Melton City Council

## Melton City Council Planning Department Analysis **Melton City Council is exceptionally developer-friendly**, particularly for residential developments and subdivisions, reflecting their status as Victoria's highest growth target council with 132,000 new dwellings planned by 2051. The council has built substantial expertise managing **large-scale greenfield developments** through their extensive Precinct Structure Plan (PSP) framework across growth areas like Caroline Springs, Rockbank, and Cobblebank. **Processing times are generally competitive** for subdivision applications, as the department has scaled up to handle the massive growth pipeline that has driven 433% housing growth over three decades. However, **referral authority delays** from agencies like Melbourne Water and VicRoads can create bottlenecks, particularly for major subdivisions requiring infrastructure coordination. The planning department operates as a **well-resourced, growth-oriented team** with strong institutional knowledge of managing large residential projects. They take a **pragmatic, supportive approach** to applications that align with their growth corridor mandate, though they maintain stricter controls in established townships and rural living areas designated for minimal change. **Strategic priorities heavily favor residential density** and subdivision development, making Melton one of Victoria's most predictable councils for housing developers seeking streamlined approvals in designated growth areas.