Commencing 1 July 2015, a new planning levy, The Metropolitan Planning Levy (MPL), will be payable for all planning permit applications in Metropolitan Melbourne where the estimated development cost is over $1 million.

The MPL will cost $1.30 for every $1,000 of the estimated development cost (or 0.13% of the total development cost) and will be payable to the State Revenue Office (SRO), prior to lodging a planning permit application.
 

What is metropolitan Melbourne for levy purposes?

Metropolitan Melbourne is defined to mean:

The area covered by the Banyule, Bayside, Boroondara, Brimbank, Cardinia, Casey, Darebin, Frankston, Glen Eira, Greater Dandenong, Hobsons Bay, Hume, Kingston, Knox, Manningham, Maribyrnong, Maroondah, Melbourne, Melton, Monash, Moonee Valley, Moreland, Mornington Peninsula, Nillumbik, Port Phillip, Stonnington, Whitehorse, Whittlesea, Wyndham, Yarra and Yarra Ranges Planning Schemes.

When is the MPL payable?

The MPL is payable after you have lodged an Application for Metropolitan Planning Levy (MPL) Certification and must be paid before you can make a planning permit application to develop land in metropolitan Melbourne.

How do you apply for an MPL Certificate?

You apply for a MPL certificate by lodging an Application for Metropolitan Planning Levy (MPL) Certification online with the State Revenue Office, where you will be required to provide the estimated cost of development. Whilst the State Revenue Office will not request evidence of the estimated development cost, the SRO may require further information to justify and verify the cost.

Further information can be found on the State Revenue Office website