© Proeye Communications & Security Systems 2011 Satellite TV Installations, Planning Permit Information If you have issues with your local council approving a satellite dish permit, we may be able to help! Send us an email of the issues and we can discuss your options from there. Below is a list of frequently asked questions that can help you in understanding some of the process and requirements applicable to satellite dish planning permit. 1. Do I need a Permit to Install a Satellite Dish? 2. What to consider about where to place a satellite dish. 3. When is a Planning permit not required? 4. Should I get a planning permit if I install a new satellite dish anyway? 5. How much does it cost to apply for a Planning Permit? 6. What happens if there are objections? 7. Council advised me that Satellite dish's are covered under the Telecommunications code of practice! 8. What's in it for the Councils? 9. What's in it for Proeye? 1. Do I need a Permit to Install a Satellite Dish? 1. If your Local Council Regulates the installation of Satellite dish's, information can be found trough the Victorian DSE Planning Scheme 2. Depends on the particulars of the Satellite dish installation, such as the size of the satellite dish antenna, location, visibility, and overlays governing the area. Satellite dish's have become a common set of TV reception infrastructure in our community. They are an important aspect of modern life and make an essential and beneficial contribution to our local communities. A planning permit may be required to ensure that a satellite dish is installed in a way that is safe and that the impact on the amenity is controlled to minimise any detriment to the character and appearance of the neighbourhood. A poorly positioned or erected satellite dish may not only be unattractive but dangerous. As a result, the State Government have planning controls that require you to apply for a Planning Permit when installing a satellite dish in certain circumstances. The purpose is to ensure the satellite dish does not impact negatively on the look of the community or neighbourhood and it gives the opportunity for a satellite dish to be installed correctly in a good location. There are also specific circumstances where a planning permit may not be required for a large satellite dish. At Proeye we work with you in establishing a planning permit where reasonably required. 2. What to consider about where to place a satellite dish. • What the dish will look like and what the neighbours might think of it being put there. • Is it installed safely, so that it will not cause damage to homes or people. • Is it safe to access by service people, to maintain or service the satellite dish. • Cost if you require a permit in comparison to installing it in a location where a permit is not needed. 3. When is a Planning permit not required? • If the satellite dish was installed before July 2003, or • If the satellite dish is 1.2 meters in diameter or smaller, is installed in a residential zone where there are no heritage overlays, and • If the satellite dish is between 1.2-2.4 meters in diameter and installed that it is not visible from the street, and • If the satellite dish is between 1.2-2.4 meters in diameter and installed with a set back at least 1 meter from the boundary where • there are no habitable windows in line of sight, and • If the satellite dish is between 1.2-2.4 meters in diameter and installed with a set back of 3 meters or greater from the boundary where • there are habitable windows (for example bedroom window), and • The height of the satellite dish from ground requires a further set back of 0.3 meters for every meter above 3.6 meters in height to a • maximum of 6.9 meters, and • The height of the satellite dish requires a further set back of 1 meter per 1meter of height above 6.9 meters • Check the Victorian Telecommunications Code of Practice for more governing information 4. Should I get a planning permit if I install a new satellite dish anyway? It should be considered, • A permit provides you the lawful right to install a satellite dish • It gives you peace of mind that you will not be forced to take it down due to neighbours objecting at a later time, for reasons such as visual impact           because the planning objectives would have been considered in the process of granting a permit • It gives opportunity for neighbours and council to be involved in the consultation process to ensure the installation is in alignment with the           neighbourhood character and in the public interest • It provides for the opportunity to appeal against Council refusal to issue a Planning Permit, by taking the matters to VCAT. For example, • the Planner, may have shown bias towards the application, did not thoroughly and fairly asses all the elements in the application,           refused to asses any supporting information, or provided conflicting information 5. How much does it cost to apply for a Planning Permit? Generally $550 enables us to undertake basic work required to prepare documents, research in preparing an application for the applicable Council. Additional charges are fees such as providing Notice to neighbours, required by Council which vary between different Councils. For example City of Darebin may charge $180 for providing Notice to neighbours by post and displaying sign-age at the property. Further additional cost depends on the information required by Council. These fees may be discounted when when satellite permit is granted and we install the satellite dish! Generally the costs associated with drawings and preparation for a planning permit regarding a satellite dish installed on a house requires more complex drawings and analysis in comparison to a satellite dish installed on a separate garage or on the ground. 6. What happens if there are objections? There might be objections from neighbours during the application process. This also does not mean that the Council must refuse a permit either. There must be good and reasonable evidence to verify the objection. Council must fairly asses all valid information given to them. At Proeye we conduct a thorough analysis based on the applicable Federal, State, and Local Government policies and legislation, to help us establish sound reports with strong evidence to support appeals where Natural Justice is not applied in the assessment and decision process. 7. Council advised me that Satellite dish's are covered under the Telecommunications code of practice! The Victorian Planning Provisions aim at removing some of the uncertainties by introducing Planning requirements governing the installation of a Satellite Dish, by introducing section 52.04 Satellite Dish in July 2003.. A Satellite dish and a Television antenna could be interpreted by Government Authorities as a Telecommunications Facility subject to the Telecommunications Act 1997, Sec 7, Definitions, which also implies that installers should look at the code of practice before undertaking satellite dish installations. Generally to most people this knowledge is not well understood casting confusion amongst satellite dish installers and local Authorities, because the there is a large range of Regulation covering Broadcasting, Radiocommunications, Telecommunications and Planning that may apply to a satellite dish installation. This makes it increasingly difficult for installers because there are inconsistencies amongst local Councils and its Planners governing and implementing regulation concerning satellite dish installations. 8. What's in it for the Councils? The purpose Planning Permits were introduced for satellite dish installations was based on inconsistencies relating to planning requirements for satellite dish installations. Introducing the planning provision for satellite dish installations created more regulatory certainty for Government to regulate satellite dish establishments which may impact onto the surrounding amenity. 9. What's in it for Proeye? At proeye, we want to ensure that the customer is able to install a satellite dish in accordance with a fair and easily understood Planning Provision, so that we can concentrate on installing legitimate satellite dish's, with a streamlined approval process as we know they benefit TV viewers with great overseas content. We do all the preparation work in obtaining all the required documents including Certificate of Title, Site Plans etc. We undertake to do all the drawings, undertake site analysis, and technical evaluations. We work with the planners providing them all the information possible to assist with the assessment process. We discuss with them prior to making a formal application of Planning Permit to asses their objectives and agendas. We are also innovative and have various concepts in reducing impact on the communities through our installations! Useful Links A little history about Satellite Dish Victorian Planning Provisions Section introduced specifically for satellite dish requirements on 24 July 2003 as part of the Victorian Planning Scheme Siting requirements relaxed on 15 September 2008 such as visibility from adjoining properties Design principles amended September 2010 encouraging the use of Satellite dish and various form of Telecommunications infrastructure for business, the community and individuals Government Cutting Red Tape in Planning Broadcast Services Act Commonwealth Telecommunications Code of Practice Land.vic.gov.au Office of Best Practice Regulation Radiocommunications Act 1992 Telecommunications Act 1997 Victorian DSE Telecommunications Code of Practice Victoria Ombudsman Applicable Victorian Planning Provisions Sec 19.03 - Design Principles Sec 52.04 - Satellite Dish - Requirements for a Planning Permit Sec 52.19 - Telecommunications Facility Sec 65 - Decision Guidelines Victorian Planning and Enviroment Act 1987 Sec 60 - What Councils must consider Other regulatory reference material Responsive Regulation and Developing Economies A guide for using stats for evidence based policy, ABS