The Victorian State Government will provide $8.3 million in new funding to help councils and developers with planning needs, the Minister for Planning said today.

Planning Minister Justin Madden said the 2010 Expert Assistance Program was instrumental in helping councils create vital, attractive, sustainable and safe activity centres across metropolitan Melbourne.

“This funding will give developers and councils in Melbourne’s activity centres and strategic redevelopment sites access to experts who can offer technical advice on a wide range of planning issues,” Mr Madden said.

“It provides great support for local government to update and strengthen local planning strategies and schemes so that communities, developers and councils have greater certainty about what they can and cannot do.

“It is essential to ensuring the smooth delivery of government policy in our communities that need them the most.”

Mr Madden said the Expert Assistance Program (EAP) was being expanded to allow opportunities for developers committed to projects on important strategic redevelopment sites to apply for support through the program.

“The EAP will give councils and developers access to advice from a range of planning experts to help them implement structure plans and better plan for the needs of local communities,” he said.

“This program will help local government do the groundwork we need to accommodate Victoria’s growing population while maintaining our liveability and fulfilling our commitment to sustainability.”

Mr Madden said more than 80 projects had been funded through the EAP program since it was launched in 2004.

“This new round of funding will help councils achieve the aims of state planning policy such as Melbourne 2030 and Melbourne @ 5 million,” Mr Madden said.

“The EAP supports the work that many councils and developers are undertaking in identifying strategic redevelopment sites in the established areas of Melbourne and planning for their renewal and redevelopment.”

For more information on the Expert Assistance Program go to www.dpcd.vic.gov.au