Karmen Wheeler
Preston,Australia
Summary
Planning Enforcement Officer with nearly five years of experience in auditing developments and investigating planning breaches. Currently engaged in a second secondment with the Environmental Sustainable Development team, focusing on sustainability in the built environment.
Recognised for excellence in compliance outcomes and continuous improvement of the Proactive Enforcement Program. I excel in negotiating voluntary compliance outcomes in over 75% cases with identified planning non-compliances.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Environmental Sustainable Development Officer (Secondments)
Merri-bek City Council
Coburg, VIC
08.2024 - Current
- Currently undertaking second secondment within ESD team, further developing my skillset.
- Executed technical ESD referrals for residential, childcare, and industrial projects.
- Reviewed various technical documents to ensure compliance with ESD requirements.
- Collaborated with planners to incorporate sustainability into design responses and permit conditions.
- Interpreted specialist reports to identify key ESD issues across a variety of application.
- Monitored compliance with sustainability requirements during planning processes.
- Facilitated knowledge exchange on ESD challenges among different councils.
Planning Enforcement Officer
Merri-bek City Council
Coburg, VIC
10.2019 - Current
- Achieved a 75% voluntary compliance in identified breaches.
- Conducted inspections of medium and high-density development for compliance with planning requirements.
- Investigated a broad range of planning enforcement matters, applying negotiation and conflict resolution skills to secure positive outcomes.
- Managed and monitored Council’s environmental audit register (contaminated land).
- Built strong working relationships with statutory planners and collaborated with the SBE team, arborists, and ESD officers to strengthen processes and embed sustainability in planning outcomes.
- Trained and mentored new proactive enforcement officers, supporting consistency and professional development across the team.
- Educated other Councils on the proactive enforcement program through presentations and site inspections.
- Prepared detailed reports and statistics on proactive enforcement activities and outcomes.
- Coordinated with other enforcement agencies on complex enforcement issues.
- Maintained and revised procedures/ key documentation for general operation of the proactive enforcement program.
Student Urban Planner
Parkes Shire Council
NSW
01.2019 - 08.2019
- Assessed a range of development applications and contributed to site analysis, research tasks, and population forecasting.
- Supported preparation of the Local Strategic Planning Statement (LSPS) and Development Control Plan (DCP).
- Assisted in drafting Request for Quotation documents and contributed to visioning for the first State-led Special Activation Precinct (SAP).
Ticketing Assistant
Phillip Island Nature Parks
VIC
12.2018 - 05.2019
- First point of contact for customers at major eco-tourism attractions.
- Developed strong customer service, dispute resolution, and cash handling skills while promoting sustainable tourism.
Customer Support Officer
nlc
Melbourne, VIC
01.2017 - 01.2018
- Delivered responsive customer support and strengthened problem-solving and communication skills.
Education
Master of Urban Planning and Environment - Urban Planning
RMIT University
Melbourne, VIC01.2015
Bachelor of International Studies - Social Sciences
Deakin University
Melbourne, VIC01.2013
Certificate IV in TESOL -
Australian International School of Language
Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam01.2013
Skills
- Written & Verbal communication
- Critical thinking & Problem solving
- Time management & managing competing priorities
- Negotiation & conflict resolution
- Accurate Note-taking & Record Management
- Identifying non-compliances with the Planning and Environment Act
- Report Writing & Assessment
- Training staff
- Collaboration Across Multi-disciplinary Teams
Affiliations
- Planning Institute of Australia (PIA)
- Planning Enforcement Officers Association (PEOA)
Websites
Certification
- Construction White Card, WorkSafe Victoria, 2019
- Building Act Compliance & Enforcement training, Weir Legal & Consulting 2023
- Occupational Violence Management Training, Rod Catterall & Associates 2023
- De Escalation Safety Training, Rod Catterall & Associates 2025
- HLTAID009 - Provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation, St John Ambulance Australia 2025
HLTAID010 - Provide basic emergency life support , St John Ambulance Australia 2025
HLTAID011 - Provide First Aid ,St John Ambulance Australia 2025
Memberships
- Planning Enforcement Officers Association (PEOA)
- Planning Institute of Australia (PIA)
Accomplishments
- Opportunity to present at the Annual Greenhouse Alliances Conference 2024 on the Proactive Enforcement Program and Verification in Land Use Planning
- Place and Environment Excellence Recognition Awards (PEER) 2023 - 'Better Ways of Doing Things' Award to Proactive Enforcement Team for implementation of the Tree Protection zone program. The strategic alignment of this planning enforcement initiative with the Council Plan aspiration of protecting and growing the tree canopy in Merri-bek, with all the urban cooling, health and environmental benefits that flow from this
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Environmental Sustainable Development Officer (Secondments)
Merri-bek City Council
08.2024 - Current
Planning Enforcement Officer
Merri-bek City Council
10.2019 - Current
Student Urban Planner
Parkes Shire Council
01.2019 - 08.2019
Ticketing Assistant
Phillip Island Nature Parks
12.2018 - 05.2019
Customer Support Officer
nlc
01.2017 - 01.2018
Master of Urban Planning and Environment - Urban Planning
RMIT University
Bachelor of International Studies - Social Sciences
Deakin University
Certificate IV in TESOL -
Australian International School of Language