Lorraine Dowsey

I led and expanded a team from an initial 12 members to 20, overseeing Ministerial planning approvals for significant infrastructure projects. These projects included the Level Crossing Removal Projects, Regional Rail, major roads, hospitals, sports facilities, and the Police Vic Special Operations Facility, all part of the Victorian Government's 'Big Build' program. Approvals were obtained through planning permits, planning scheme amendments with incorporated documents, and State government Particular Provisions.

My responsibilities included fostering a positive team culture and ensuring the timely delivery of planning approvals within stringent deadlines. I engaged with various agencies as stakeholders and implemented a project management system that guaranteed timely lodging and completion of applications.

I provided expert advice on Victorian planning legislation, including the Planning and Environment Act 1987, Major Transport Project Facilitation Act 2009, and Environmental Effects Statements under the Environment Effects Act 1978. Additionally, I reviewed recommendations to the Minister for Planning and associated delegates.

As Acting Director (short term acting role) , I managed the Minister’s Property Portfolio and the Government land planning project team. I referred applications to the Planning Ministers Government Land Advisory Committee.

I also implemented a JIRA database to ensure prompt receipt and processing of State government planning applications. This increased team productivity by streamlining processes and enhancing communication strategies.

My management was highly regarded, as evidenced by my high approval ratings in the department's people matters surveys for 2021/2022 and 2022/23.

My leadership ensured the timely delivery of complex projects through various planning approvals and effective project management.

Team productivity was increased by implementing streamlined processes and effective communication strategies.

I led a team tasked with policy planning, amending planning schemes, rezoning land, and processing development applications within the Brimbank municipality undertaking the following:

• Built and managed a team capable of handling a high volume of work, which included assessing applications, negotiating amendments, and mediating conflicts between competing interests.
• Prepared and evaluated risk assessments related to land management and planning proposals.
• Liaised with applicants and key stakeholders to determine the most suitable strategic direction.
• Engaged with community representatives to inform decision-making processes and ensure community benefits.
• Interpreted local policies and state legislation, aligning them with the municipal strategic statements.
• Managed a budget of $180,000.00.
• As a subject matter expert, I provided technical advice to stakeholders, identifying opportunities and infrastructure requirements, assessing the social, environmental, and economic impacts associated with planning projects, and offering planning guidance.
• Liaised with authorities within one of Melbourne’s emerging National Employment and Innovation Clusters – including VicRoads, City West Water, Department Environment Land Water and Planning, Development Victoria, and the Victorian Planning Authority.
• Undertook structure planning for the Sunshine and St Albans Town Centres and converted these plans into planning controls.
• Progressed the Comprehensive Development Plan for the Sunshine Health Wellbeing and Education Precinct.
• Oversaw the development of submissions in response to strategic initiatives such as the Plan Melbourne Refresh.
• Conducted risk-based planning for areas potentially affected by contaminated land, landfill gas migration, buffer distances, and pipeline buffer distances.
• Completed a policy for potentially contaminated land for the Council, which included building and infrastructure departments and a risk matrix.
• As an advisor on strategic developments, I contributed to discussions on sustainable planning as a representative on the Environment Protection Authority Reference Group.

Managed and prepared all documentation related to the appeals process, ensuring the following:

• Supported the planning application process by facilitating the appeals mechanism, which provided objectors (developers or communities) an opportunity to challenge decisions.
• Represented the Council at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT), presenting each appeal's case to the panel for determination and responding to information presented by Special Councils and special interest lawyers.
• Supervised planning staff who conducted appeals and managed consultants engaged in supporting individual cases.
• Managed workflow and oversaw stakeholder negotiations.
• Interpreted and applied legislation, policies, and frameworks—including the local planning policy framework—when processing each planning application and preparing all associated appeals.
• Managed the appeals budget of $250,000.00.
  Monitored output and the capacity to process planning applications effectively, as well as the resulting appeals process.
• Managed a high-volume workload of over 112 appeals annually, each with varying complexity involving stakeholders with competing priorities.
  Represented objectors regarding a nine-story East Melbourne development.
• Justified urban design, heritage, and planning decisions, particularly concerning high-density development.
• Addressed a contentious application for a needle exchange on Johnston Street in Collingwood.
• Developed detailed operational reports and presented these to the council for consideration; prepared executive summaries outlining trends in urban design and community interests and provided insights to advise strategic planning.
• Earned credibility at VCAT by consistently working with integrity, acting as an honest, authentic advocate for each case.

At Merri - Bek City Council, I held various positions due to promotions within the organization, and I also took a six-month hiatus to work in the private sector. My responsibilities included:

• Providing pre-application consultations to applicants and ensuring high-quality customer service throughout the process.
• Representing the planning department in cross-functional meetings with other departments, resident consultation sessions, and mediation meetings.
• Building a reputation for engaging stakeholders effectively, earning their trust, and facilitating outcomes that were beneficial for all parties involved.
• Preparing and submitting cases to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, as well as evaluating planning applications for residential and commercial developments.
• Leading a team of five staff members in charge of application preparation, which involved managing workflow, resolving high-level conflicts, and handling a substantial workload of up to eighty applications per planner at any given time.
• Overseeing all operational aspects, from guaranteeing quality customer service and supervising application processing to managing the lodgement system operations and related procedures.
• Contributing to the development of planning strategies and policies by collaborating with urban design and strategic planning.
• Offering pre-application guidance to applicants of large development projects to streamline the processing and evaluation time.
• Enhancing organisational efficiency and resource allocation by simplifying the processing procedures, implementing workflow management strategies, and automating document creation and communication where feasible.
• Working in partnership with key stakeholders to pinpoint and resolve bottlenecks and obstacles in the application process, thereby saving time and resources.
• Reviewing applications and providing feedback to improve the team’s proficiency in swiftly assessing planning applications and deciding on the appropriate course of action.

Took on a short term role working in the private sector with the following duties:

• Evaluated project proposals for compliance with local regulations, ensuring responsible development.
• Conducted detailed site analyses to inform the creation of context-sensitive design
• Gaining new clients
• Representing councils and clients at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal
• Billing and keeping a time sheet
• Mentoring junior staff.

After taking a hiatus from formal employment to focus on raising my two children, I returned to the workforce and secured a position at a regional council. In this capacity, I gained valuable experience in a regional environment, which provided me with insights into the unique challenges faced by the area. This experience was acquired before a portion of Mitchell Shire was incorporated into the Urban Growth Boundary.

My career in planning began as a Research Officer within the State government's public housing sector. I then progressed to a Planning position, where I conducted feasibility studies that informed the department's land acquisition strategies.

Later, I was promoted to the role of Acting Team Leader.

When the government of the time began to scale back public housing provision, I chose to accept a severance package.

During my break from working as an Urban Planner, I took on a lease to manage a café in Richmond and devoted time to raising my two children.