Town Planning consultants — Melbourne, Victoria

A clearer path through planning.

Town planning support for projects of every scale

Inner-suburban Melbourne street of period houses

We help homeowners, businesses and property professionals get through the Victorian planning system. No jargon, and no guesswork.

What we do

We help homeowners, businesses and property professionals get through the Victorian planning system. No jargon, and no guesswork.

01

Written planning advice

One-off written advice on a specific question. Due diligence before you buy, an assessment of what a site can realistically support, or a considered opinion on a proposal that’s already stuck.

due diligence advice
site & feasibility assessment
planning pathway reports
second opinions

01

Written planning advice

One-off written advice on a specific question. Due diligence before you buy, an assessment of what a site can realistically support, or a considered opinion on a proposal that’s already stuck.

due diligence advice
site & feasibility assessment
planning pathway reports
second opinions

01

Written planning advice

One-off written advice on a specific question. Due diligence before you buy, an assessment of what a site can realistically support, or a considered opinion on a proposal that’s already stuck.

due diligence advice
site & feasibility assessment
planning pathway reports
second opinions

02

Planning permit applications

End-to-end management of the application. We prepare the submission, lodge it, respond to council’s requests, deal with referral authorities and objectors, and run it through to a decision.

application preparation
lodgement
RFI responses
permit amendments

02

Planning permit applications

End-to-end management of the application. We prepare the submission, lodge it, respond to council’s requests, deal with referral authorities and objectors, and run it through to a decision.

application preparation
lodgement
RFI responses
permit amendments

02

Planning permit applications

End-to-end management of the application. We prepare the submission, lodge it, respond to council’s requests, deal with referral authorities and objectors, and run it through to a decision.

application preparation
lodgement
RFI responses
permit amendments

03

Covenants & title restrictions

Advice on restrictive covenants, section 173 agreements and other restrictions on title — what they mean, whether they bind what you’re proposing, and what pathways exist to vary or remove them.

covenant interpretation
section 173 agreements
easements
variation & removal pathways

03

Covenants & title restrictions

Advice on restrictive covenants, section 173 agreements and other restrictions on title — what they mean, whether they bind what you’re proposing, and what pathways exist to vary or remove them.

covenant interpretation
section 173 agreements
easements
variation & removal pathways

03

Covenants & title restrictions

Advice on restrictive covenants, section 173 agreements and other restrictions on title — what they mean, whether they bind what you’re proposing, and what pathways exist to vary or remove them.

covenant interpretation
section 173 agreements
easements
variation & removal pathways

04

VCAT advocacy

Representation at the Tribunal when a decision goes against you, or when someone challenges yours. We prepare the case, file the material and appear on your behalf.

appeals against refusal
objector appeals
statements of grounds
hearings

04

VCAT advocacy

Representation at the Tribunal when a decision goes against you, or when someone challenges yours. We prepare the case, file the material and appear on your behalf.

appeals against refusal
objector appeals
statements of grounds
hearings

04

VCAT advocacy

Representation at the Tribunal when a decision goes against you, or when someone challenges yours. We prepare the case, file the material and appear on your behalf.

appeals against refusal
objector appeals
statements of grounds
hearings

05

Independent expert evidence

Expert planning evidence for proceedings, prepared and given in accordance with the applicable expert witness code of conduct. Instructed by solicitors and by parties directly.

expert reports
conclaves & joint statements
evidence at hearing

05

Independent expert evidence

Expert planning evidence for proceedings, prepared and given in accordance with the applicable expert witness code of conduct. Instructed by solicitors and by parties directly.

expert reports
conclaves & joint statements
evidence at hearing

05

Independent expert evidence

Expert planning evidence for proceedings, prepared and given in accordance with the applicable expert witness code of conduct. Instructed by solicitors and by parties directly.

expert reports
conclaves & joint statements
evidence at hearing

Not sure which one you need?

Most people aren’t. Tell us the address and what you’re hoping to do, and we’ll tell you where to start.

How it works

Four steps. No surprises.

01

Tell us about the site

Fifteen minutes on the phone, or the form below. Address, what you’re hoping to do, and anything you already have.

02

We tell you where you stand

We review the controls affecting your land and give you a straight answer on what’s possible, what it will cost and roughly how long it will take. If it isn’t viable, we’ll say so.

03

We do the work

Whether that’s a written advice, an application, or a matter at the Tribunal — we prepare it, lodge it, and deal with council, referral authorities and objectors on your behalf.

04

You stay in the loop

You’ll know what stage things are at and what’s coming next, without having to chase us for it.

Most people deal with the planning system once or twice in their life, usually at a stressful moment. The system isn’t really the problem — it’s that almost nobody explains it.

Why Zesty exists

A note from Hugh

Founder Image
Vector

Most people only deal with the planning system once or twice in their life, and usually at a moment that already feels stressful — buying a place, extending a home, opening a business, or being told no.

The system itself isn’t the problem. It’s that almost nobody explains it. Advice arrives as a wall of clause numbers and defined terms, and people are left to work out for themselves whether they’ve just been told yes, no, or maybe.

I started Zesty to do it the other way around. Same rigour, same technical work, same evidence — but explained properly, so you can make a decision instead of just receiving a document.

If you’re not sure whether you need a planner at all, ask us anyway. We’d rather tell you it’s straightforward than take your money for something you didn’t need.

“Same rigour, same evidence, explained properly — so you can actually make a decision.”

With thanks,

Hugh McIntyre

Founder & Director, Zesty Planning

Planning advice,

in plain English.

Talk to a planner who’ll actually explain it.

Tell us about your property

Tell us about your property