After we assess your application, we will decide whether to issue a development licence.
Type of conditions
If we issue a development licence, it will contain conditions. All conditions are mandatory. There are 3 types:
- General conditions that apply to all development licences.
- Standard conditions that apply to each industry or prescribed permission activity, such as A01 (Reportable priority waste management).
- Specific conditions that are tailored to the development activity. We impose these conditions when environmental or human health risks are considered high. They are prescriptive and require further actions that are managed under our oversight.
If you propose a staged development, our conditions will match the complexity of each stage. They will be used to verify that each stage aligns with your approved application. We may also require further EPA approval or oversight by an EPA-appointed auditor.
The conditions we impose are guided by our approach to proportionate assessment and the quality of the application.
Commissioning under conditions of a development licence
Development licences often include conditions for commissioning. Commissioning proves the performance of the plant, equipment, system, or processes in your application.
Commissioning is usually required for activities involving:
- waste and wastewater management
- emissions, discharges, or deposits into the environment.
Our commissioning conditions cover planning, implementation, monitoring, proof of performance, and reporting. See our Development licence application form and content guide for more information about what to include in your application regarding commissioning.
Duration of a development licence
All development licences include a condition stating when they expire. You must meet all conditions and complete the approved development activity within this period including detailed design, construction, and commissioning. The duration is application-specific but will usually range from 2 to 5 years. Your application must outline a reasonable timeframe for you to complete your development activity.
Publishing our decision and notifying submitters
We publish our decisions on:
We also email submitters directly. We aim to notify submitters within 5 business days of our decision and inform them of their appeal rights.
Appeal our decision
You or a third party can seek a review by VCAT within 15 business days (after the day of our decision) if you object to:
- our decision to issue a development licence
- the conditions of the development licence
- our decision to refuse a development licence.
For details, visit Appeal our decision.
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