Refusals put into context

The data behind a report identifying Baw Baw Shire as one of the five worst regional municipalities in Victoria for not granting planning permits has been clarified by the shire's planning and development director Leanne Hurst.
Ms Hurst said a story in The Gazette last week, describing Baw Baw as one of the five worst municipalities in Victoria for the time taken to approve planning applications was incorrect.
The information was provided to The Gazette from the Premier's office, referring to state government statistics on a planning permit activity reporting website.
Ms Hurst said councils were required to upload their planning activity data to the website.
She said the summaries distributed by the government's media office have quoted "top five" for metro and "top five" for regional councils, for both "speed of determining applications" and "for not granting permits."
Baw Baw was list in the second category, alongside Indigo, Towong, Hindmarch and Greater Shepparton, recognising them as the top five municipalities for not granting permits.
Ms Hurst said this did not mean Baw Baw had been identified as one of the five worst municipalities for time taken to approve planning applications.
"Baw Baw was identified as one of the five worst regional councils for not granting permits, however this statistic warrants further context.
"The reasons planning permit applications may not be granted can include a variety of factors, including: being withdrawn by the applicant, lapsing, no permit being required, or a refusal to grant a permit.
Ms Hurst said the figure quoted by the government was that 21 per cent of permits were not granted by Baw Baw Shire compared to the regional council average of 15 per cent.
"The 21 per cent appears to have been calculated as a percentage of determinations made in the 2022/23 financial year.
"In that period Baw Baw Shire Council made 528 planning determinations, of which 412 resulted in permits issued. Of those permits not issued, 102 determinations were as a result of applications either being withdrawn, having lapsed, or where a permit was not required. Only seven refusals were issued by Baw Baw Shire," Ms Hurst said.