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Department of Transport and Planning FOI Part II Statement

The Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) releases publicly a broad range of information.

On this page

Available below is information published under Part II of the FOI Act about our functions, structure, the legislation we work with and the documents we hold, along with information on how to make an FOI request to DTP.

Additional information can also be found on our other websites including the Public Transport Victoria (PTV), Planning(opens in a new window) and Land Use Victoria website(opens in a new window)s. More information about Registration and Licencing Services and Custom Plates can also be found on the VicRoads(opens in a new window) and Custom Plates(opens in a new window) websites.

Organisational structure and functions

Our structure

Our structure brings together transport, planning and land services activities within a single department. Bringing planning and transport together will improve project design, regulatory approvals, community consultation and better realise local economic and community opportunities for more liveable communities across Victoria.

We provide support and advice to the following Ministers:

  • Deputy Premier and Minister for Transport Infrastructure and the Suburban Rail Loop
  • Minister for Public Transport
  • Minister for Ports and Freight and Minister for Roads and Road Safety
  • Minister for Planning
  • Assistant Treasurer and Minister for WorkSafe and the TAC
  • Parliamentary Secretary for Level Crossing Removals and Parliamentary Secretary for Transport

We also work with other Ministers including the Minister for Environment in relation to permit applications.

DTP comprises seven main groups that advise and support the Secretary on transport and planning and land services matters:

Planning

To manage the state's planning, building and heritage systems, including developing long-term, integrated land-use strategies and policies, administering statutory planning responsibilities and facilitating urban development.

Land services

To provide authoritative, comprehensive and easily accessible services in land administration, property information and facilitating the better use of government owned land. Ensures secure and accurate registration services for property, plan and water share transactions. Supports the implementation of government land policies to facilitate the delivery of government services and infrastructure and ensure government land transactions are carried out in accordance with government legislation, policy and probity requirements.

Strategy and precincts

To provide policy direction, planning and leading innovation for integrated simple, safe connected journeys.

Network, design and integration

To deliver transport priorities through the development, delivery and maintenance of an integrated pipeline of projects supporting the Major Transport Infrastructure Program, and to plan Victoria’s rail network.

Transport services

To deliver safe, reliable and accessible transport infrastructure and services to all Victorians.

Investment and technology

To lead investment strategy and provide commercial and information technology services to drive high performance and improved commercial outcomes for the Transport and Planning portfolio and state.

People and business services

To provide business enabling people and corporate services functions, to drive a high-performance culture and to support integrated operations.

Find out more about our organisational structure.

Together with our transport and planning agencies we work to design, plan, build and operate the Victorian transport and planning system. These agencies include:

  • Road Safety Victoria (RSV)
  • Regional Roads Victoria
  • Freight Victoria
  • Active Transport Victoria
  • North East Link State Tolling Corporation
  • Safe Transport Victoria
  • V/Line Corporation
  • VicTrack
  • Development Victoria
  • Melbourne Port Lessor
  • Port of Hastings Corporation
  • Ports Victoria
  • Suburban Rail Loop
  • Land Use Victoria
  • Victorian Building Authority
  • Victorian Planning Authority
  • Cladding Safety Victoria
  • Heritage Victoria
  • Heritage Council Victoria
  • Office of the Chief Investigator, Transport Safety
  • Active Transport Victoria
  • Planning Panels Victoria
  • Surveyors Registration Board of Victoria
  • Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator
  • Office of the Victorian Government Architect

We also work closely with the Major Transport Infrastructure Authority (MTIA) in planning, delivery and construction of major transport and rail projects to deliver Victoria's Big Build.

MTIA comprises the following project teams:

  • Level Crossing Removal Project
  • North East Link Project
  • West Gate Tunnel Project
  • Major Road Projects Victoria
  • Rail Projects Victoria

Find out more about MTIA

Relevant Legislation

The department performs its functions and activities and exercises its decision-making powers, under various Legislation including:

For information about relevant transport laws, see: /node/33894.

For information about relevant planning laws, see: https://www.planning.vic.gov.au/legislation-regulations-and-fees/legislation,-regulations-and-fees(opens in a new window).

For information about relevant heritage laws, see: https://www.heritage.vic.gov.au/about-us/legislation-and-regulations(opens in a new window).

For information about relevant building laws, see: https://www.planning.vic.gov.au/building-policy/building-regulation(opens in a new window).

For information about caravan parks and movable dwellings, see: https://www.planning.vic.gov.au/building-policy/caravan-parks-and-movable-dwellings(opens in a new window).

Our functions and activities

We are responsible for a range of functions and activities which relate to:

  • transport services, including public transport, road management, vehicle registration and licensing and custom plates services (R&L Services and CP services);
  • planning services, including planning the use, development and protection of land in Victoria, and other related services including the regulation of building works, local infrastructure; and
  • land services, including land registration, surveying, valuations, place naming, maps and spatial data

Our structure brings together transport, planning and land services activities within a single department. Bringing planning and transport together will improve project design, regulatory approvals, community consultation and better realise local economic and community opportunities for more liveable communities across Victoria.

Transport system functions and activities

We are responsible for overseeing, planning, delivering and operating Victoria's transport system in a way that responds to the needs of the people and freight that travel on it. We carry out a range of activities which relate to:

  • public transport, road management, including road safety strategies, vehicle registration and driver licensing
  • procuring, developing, constructing and commissioning transport infrastructure
  • providing technical, project management, consultancy, data and information services relating to the transport system
  • carrying out enforcement functions permitted by law
  • developing regulatory policy, legislation and regulations.

Planning functions and activities

We are responsible for managing Victoria's planning, building and heritage systems. We carry out a broad range of activities such as:

  • developing long-term, integrated land use strategies and policies
  • urban development and enabling government's infrastructure strategies, programs, and proposals for the use, development or protection of land and planning policy or requirements
  • issuing permits for land use or development and related matters, and co-ordinating the issue of permits with related approvals
  • the safety and health of people who use buildings and places of public entertainment, and to enhance the amenity of buildings
  • statutory responsibilities and carrying out enforcement functions permitted by law
  • stakeholder engagement and community participation
  • compliance with reporting requirements
  • investigating incidents and/or defending any legal claims against DTP or its members, officers, or employees
  • developing regulatory policy, legislation and regulations.

Land Services

We deliver a range of land, property and spatial data related products and services such as:

  • Maintaining the state’s register of land and register of water shares
  • Collecting, managing and making available a wide range of property information, including title, survey and property sales information
  • Providing land surveying and Crown survey approval services for major government infrastructure projects and all other Crown land dealings
  • Valuing rateable property in Victoria and providing property, asset and lease valuations for all government departments and publishing property market statistics
  • Establishing guidelines, monitoring compliance and managing the state’s register of place names
  • Creating and maintaining Victoria’s portfolio of foundational spatial data services
  • Providing analytics, insights and advice to help maximise public value from government land
  • Providing independent analysis of proposed land transactions involving government departments.

Since 29 June 2022, a joint venture partner, R&L Services Victoria Pty Ltd (R&L Services), has performed the R&L Services and Custom Plates services on our behalf. We will continue to be responsible for R&L Services functions and any personal information collected and used by it.

Find out more about R&L Services and Custom Plates.(opens in a new window)

How to make an FOI request to us

Under the Freedom of Information Act 1982(opens in a new window) (Vic) (FOI Act), all members of the public have the right to request documents held and produced by Victorian Government departments and agencies, subject to certain exceptions and exemptions. For more information about making an FOI request under the FOI Act, visit the Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner’s (OVIC) website.(opens in a new window)

We comply with the FOI Act and have a dedicated FOI unit which can answer any questions you may have related to making an FOI request. You can contact our FOI Branch as FOI@transport.vic.gov.au

Before you make a formal request for access

You are encouraged to check if the information or document you are seeking is already publicly available on the DTP website and land use(opens in a new window) and planning(opens in a new window) sites. We may be able to provide you with the information you are seeking without you needing to make a formal FOI request. If we can’t, we’ll assist you to make a formal FOI request.

Making an FOI request to DTP

The FOI Act provides you with the right to make a request for access to documents held by us.

To make an online FOI request, visit the Victorian Government’s Freedom of Information website(opens in a new window) which outlines the steps for making a request. You can also send FOI queries to FOI@transport.vic.gov.au which relate to requests made to DTP that are lodged via the online portal.

To make a valid request for access to documents held by us, your request must:

  • be in writing
  • describe as clearly and specifically as possible the documents which you seek access to, (please note the categories of documents above and please refer to the type of document/s being sought, to ensure we provide you with accurate and complete information)
  • be accompanied an application fee of $32.70 or evidence that paying the application fee would cause you hardship (for example, a scanned copy of a Centrelink Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card)

Application fee and access charges

The application fee of $32.70 is subject to an increase on 1 July every year. The application fee must accompany the request at the time of lodgement, otherwise the request will be invalid. The fee may be waived in cases where payment would cause an applicant financial hardship (with evidence).

Access charges may also apply once documents have been processed and a decision on access is made. Access charges may apply to the search, photocopying, retrieval and creation of documents. We will inform you of any access charges that may apply to your request and consult with you in this regard. Under certain circumstances, some of these charges can be waived.

Once you submit a request

After you submit an FOI request and if your request is valid, the FOI unit will begin processing it. Once we receive your request, it will be assessed for validity under section 17 of the FOI Act and any other relevant sections. In reaching a decision, we are obliged to consider the relevant exemptions that may apply under the FOI Act. These are primarily located in Part IV of the FOI Act in sections 28 to 38.

Section 25A of the Act allows us to refuse a request for access to documents on the grounds that the efforts required to fulfil the request are excessive. This arises where the work involved in processing the request would substantially and unreasonably divert the resources of our agency from our other operations. To avoid refusal under section 25A, it can be useful to include a date range, or to specify the categories of documents (listed above) and to be as specific as possible about which information you seek. We may consult with you to clarify your request if we consider it to be too large.

FOI decisions are made under the FOI Act by the Secretary or by an authorised officer in line with formal delegation arrangements made by the Secretary as required under s 26 of the FOI Act.

Where you have requested a document, including where it is subject to an exemption, we will provide you with a decision letter which will explain our decision and reasons for any exemptions.

OVIC is an independent regulator with combined oversight of information access, information privacy, and data protection. If you wish to seek more information about Freedom of Information in Victoria, or wish to make a complaint, or seek a review of an FOI decision visit OVIC’s website(opens in a new window).

Making a formal request to amend personal information

Under section 39 of the FOI Act you can request an amendment to a document in our possession containing your personal information where you believe your information is incorrect or misleading.

An amendment cannot have the effect of deleting or expunging the information recorded in a document. Generally, this means the amendment will be an addition or notation on the document.

You can make an amendment request by emailing foi@transport.vic.gov.au.

Under s 40 of the FOI Act, a request for an amendment must:

  • be in writing
  • provide an address where a decision can be sent
  • specify how the information is inaccurate, incomplete, out of date or misleading, and
  • specify the amendments you are requesting.

After you submit a request we will assess it to make sure it meets the requirements in section 40 of the FOI Act. If we determine your request is not valid, we will notify you and advise how to make it valid. If you request is valid, we will begin processing it.

Our documents and resources

Categories of documents

DTP creates a broad range of documents in the course of our work. The types of documents we hold include:

  • Policies, procedures and standards:
    • administrative materials – corporate/operational, boards, committees
    • applications and licenses
    • compliance and audit materials – reports, responses
    • instructional materials – standards, policies, procedures, guidelines
    • program materials – initiation, operations, evaluation, plans
    • project materials – initiation, governance, management
    • technical and specification reports
    • training and educational material
  • Briefings and reports:
    • briefs to relevant Ministers, the Secretary and Deputy Secretaries
    • people management records, for example case files
    • registers
    • project reports
    • compliance and operational
    • departmental performance
  • Correspondence:
    • corporate and Ministerial
    • emails or letters
  • Meeting records:
    • meeting minutes and agendas
  • Corporate information including relating to functions such as financial management, legal services, office and facilities management, human resource management, information and knowledge management, governance, strategic management, technology and communications.
  • Documents relating to vehicle registration and licensing including:
    • driver license records, including personal information, demerit points, medical review, drive test results, alcohol interlock records, license photographs and images.
    • Vehicle registration records, including roadworthy certificates, transfers, modification (VASS) certificates, written-off vehicle records, Vehicle tester records, Custom plate records, including custom plate designs, agreements and sales data.
  • Public transport records, including ticketing services, patronage and performance information.
  • Road management and safety information, including
    • policies, research, crash records
    • maintenance documents, including road maintenance plans
    • project documents, including procurement and project management
    • road network documents, including congestion and disruption information
    • road asset records and infrastructure designs and drawings.
  • Documents relating to the functions and activities of the Registrar of Titles, Registrar of Geographic Names, Water Registrar, Valuer-General, Surveyor-General and Victoria Government Land Monitor.
  • Documents relating to the collection, creation and use of spatial data.

You can search for information relating to these categories via the site map of our website

Our publications

We produce a wide range of publications, many of which can be accessed on DTP and its agencies’ websites or by using the website search function. We also provide newsletter services and online communication services, including for some email campaigns which are provided on an opt-in basis.

Our annual reports, strategies, action plans, FOI information and other required reports are available on our website. Some specific examples of publications that are available online:

DTP

PTV

Planning

Land Use Victoria

Heritage

VicRoads

Additional information held by us is listed at Appendix 16 of our Annual Report 2021-2022. This information may be requested under FOI by emailing foi@transport.vic.gov.au.

Our rules, policies and procedures

We also publish internal rules, policies and procedures online that we use to make decisions and provide advice on matters that may impact the public when DTP exercises its statutory functions.

These documents are in the nature of:

  • Procedure manuals
  • Interpretations of governing statutes
  • Statements of policies and documents concerning methods of enforcing acts or schemes
  • Policies and procedures that govern our daily operations and support the administrative functions of DTP.

To find a specific topic, conduct a full search of this site via the sitemap. If there are documents that are not currently available online, you can submit a request for access to information under FOI.

Examples of some rules, policies and procedures include:

Traffic & transport

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