Warrnambool loses say in residential building approvals under state fast-track
New fast-track planning rules in Victoria have stripped Warrnambool City Council's say in residential development.
Victoria's fast-track planning rules, rolled out last year as the biggest overhaul in 38 years, have left Warrnambool City Council with almost no voice in residential development. The impact is stark: planning applications the council reviews dropped from 15 in 2022 to just 2 in 2025.
Councillor Bill Edis raised concerns in early November, saying permits are now taken by the state with no consultation. The changes removed the right for residents to object to most residential development.
Councillor Richard Ziegeler called this "completely un-Australian", saying it could reshape the region without community input. The state aimed to cut red tape and speed housing approvals.
But councillors say the trade-off is losing local control: 80 per cent of their permits are issued within 60 days, yet they now have almost no say in most housing decisions.
- Warrnambool
- Council location
- 15 in 2022 to 2 in 2025
- Planning applications drop
- 38 years prior
- Planning system overhaul
- 80 per cent in 60 days
- Permits within standard timeframe
Why it mattersLocal communities lose the power to shape how their neighbourhoods develop, and building decisions now bypass the councils that know their regions best.
AustraliaWarrnambool residents can no longer object to most new residential builds. This fast-track model is part of a statewide Victorian push to approve housing faster, affecting how towns across the state can plan their futures.
