Our proposed framework for Victorian reform

The decision we are asking government to make

Establish a joint planning, environment and health process to develop explicit separation requirements for retail petrol stations and sensitive land uses. Publish the evidence basis, identify the amendment pathway and consult on a practical implementation package.

Five elements that need to work together

• Coverage: protect existing and approved sensitive uses and address the reverse development direction.
• A binding minimum: give the siting decision a clear starting point.
• Assessment: consider throughput, operating hours, delivery events, buildings, background sources and contamination pathways.
• Continuing obligations: require suitable controls, tests, maintenance, records and responses to faults.
• Implementation: define measurement, referrals, enforcement and transition, including regional needs.

Build on existing obligations

The campaign does not claim that Victorian stations are unregulated. The current framework includes planning provisions and environmental duties. The reform question is whether an explicit, comprehensive separation rule would better prevent avoidable close interfaces. [41] [45]

Our consultation documents set out options for technical and legal review. They do not report an enacted amendment, a government commitment or an independently endorsed minimum. We are asking representatives and councils to help move that work into a public policy process.

Download the policy brief · Read the detailed proposal · Use the council resolution