Plan2Place Consulting were engaged by DTP in 2023 to provide structure planning guidance applicable to regional settings. The Regional Planning Partnerships team, through engagement with 48 rural and regional councils had identified a need for structure planning guidance that is less metro-focused and more applicable to smaller towns.

The new materials produced by Plan2Place Consulting, set forward in the example Emerald Town Structure Plan, incorporated scenarios for growth and stability across different town types, including towns, villages, and hamlets, addressing the unique constraints and characteristics of these areas, and simplifying the process away from the more complex metropolitan model. Testing with local and state government, the VPA and Planning Panels provided significant insights in developing the materials.

The project has refined Planning Practice Note 58 for activity centres developing new, nuanced guidance for smaller towns. This includes a matrix of information requirements based on setting, and comprehensive advice on preparing structure plans, background reports and resources, and a model plan, titled Emerald Town Structure Plan.

The guidance emphasises a consistent streamlined approach to ensure that information requirements, strategic considerations, and budgetary implications are well understood by councils, government departments, agencies, and the community. This structured planning approach aims to provide local government with the tools to prepare structure plans in a timely, consistent and budget consistent manner.

The guidance is currently being tested in a number of settings across Victoria with complementary feedback to date.