Macaulay Town Planning

What This Firm Does

Macaulay Town Planning is a specialist town planning consultancy operating from Kyneton in central Victoria. The firm focuses on land use, development and subdivision projects across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victorian shires. Sharon Macaulay established the practice to provide planning advocacy services for clients seeking to navigate Victorian planning legislation.

Planning Services

The practice prepares planning permit applications under the Planning and Environment Act 1987 for residential, commercial and industrial developments. Services include pre-purchase property advice on development potential and constraints, which helps clients avoid financial risks before property transactions. The firm coordinates planning scheme amendments for strategic rezonings and settlement planning initiatives.

• Planning permit applications for urban and rural developments
• Pre-sale and pre-purchase due diligence assessments
• Planning scheme amendment preparation and coordination
• Medium-density housing and subdivision projects

VCAT and Planning Advocacy

The firm provides advocacy services at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal for planning disputes and appeals. Sharon Macaulay represents clients through the assessment and notification processes, engaging with council planning departments and referral authorities. The practice mediates with objectors and presents cases to councillors when proposals require balanced decision-making beyond standard policy frameworks.

• VCAT representation for planning permit appeals
• Planning panels advocacy for scheme amendments
• Negotiation with councils and referral authorities
• Objector mediation and stakeholder engagement

Experience and Professional Credentials

The principal holds full membership with the Planning Institute of Australia and has over 20 years of experience in Victorian planning matters. Sharon Macaulay completed a Bachelor of Social Science in Socio-Environmental Assessment and Policy, plus a Graduate Certificate in Planning and Environment from RMIT University. The practice has coordinated planning scheme amendments for more than 12 years, demonstrating expertise in strategic planning processes.

• Full PIA membership with RPP registration
• Graduate qualifications from RMIT University
• Two decades of Victorian planning experience
• Specialist consultant network for technical assessments

Service Areas and Project Types

The firm serves metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victorian councils, with particular expertise in central Victorian shires. Projects span from complex commercial developments to rural living subdivisions that align with strategic settlement planning policies. The practice works with specialist consultants for bushfire assessments, heritage studies, traffic engineering, native vegetation reports and other technical requirements under Victorian planning regulations.

• Central Victoria and Melbourne metropolitan areas
• Urban and rural subdivision developments
• Commercial and industrial land use projects
• Affordable housing and medium-density developments