Can I lodge an objection once a permit has been issued?

If you are a registered objector you can apply for a VCAT review if you want to appeal against a Council decision to grant a planning permit.

VCAT conducts public hearings and considers submissions from all parties involved. They assess the proposal's planning merits, decide whether a permit should be granted and what conditions are appropriate.

The process is largely the same for permit applicants and objectors. The main difference is that objectors have 21 days in which to lodge an application for review, while permit applicants have 60 days from when the decision was made.

Any decision of VCAT is final and binding on all parties to the review, except on questions of law. An appeal against a tribunal decision on a question of law may be made to the Supreme Court.