The Elsternwick Structure Plan sets out the long-term vision for the busy central Elsternwick area.
Elsternwick Structure Plan 2023
We have developed the Elsternwick Structure Plan 2023 to help guide growth in suitable areas and ensure any growth contributes to our high-quality streets, public open spaces, heritage character and amenity.
Key elements
The plan includes a range of elements, such as:
- development and future land use
- transport and parking
- types and heights of buildings
- employment
- open spaces
- infrastructure
- heritage and character.
Local and State Governments can use structure plans to make decisions about developments, investments and infrastructure improvements. They can also inform community members and developers about what change is expected and allowed in certain areas.
Current status
Council adopted the final Elsternwick Structure Plan 2023 on 15 August 2023. Officers prepared planning controls presented to Council on 19 March 2024, and received endorsement to seek authorisation from the minister of Planning to prepare a planning scheme amendment. The official amendment process will take place once we have received authorisation from the Minister of Planning. For more information on the plan, contact our City Futures Team on 03 9524 3333.
What happens next?
A structure plan is an important step toward creating a planning scheme amendment.
Next, we will prepare draft planning controls for Council to endorse and the Minister for Planning to authorise. Then we will prepare a planning scheme amendment.
The purpose of the amendment is to introduce permanent planning controls into the Glen Eira Planning Scheme. It happens in a few steps.
| Step 1: Authorisation | We’ll seek authorisation from the Minister for planning to prepare an amendment. The Minister authorises the amendment. |
| Step 2: Exhibition | You will be notified and can have your say through a written ‘submission’. |
| Step 3: Consider submissions | We’ll consider the submissions. Using this feedback, we’ll choose to abandon, change or refer the amendment to an independent planning panel. |
| Step 4: Planning panel hearing | If the amendment is referred to a planning panel and if you lodged a submission, during step 2, you can request to be heard at the panel hearing. Your submission would be referred to the panel regardless. |
| Step 5: Consider panel report | We'll consider the panel report and may make changes to the amendment, adopt it as recommended by the panel or abandon the amendment. |
| Step 6: Approval | If we change or adopt the amendment, it’s referred to the Minister for Planning for approval. It’s then gazetted and is incorporated into the Planning Scheme. |
Interim planning controls
The Department of Transport and Planning has provided written confirmation that the interim Design and Development Overlays (DDOs) in Bentleigh, Carnegie and Elsternwick Major Activity Centres have been extended to 31 December 2025.
These interim DDOs provide ongoing height and setback controls for the Commercial and Mixed Use Zones in the three centres. The controls in Carnegie and Bentleigh are mandatory and in Elsternwick, they are discretionary. The interim DDOs have been in place since 2018 and extended six times. This most recent extension was granted because Council was able to demonstrate progress with our strategic planning work; in particular, the adoption of the Housing Strategy and preparation of the new structure plans.
To find out more on the Elsternwick interim Design and Development Overlays, visit the Department of Transport and Planning's website.
