors
• Landscapers
• Engineers
• CHMP consultants

We undertake the legal work to ensure that the work of these other professionals is not unnecessarily protracted by council officers. We make council officers accountable for their actions under threat of legal proceedings, which, unfortunately, are often necessary where a council fails to issue a permit to which the applicant is entitled within a reasonable time. VCAT and courts are not anti-development but many council officers are.

The lawyers of McDonald Murholme have more that 40 years of experience successfully dealing with councils and the legal problems they through up.

Call us for a free one hour consultation to allow us to advise whether or not you have a legal problem with which we can assist.