If residents or business owners in the municipality want to make changes to buildings on their property – such as renovating, installing a fence, erecting an advertising sign or converting a shop into a restaurant – they may need to obtain a planning permit and/or building permit before proceeding.

A planning permit is a legal document that gives permission for use or development of a particular piece of land. To obtain a permit, an application must be made to Council. After considering all aspects of the application, if Council agrees with the proposal, a planning permit can be granted. A permit is subject to a time limit and will expire under specified circumstances. Council, as the responsible authority, is entitled to impose conditions when granting a permit.

(Take the Whitehorse City Council as an example.)

The Whitehorse Landscape Guidelines have been developed to encourage well designed and sustainable landscapes across the City of Whitehorse. The guidelines identify when a landscape concept plan is required and outlines the type and amount of information to be included on the plan, this will assist with the efficient processing of planning permit applications.

There are seven key stages in the planning permit process.

Stage 1: Pre-application Discussions

Before lodging an application, it is important to find out what planning controls may apply to your property and discuss them with a Council planner. Council encourages you to discuss your proposal with us and escertain its consistency with the Whitehorse Planning Scheme and the information that you'll need to submit with your application.

Matters for potential applicants to consider include:

Find out if a planning permit is required and make sure that what you plan to do is not prohibitedAsk for a copy of the Whitehorse Planning Scheme provisions that Council will use to assess the applicationAsk whether Council is likely to support the proposal, and discuss changes that may be necessary to make the proposal acceptableTalk to your neighbours and find out any concerns they might have. This may save time later, and most appreciate the opportunity to discuss plans before the formal notice process commencesConsider getting professional advice. This will help you determine the type and details of information you will need to submit with an application and develop your ideas so they meet Council's expectations and your objectives

Stage 2: Preparing and Submitting an Application

If a permit is required, fill out an 'Application for Planning Permit' form, provide the required information and pay the stated fee. Council's Planning Department can provide you with a copy of this form. Alternatively, you can download the form by visiting the Planning Documents and Forms of this website. You can lodge the permit application in person at the Whitehorse Civic Centre in Nunawading or submit it by post. You will receive a receipt for the fee paid.

The information that you will need to include will vary depending on what you are seeking a permit for; however, the minimum information that must be submitted is as follows:

Properly completed permit application formFull payment of appropriate application feeMinimum Standard checklistA current and full copy of title (including title plan) and details of any restrictive covenants or other restrictions on the title. This title must have been searched within the last two months Properly completed covenant declaration formA cover letter/submission detailing what is proposed and responding to the relevant provisions of the Whitehorse Planning SchemeThree sets of clear and properly drafted site layout and elevation plans generally at 1:100 scaleAn A3 sized copy of all site layout and elevation plansAll the above information also needs to be submitted electronically (USB, CD or email).

Please refer to Council's planning application guides and checklists for specific information about what needs to be included for different types of planning permit applications.

Stage 3: Preliminary Assessment

After your application is submitted, you will receive an acknowledgment letter from Council that will list the application number and the planner allocated to consider the application.

As part of the preliminary assessment, the planner will check the application and advise you if more information is required and the time frame in which to lodge that information. If the information is not provided by this date, the application will lapse.

Once Council's Planning Department receives all the requested further information, the application will proceed to the next stage of the process, which includes consideration of whether or not public notification (advertising) is required.

Stage 4: Advertising A Planning Application

Once all the required information has been submitted, Council's planners decide whether to undertake public notification/advertising of the application.

If the planners are satisfied that the application will not cause material detriment to any person, the application will not be advertised.

If advertising is required, the Planning Department will issue a written direction to the applicant to advertise the application. The statutory advertising period is for 14 days.

Surrounding landowners and occupiers are notified of the permit application by letter. A notice may also be required to be displayed on the site. In particular circumstances, a notice may also appear in a newspaper that circulates in the area.

Council will require a statutory declaration from the applicant as evidence that advertising has been completed. The application won't be processed further until the advertising has been completed to Council's satisfaction and the statutory declaration returned to Council.

During the advertising period, interested parties may view the permit application documents free of charge at the Whitehorse Civic Centre in Nunawading between 8.30am and 5pm Monday to Friday. Copies of documents will attract a fee.

Stage 5: Community Participation

During the advertising period, the community is able to comment on what is proposed before Council makes its decision. Any comments received are called submissions and those that oppose a proposal are known as objections. Council must consider all submissions received when it makes its decision.

Stage 6: Assessment of the Application (the Decision)

Council's Planning Department prepares a report describing the proposal, the relevant policies and planning scheme requirements, the assessment process, any objections and the response to them.

Presentation to Council As an applicant or person making a submission, you may want to make a short presentation to Council in relation to the permit application. You can make a three-minute long presentation at Council's Special Committee Meetings. The presentation must be arranged through Council's Civic Service Department and must be in accordance with the relevant guidelines.

Please note, a permit will not be refused just because objections have been received. Council has to decide the merit of the objections and weigh up a number of planning considerations before it makes its decision.

The Decision If the application is for a major project, or there are a certain number of objections, the application may be decided at a full Council Meeting. However, in accordance with Council's Instrument of Delegation, Council may make the decision under delegation. This meansCouncil's planners make the decision rather than it being decided by the councillors. A decision made under delegation is usually quicker because the application does not have to wait for a council meeting.

If Council decides to grant a permit, and there are objections, Council can issue a Notice of Decision to Grant a Permit, but cannot issue the permit until the time for appeals.html to VCAT has passed and none have been lodged.

Notice of the Decision The permit applicant and the objectors will receive a copy of the Notice of Decision to Grant a Permit. The notice will include all the conditions the applicant must comply with, and will identify the plans to be endorsed as part of the permit. The notice does not have the same legal status as a permit, but instead signals Council's decision to grant the permit and identifies the conditions to be included on the permit.

Objectors have 21 days from the date the notice of the decision was given to lodge an application for review at VCAT. If VCAT confirms that no applications for review have been lodged within the 21 days, Council will issue the permit.

If there is an application for review, Council cannot issue the permit. Its decision to grant the permit and the permit conditions will be subject to review by VCAT. VCAT will make the final decision about the application.

Granting a Permit If Council issues a permit, the applicant will receive a copy of the permit and the endorsed plans. These are important documents and should be kept in a safe place. Don't use the endorsed plans as your working plans. A copy of the endorsed plans and permit also need to be provided to the relevant building surveyor issuing the Building Permit.

Refusal of Permit Council may refuse to grant the permit and will issue a Refusal to Grant a Permit notice. The grounds for the refusal will be listed on the notice. Council will give a copy of this notice to all parties involved in the application process.

If, as applicant, your application is refused, you have 60 days from the date that notice of the refusal is given to apply to VCAT for a review of the decision.

Stage 7: Appealing Against a Decision

The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) independently reviews decisions made by councils about planning permit applications and other planning matters. The state government appoints VCAT members who are qualified legal practitioners, planners and other specialists.

VCAT conducts public hearings and considers submissions made by all the parties. VCAT makes its assessment of the proposal's planning merits and decides whether a permit should be granted, and what permit conditions are appropriate.

An appeal to VCAT is called an Application for Review. The party making the application for review is called the Applicant for Review.

One or more VCAT members hear the case and hearings are conducted in a structured, formal way. Courteous behaviour is required and people are not allowed to interrupt or ask questions during another's presentation. A lawyer or a planner may represent parties, but this is not essential, and many permit applicants and objectors present their own submissions.

An application for review involves all parties in a considerable amount of time, effort and expense, and it should be carefully considered.

(Reference: http://www.whitehorse.vic.gov.au/Planning-Permit-Process.html )

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Architect A person who holds a degree in architecture and trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. An architect holds membership of a professional body, e.g., Australian Institute of Architects.Backfill Earth that has been removed during building excavation that is then used for other purposes such as filling a ditch around a basement or foundation wall. Backfill needs to be compacted properly or can result in the land sinking (this is also known as subsidence). (See also definition of Level 1 compaction)Building designer Similar to an architect but with different education requirements (generally TAFE) and regulations. Services are generally more affordable than those of architects.Building envelope The parts of your land lot you are entitled to build on after taking into consideration any setbacks i.e. front, rear and side (and height limits).Building permit/licence Documentation issued by a building surveyor or local council that allows proposed building work to commence.Building restrictions Residential building limits set by the local council governing things like maximum site coverage and maximum height.Completion date

The date when building works are completed, according to the contract.

Conveyancer Someone who is licensed or regulated under state law to assist in the legal aspects of buying and selling property. Conveyancing can also be carried out by a solicitor.

Custom home One-of-a-kind home designed specifically for you.

Cut and fill A technique to help level a sloping lot prior to construction by using material excavated from higher ground to create a flatter platform on which to build your home.

Draftsman Responsible for drawing (or drafting) architectural plans.

Easement A section of land on your property around which building restrictions may apply, which can be accessed by someone other than you for a specific purpose. An example is a shared driveway, or sewerage pipes. If you wish to build over a statutory easement, you will need to get consent from your local council. For other easements, you will need to get consent from other parties. All easements must be disclosed in contract documents.

Equity This is the difference between the value of your home, and how much you’re owing on it.

Exchanged contracts The stage when the buyer and seller have signed contracts, completed any cooling-off period and the deposit is paid in full. From this point, the buyer and seller are legally bound to fulfil the contract.

Fall

The height difference of a sloping block, generally measured from the corner points of the block. Fittings Items that can be removed without damaging the property. Examples are door handles/knobs, some light pendants and shades, towel rails, toilet roll holders etcFixtures Items such as basins, toilets, baths, built-in wardrobes and kitchen stoves that are attached to the property and cannot be removed without causing damage.Kit home The “IKEA” of homes. A pre-fabricated house that is delivered in parts ready to be put together, generally suited to owner-builders (people who build their own homes).Land title An official record of who owns a piece of land, including information about mortgages, covenants, caveats and easements (need to define all these i.e. caveats). Land title is transferred to the owner upon full payment for the block purchased.Lenders mortgage insurance (LMI) An insurance policy taken out against you by a bank in case you can no longer fulfill your requirements to service a loan. This is normally taken on loans that comprise an LVR amount greater than 80% of the valuation and is paid by the borrower either as a one-off lump sum or incorporated into monthly mortgage repayments.Level 1 compaction Generally an industry accepted standard for lots when filled with greater than 300mm of fill material. This is generally sufficient to allow most builders to site a home on a lot without additional site costs. Determining the appropriate amount of fill a builder will accept requires independent research. An engineer may issue an individual fill certificate for each lot.Lock-up stage (or enclosed stage) The stage when a home’s external wall cladding and roof covering is fixed, the flooring is laid and external doors and external windows are fixed (even if those doors or windows are only temporary).LVR (Loan to Value Ratio)

This metric provides guidance of your assets compared to your liabilities as a percentage. As an example if your house is worth $400,000 and you have a mortgage of $300,000 against it the LVR is 75% or 300,000/400,000.

Planning permit A legal document issued by a local council planning department that specifies what the land can be used for, including whether it has been zoned for residential development.

Plan of subdivision The dividing of one block of land into two or more blocks for separate houses or multi-level unit development.

Prime-cost item A fixture or fitting that either has not been selected, or whose price is not known at the time of entering into a building contract. The builder will estimates these prime costs when determining the total building cost.

Progress payments (also called stage payments) Payments required to your builder on completion of various stages of home building as specified in the building contract.

Project home A home design that is built multiple times by a particular builder. Variations are possible, sometimes at an extra cost. The benefits of a project homes is normally a more competitive price due to scale benefits i.e. cheaper prices passed down due to the same home being built multiple times

Property title Legally recognised proof of an individual, people or a business owning a certain property. The document providing proof of ownership is called the “title deed” or certificate of title.

Provisional sum item An estimate of the cost of carrying out particular work for which the builder, after making all reasonable inquiries, cannot give a definite amount at the time the contract is entered into.

Registered builder A builder registered or licensed to carry out building work in his or her state.

Setbacks The distance from the property boundary to certain parts of your home. For example, a 5.5m front setback to the garage allows cars to be parked on the driveway without obstructing the footpath. This helps form your building envelope, which outlines what your maximum house footprint can be. This is determined after front, rear and side setbacks are taken into consideration

Settlement This is the stage when the sale and building processes are complete and final payments have been made. You’re ready to move into your great new home or apartment! If you have purchased a land lot it entitles to build on your block of land

Valuation A process the bank uses to confirm the value of your property before proceeding to provide you with funds. The amount the valuation comes back with will determine how much you can borrow.

For more advice on buying your next property, feel free to contact us now to speak to one of our Australand Project Sales Managers today.

(Reference:http://www.frasersproperty.com.au/VIC/Point Cook/Tips and Guides/Buying/2015/12/18/A%20property%20term%20glossary)

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12.21-12.22/401 Docklands Drive, Docklands, VIC 3008

info@the9.com.au

03 8600 2829

在上周六结束的墨尔本房产拍卖中，有四分之三的房子被成交。虽然数据可喜，但整个房产市场已表现出了一些区域性的失衡，某些区域的表现明显差强人意。

目前看来，北区与南区的销售势头明显优于东区， 而过去十个月中，这个差异并不十分明显。另外，公寓市场的总体表现也低于别墅市场。

“别墅始终表现良好，但是高层公寓则被远远落下。”Elite地产的Kim Easterbrook总结说。

“但是，联排或低密度公寓的表现仍然不俗，对于喜爱住在郊区的首次置业者与投资者来说，这是他们最喜爱的户型。

高层公寓市场参差不齐，来自地产中介的数据表明，地段良好且总套数小于40的公寓项目的销量，明显优于那些位于CBD的大型公寓楼盘。

与此同时，别墅式公寓，单层联排别墅以及叠拼公寓表现稳健，然而他们在出租市场并没有太多好运气，因为目标租户在诸多选择面前早已眼花缭乱。

对于那些想要在郊区买一套单层带土地房屋的买家来说，竞争则是激烈且硝烟弥漫的，一旦有此类房产放出，大家通常都会一拥而上。

由于墨尔本郊区土地规划政策的变更，如今的开发商越来越不愿意在一块土地上只建一，两套房子，因为没有任何利润可言，但买家对这种房屋的需求则始终旺盛。

WBP房产集团的首席执行官Greville Pabst说，“大部分的郊区买家都不愿意住在高耸的公寓中，由于婴儿潮的来临，他们更喜欢拥有自己的土地与花园。虽然开发商并不愿意迎合他们的需求，但这是一个巨大的市场。”

继之前的市中心公寓与高风险区域贷款收紧政策之后，麦考瑞集团于上周发布了墨尔本市中心公寓过度供应的预警。

但是Domain研究中心的首席经济师Andrew Wilson则认为，并不是所有高层公寓都属于高风险项目，比如St Kilda。他还说，愿意在Docklands和Southbank买房的人越来越少，这也在一定程度上拉低了房价。

而于上周六结束的拍卖市场则显现出了一些区域性的差异，东区虽然依然表现良好，但已经不再是领头羊的角色，尤其在外环区域。而即将到来的本周末拍卖市场，将有843套房屋虚位以待。

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12.21-12.22/401 Docklands Drive, Docklands, VIC 3008

info@the9.com.au

03 8600 2829

墨尔本秋季拍卖市场近日报收于高点，清盘率达到了近七周以来的最高值

墨尔本拍卖市场的清盘率于周六报收于75.2%，相较于上周的73.8%有小幅增长，但相比于去年同期的82.8%则有不小的下滑。

墨尔本秋季拍卖市场清盘率均值为75.1%，相比于去年同期增长了4.9个百分点。自今年以来截止五月份的数据一路保持平稳，最高点为二月六日记录的79.2%，最低点则为五月七日的73.1%。

上周共有1065间房屋进行拍卖，比前一周的743间有大幅回升，但相较于去年同期的1099间，仍有小幅下降。

近期拍卖市场的总量相比于去年同期有一定程度的下降，但今年上半年的拍卖总量却高于去年上半年。

地区性的增长数据则显示，内环区与东部地区的整张率普遍没有北部与西部地区理想。

东南区80.8%的清盘率在周六拔得头筹，内城区80.5%紧随其后，东北区与南区内环则分别为78.8%与77.1%。其他地区数据为，北区74.6%，东区外环74.5%，西区74.1%，东区内环71.4%。

以下是周末拍卖市场销售数据：

四房别墅 - 16 Swinton Avenue, Kew 售出价450.1万

四房别墅 - 66 Champion Street, Brighton 售出价390万

四房别墅 - 99-105 Grey Street, East Melbourne 售出价389.1万

四房别墅 - 42 St Andrews Street, Brighton 售出价384万

五房别墅 - 11 Butler Street, Brighton 售出价375.1万

375.1万的Brighton海边别墅

当天最高成交价格为511万，这套五房别墅位于14 Monomeath Avenue, Canterbury，而当天最低价则是一个位于South Yarra的一房公寓。

周六拍卖最高价 511万的五房别墅 位于Canterbury

墨尔本周六当天的拍卖中间价为82.1万，稍高于上周的76万，同时也高于去年同期3.9个百分点。当天总成交金额为4.449亿。

周六最低拍卖成交价：Southyara一房公寓 26万

墨尔本秋季拍卖市场的持续火爆也给本地开发商注入了一剂强心针，本季度以来，每个周末的清盘率都超过了70%，即将到来的联邦大选似乎并没有过多地影响墨尔本本地的买家与开发商。

而墨尔本拍卖市场的寒冬即将来临，每年的六七月，都将迎来一轮清盘率与拍卖数量的双低，一些价格居高不下的地区更容易受此影响并产生一定的震荡，这种状况预计到8,9月开始才会开始好转。

但是，墨尔本秋季拍卖市场稳定的数据将给即将到来的冬季市场打好坚实的基础。

【数据来源于Domain研究中心】

12.21-12.22/401 Docklands Drive, Docklands, VIC 3008

info@the9.com.au

03 8600 2829

Woori Yallock may have slipped under most buyers’ radar, but homes in the area are selling faster than every other suburb in Melbourne.

First home buyers and house hunters now priced out of the outer east – suburbs such as Mooroolbark and Ringwood – are heading to the rural town, 56 kilometres east of the CBD.

Houses in Woori Yallock took on average 18 days to sell over the six months to March, much faster than the city-wide average of 54 days, Domain Group data shows.

This three-bedroom house 15 Shirley Crescent at Woori Yallock sold in one week.

Photo: Supplied

The fastest selling suburb for units is Ferntree Gully, where properties took on average 17 days to sell, compared with the Melbourne unit average of 84 days.

The data includes only private sales and suburbs with more than 10 results over the period, which excludes one-third of sales achieved through a standard auction campaign.

4 Corandirk Place, Yallambie

Photo: Supplied

Domain Group chief economist Andrew Wilson said days on market – or the rate of sale – was another measure of demand and correlates with prices growth.

Affordability was a key driver of demand in pockets such as Worri Yallock, he said, which was drawing first home buyers as well as those looking for a semi-green change environment.

Home buyers priced out of the inner outer east were now looking in the outer fringe of the outer east, he said.

Ashleigh Hall, director at Professionals Yarra Valley, said houses in area – from Warburton to Woori Yallock – were selling “extremely fast” because of a shortage of properties.

Many people bought their first home in Woori Yallock, and would look to upgrade to a house closer to the city to be near work or family, he said.

The fastest selling suburb for units is Ringwood.

Photo: Supplied

But with house values soaring in the outer-eastern suburbs, Mr Hall said first-home owners were less likely to sell.

“There’s less coming on because they can’t afford to make that step up into their second home,” he said.

Mr Hall said most houses in Woori Yallock sold on average between $350,000 and $400,000.

A three-bedroom house on 760 square metres at 15 Shirley Crescent in Woori Yallock took just a week to sell last November.

Five prospective buyers, of mainly first home buyers, place an offer on the property which fetched $361,000.

Houses in Oakleigh, 15 kilometres south-east of the CBD, took on average 21 days to sell over the six months to March.

Woodards director Richard Williams attributed the demand in Oakleigh and Oakleigh South to a lack of stock.

People were discovering the amenities the area offered, including nearby Monash University, Medical Centre and Chadstone shopping centre, he said.

Oakleigh was also more affordable compared with surrounding suburbs such as Bentleigh, Malvern, Murrumbeena and Carnegie.

Many Oakleigh houses were auctioned, and even those selling privately drew two or three keen buyers, Mr Williams said.

Ringwood came in second on the list of fastest selling suburbs for units.

Barry Plant Ringwood director Aaron Chuah said villa units and townhouses were more in demand than apartments.

“In a market that is now getting quite expensive – with where Ringwood is going – units is still the entry level,” he said.

“First home buyers now-a-days are spending $600,000 to $800,000 on their first home, and that enables them to get into a newish, a-couple-of-years old townhouse or unit.

“A lot of investors are investing in Ringwood, and their first preference is to look at units, being a cheaper option, than to buy a full house.”

Ringwood properties used to sell privately, he said, but most properties in the suburb were now auctioned.

Mr Chuah said a townhouse or villa unit would attract about 80 or 90 inspections, and about five or six offers over a month.

(Reference: Christina Zhou, Domain Reporter, 15 May 2016. http://www.domain.com.au/news/melbournes-fastest-selling-suburbs-for-houses-and-units-20160513-gothf4/ )