News

Thomas & George P/L has a feature article in the latest issue of the national "The Surveyor" magazine (issue 25). This follows on from our win in the 2024 National Surveying Consultancy Excellence Awards (1-10 Employees) category.

We often receive quote requests for a survey of a property, with minimal detail provided as to the underlying purpose for survey request.
I need a Feature & Level Survey of My Property?
I need my Title Boundaries surveyed?
This blog article explains the difference between a Quote and a Fee Proposal, so that the consumer can recognise what they have received in response to their enquiry.

There is one certainty in property development – Government & Government Departments whether they be Federal, State or Local, will always make sure they get a piece of the action through taxes/Levies on property and property development when an opportunity arises.

Reform of the LDRZ Subdivision provisions has a detailed history over the last 10-12 years within Yarra Ranges. Recent correspondence received from Council indicates shire wide review of the LDRZ subdivision provisions may commence in 2025, as per the recently adopted Housing Strategy.

Surveyors Australia this week held their National Congress in Queenstown, New Zealand.
The team at Thomas & George Licensed Surveyors were announced as the 2024 winners of the
Surveying Consultancy Excellence Awards in the 1-10 Employee Category.

It is possible in some situations to apply for a 2nd dwelling on Low Density Residential Zone allotments of less than 8000m² in Shire of Yarra Ranges, where the density of neighboring residential character supports a higher density of development on the subject land.

There is a subtle difference in these terms within the Planning, Development, Building Permit and subdivision processes, for which the lay person who is not familiar with these various processes can easily create confusion. This blog article provides an explanation of their meaning.

The State Government has recently made significant changes to the Planning Schemes and Land Use Term definitions across the state, which in some instances will exclude planning permit requirement for small second Dwellings on land with an existing dwelling (subject to criteria)
If considering a Small 2nd Dwelling (Tiny Home) on your allotment, we recommend seeking specialist Consultancy advice, to ensure your proposal is compliant with the Local Planning Scheme and Building Permit regulations...

Planning Amendment C198 has been approved by the Planning Minister. This Planning Amendment introduces Specific Control Overlay SCO16 and the Warburton Mountain Bike Destination Project (Southern Network) Incorporated Document, October 2023 into the Yarra Ranges Planning Scheme. This is another step in progression for the development of the Southern Network of mountain biking trails around Warburton.

The Victorian Government has today announced that new home builds and subdivisions from 2024 will be prohibited from having mains gas connections.

The Planning Minister has this week approved the adoption and implementation of Yarra Ranges Planning Amendment C208, which enables the site specific amendment of the planning zone of a Mt Evelyn property to Low Density Residential Zone - Schedule 2.

The State Government is implementing the Windfall Gains Tax (WGT) from 1st July 2023.
Any land subject to a rezoning occurring after 1/07/2023 which results in a Value Uplift of greater than $100000, may be subject to the Windfall Gains Tax, unless satisfying the exemptions & exclusions.

The following information provides some preliminary planning considerations that should be considered by purchasers of "vacant" rural land within the Green Wedge Areas of the Shire of Yarra Ranges, which includes both the Rural Conservation Zone (RCZ) & Green Wedge Zones (GWZ).

Planning Amendment C166 has amended the Schedule to Clause 51.03 – Upper Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges Regional Strategy to re-include a permit requirement for specified earthworks, filling, landforming, excavations and retaining walls, which was inadvertently removed in Planning amendment C97.

Planning Amendment C148 introduced significant changes to the Yarra Ranges Planning Scheme on 01 December 2022.
Planning Amendment C195 was implemented the following day (02/12/2022), which rearranged and redistributed some of the Local Policy Amendments introduced by Amendment C148, into the Purpose & Vision & Planning Policy Framework components of the Planning Scheme.