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Planning & Environment update: faster resolution of cases
30 August 2024
Since the expansion of the Compulsory Conference program commencing in 2021, the Tribunal’s Planning and Environment Division now sees a significant number of proceedings fully or partially resolved at the Compulsory Conference or shortly afterwards. This has reduced the number of matters progressing to a hearing.
The success of the Compulsory Conference program, in combination with the appointment of three new members in 2023, has provided increased capacity for additional Compulsory Conferences and hearings. This in turn facilitates earlier case resolution and reduced wait times.
Key initiatives commencing 2 September 2024 are summarised as follows:
- VCAT will increase its capacity for Compulsory Conferences to 50 per week, up from 35.
- Major cases lodged after 2 September will have a target timeframe of 8 weeks from application to Compulsory Conference, and 16 weeks from application to hearing.
- Single day standard cases will have a target timeframe of 12 weeks from application to Compulsory Conference, and 24 weeks from application to hearing.
- Multi-day standard cases will have a target timeframe of 16 weeks from application to Compulsory Conference, and 28 weeks from application to hearing.
Parties to a proceeding lodged before 2 September 2024 can contact the Tribunal via email to request advancement of hearing dates. Parties submitting requests for advancement of hearing dates must include the consent of all other parties to the proceeding. Such requests will be subject to member availability, number of parties and hearing complexity.
Where a party to a matter seeks advancement of hearing dates, and cannot obtain the consent of the other parties to the proceeding, that party may request a Practice Day Hearing to consider the future conduct of the proceeding.