National Trust of Australia (Victoria) and Royal Historical Society of Victoria Joint Statement

National Trust of Australia (Victoria) and Royal Historical Society of Victoria Joint Statement on Victorian Planning Reforms

Quotes attributable to Collette Brennan, CEO, National Trust of Australia (Victoria) & Charles Sowerwine, Heritage Committee Chair, Royal Historical Society of Victoria

The National Trust of Australia (Victoria) and the Royal Historical Society of Victoria jointly call on the Victorian Government to ensure that the state’s planning reforms deliver more housing without sacrificing the heritage, character, and green spaces that make our neighbourhoods liveable and loved.

We support the goal of increasing housing supply, particularly in areas close to jobs, services, and public transport. However, we are deeply concerned that the current approach—particularly the introduction of the new Housing Choice and Transport Zone (HCTZ)—risks undermining the very qualities that make Victoria’s cities and towns desirable places to live.

The government’s own expert panel has warned that the HCTZ should not be applied to areas covered by a Heritage Overlay or Neighbourhood Character Overlay because the new zones will override these protections, threatening the demolition of heritage buildings and the erosion of neighbourhood identity.

We reject the divisive rhetoric of NIMBY versus YIMBY. Instead, we advocate for TIMBY – Thoughtfully In My Back Yard: a balanced, inclusive approach that delivers more housing while respecting heritage, character, and community values.

Our Four Key Recommendations

1. Protect Heritage Areas from Blanket Rezoning
   Heritage Overlays must be exempt from the new Housing Choice and Transport Zone rezoning. These areas should remain within the Neighbourhood Residential Zone to prevent the loss of valued heritage places and neighbourhood character. In the 10 Centres where the HCTZ has already been gazetted, new mechanisms to ensure proper respect of the Heritage Overlay must be introduced.
2. Embed Heritage Expertise in Planning
   The Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) must include designated heritage professionals to support local governments in assessing and managing heritage impacts within the planning system.
3. Ensure Consistent Protection of Trees, Nature and Green Spaces
   Introduce uniform statewide protections for significant trees and green spaces to preserve the environmental and aesthetic values of local communities.
4. Implementation Tools for Housing Development in Heritage Contexts
   Expedited planning approval programs must include specific guidance for developments in heritage areas, ensuring that new housing complements and enhances existing heritage fabric.

We urge the Victorian Government to adopt a thoughtful and inclusive approach to planning reform—one that recognises that heritage is not a barrier to housing, but a foundation for building vibrant, attractive, and enduring communities.

Signed,

Collette Brennan, CEO
National Trust of Australia (Victoria)

Charles Sowerwine, Chair, Heritage Committee
Royal Historical Society of Victoria

Media Contacts:

Brook Powell,
Executive Manager, Marketing & Development, National Trust of Australia (Victoria)
brook.powell@nattrust.com.au | 0414 516 884

Rosemary Cameron,
Executive Officer, Royal Historical Society of Victoria

Rosemary.cameron@historyvictoria.org.au | 0400 387 877