Transport Planning & Policy Framework

Responsibilities for planning and managing transport infrastructure and systems is spread across all three levels of government within Australia.  The Federal and State Governments have an important role to play in the development and management of all transport systems and in establishing the policy framework within which local governments act.  Obtaining an understanding of this will help to inform and support the development of your local transport strategies.  We hope that this section assists you in this regard. 

We will endeavour to keep this section current and welcome your assistance in doing so.  To contribute, please e-mail adminthinkingtransport [dot] org [dot] au.

Federal Government - Legislative & Policy Framework

• Disability Discrimination Act 1992
• Australian Transport Council (various strategies and charters, e.g. National Road Safety Action Plan 2009-2010)

 State Government - Legislative Framework

• Accident Towing Services Act 2007
• Business Franchise (PP) Act 1979
• Bus Safety Act 2009
• Local Government Act 1989
• Major Transport Projects Facilitation Act 2009
• Marine Act 1988
• Planning and Environment Act 1987
• Planning and Environment (Planning Schemes) Act 1996
• Pollution of Waters by Oil and Noxious Substances Act 1986
• Port Services Act 1995
• Public Transport Competition Act 1995
• Rail Corporations Act 1996
• Rail Safety Act 2006
• Road Management Act 2004
• Road Safety Act 1986
• Road Safety (Vehicles) Regulations 1999
• Transport Act 1983

Bills

• Transport Integration Bill, introduced into Parliament December 2009

State Government - Policy Framework

• The Victorian Transport Plan, December 2008
• Victorian Cycling Strategy, March 2009
• Freight Futures: Victorian Freight Network Strategy for a more prosperous and liveable Victoria, December 2008
• Green Triangle Region: Freight Action Plan (a joint initiative of the Vic & SA Govts), April 2009
• Port Futures: new priorities and directions for Victoria's ports system, August 2009
  
  • Port of Hastings: Port Land Use and Transport Strategy, August 2009
  • Port of Portland: Land Use Strategy, August 2009
  • Port of Geelong: Land Use Strategy, August 2009
  • Port of Melbourne: Port Development Strategy - 2035 vision, August 2009
• Maintaining Mobility: The Transition from Driver to Non-driver, 2007 (policy framework report to inform discussion and identify practical actions)
• Melbourne @ 5 million, a planning update, December 2008
• Delivering Melbourne's Newest Sustainable Communities, July 2009 (addresses the UGB revision for Melbourne, proposed alignment of the Regional Rail Link and the Outer Metropolitan Ring / E6 Transport Corridor and the management of grassland reserves in the West)
• Growing Victoria Together, sets the vision for Victoria to 2010 and beyond.  For transport, the goal of growing and linking all of Victoria appears most relevant.
• Victorian Climate Change Green Paper, June 2009.  For transport, refer section 3.3.
• VicRoads, Resource Kit for Public Transport on Roads, provides guidelines for planning and operating public transport on roads.
  
• arrive alive 2008 – 2017: the Victorian Government’s 10 year road safety strategy
• DOT Plan 2009 - three-year strategic plan, updated annually, that outlines the priorities for the transport portfolio over the next three years.
• Health Promotion Priority Setting for 2007-2012, Dept of Human Services

Previous State Policies

• Melbourne 2030
  • Integrated Transport Plan
• Meeting our Transport Challenges (MOTC), May 2006
• Linking Victoria: Metropolitan Transport Plan, March 2000
• North East Integrated Transport Study

State Government - Planning Framework

• Growth Area Framework Plans (GAFP)
  • Growth Area Authority, an independent statutory body that oversees the preparation of the precinct structure plans for specified growth areas within Melbourne's Urban Growth Boundary (UGB).
• Precinct Structure Planning Guidelines
• State Planning Policy Framework (SPPF)
• Victoria Planning Provisions (VPP)

Local Government - Planning Framework

• Local Planning Policy Framework (LPPF)
  • Municipal Strategic Statement (MSS)
  • Local policy

Regional Strategies

• Making Melbourne More Liveable - Inner Melbourne Action Plan (IMAP), developed by the municipalities of Melbourne, Stonnington (west of Kooyong Rd), Port Phillip, Yarra and Docklands and adopted by each member council in December 2005.