The Policy applies to land declared as freeway under Section 14 of the Road Management Act. This includes the freeway carriageway and the ramps connecting to the freeway, and related segments of road declared as freeway.
The Policy applies to roads declared as freeways.
Freeways are generally part of routes that are classified as M Routes. In many cases the entire length of an M route is not declared as freeway, such as the sections of an M route that pass through a town. Freeways are therefore a subset of M Routes.
Structure of the Policy
The Policy comprises two parts listed below. Each part provides Key Requirements and Principles which will be used when assessing proposals seeking access under these scenarios:
- Part A(opens in a new window) applies to freeways connections for general public use and can be triggered by access being sought to the freeway network (usually at a location where a road, private road or access point seeks connection to a freeway) as well as by proposals seeking access to the arterial or local road network that may impact on a freeway.
- Part B (opens in a new window)of the policy applies to proposals for new authorised access for emergency services, utilities, VicTrack and private land for both existing declared freeways and future freeways.
Planning processes
The Policy provides guidance to support planning processes and preparation of development proposals in the proximity of a freeway. It applies to the following planning processes under the Planning and Environment Act which involve applications for freeway access or that are in proximity to a freeway:
- Planning permit applications
- Planning scheme amendments
- Combined planning scheme amendment planning permit
While the Policy is not applicable to development of and amendments to Precinct Structure Plans and Activity Centre Structure Plans, the principles in the Policy may be of assistance during these processes, to identify preferable approaches when there is a need to change or establish freeway interchanges. The Policy will not apply to a planning scheme amendment to formalise and give the structure plan statutory weight at the end of a structure planning process but can apply to any subsequent planning scheme amendments.
Subsequent planning permit applications and planning scheme amendments associated with delivery of Precinct Structure Plans and Activity Centre Structure Plans may trigger the Policy, if they impact on freeways.
Additionally, while not covered by the Planning and Environment Act, any applications involving Commonwealth land should follow the process to the extent possible. The access proponent will still need to comply with the Road Management Act and obtain Head, Transport for Victoria's consent to access a Victorian freeway from adjacent Commonwealth land, including complying with Head, Transport for Victoria's access conditions.
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