Amendment C210dare approved and gazetted into the Darebin Planning Scheme on 5 June 2025.

In 2024 we sought your feedback on proposed changes to Darebin's open space contribution rates.

The new Amendment changes the schedule to Clause 53.01 by removing the existing mandatory open space contribution rates of 2%, 3% and 4% for subdivisions creating two, three and four additional lots.

Instead, a 5% contribution is now enabled for these types of subdivision under the state standard provisions of the Subdivision Act 1988.

Further details of the planning scheme amendment, including the Explanatory Report are available on the Department of Transport and Planning’s website.

Access to open space is important for the health, wellbeing and cohesion of communities.

As our population grows, the need for accessible and high-quality open space also grows. Council’s adopted open space strategy, Breathing Space: The Darebin Open Space Strategy (Breathing Space), outlines the open space need in Darebin and sets out strategies and actions for improving and expanding the public open space network in the City of Darebin.

The previous ‘sliding scale’ for smaller subdivisions of up to four additional lots limited Council’s ability to collect contributions that match the need for more and better open space in Darebin.

Council considers Amendment C210dare as an important first step to responding to Darebin’s open space needs in the short term. Council is working on further changes to the open space contribution rate to support open space improvements needed as our community grows into the future.

Ask us a question

If you have any questions about the proposed planning scheme amendment, you can contact Brad Spinks on 8470 8586 or email planningservices@darebin.vic.gov.au

What has happened so far?

At its meeting on 9 October 2023, Council resolved to seek authorisation from the Minister for Planning to prepare and exhibit Amendment C210dare.

Council received Ministerial authorisation to prepare and exhibit the amendment on 12 January 2024.

The proposed amendment was exhibited from 22 February 2024 to 22 March 2024 (1 month).

Council considered submissions to the amendment at its meeting on 22 July 2024. Council resolved to refer all submissions to the Amendment to an independent planning panel.

In September 2024 the planning panel issued its report, concluding that the amendment was well-founded and strategically justified and recommending that it be adopted without changes.

At its meeting on Monday 16 December 2024, Council considered the planning panel findings and adopted Amendment C210dare as exhibited. The details of the Council’s decision, including the officer’s report are available in the Council Meeting Minutes.