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Addition/ Extension
Any construction or change to a building that increases its external dimensions and floor area.
Australian Height Datum (AHD)
The Australian Height Datum (AHD) refers to the levels on a property measured above sea level.
Boundary Wall
A wall constructed on or within 150 millimetres of a side or rear boundary of a property or a carport located on or within 1 metre of a side or rear boundary.
Building Height
The vertical distance, measured in a straight line, from natural ground level to the roof or parapet of a building.
Construction Management Plan
A construction management plan is a detailed document that sets out certain processes that are to occur or restrictions during the construction phase of a development. It is endorsed to form part of the Permit and must be implemented. The Plan will include details such as hours for construction activity, measures to control noise, dust, water and sediment laden runoff, the location of parking areas for construction and sub-contractors’ vehicles on the site and other details that might be required in relation to a construction site.
Cross-over (also known as a crossover, vehicle crossing or driveway)
A vehicle cross-over provides access to your property from the property line to the road edge. You must have Council’s permission to construct/reconstruct, alteration/modification, remove or relocate a crossing to your property.
Dwelling
A building used as a self-contained residence which must include: a kitchen sink, food preparation facilities, a bath or shower and a closet pan and wash basin. It includes out-buildings and works normal to a dwelling.
Easement
An area of land, or part of a site, reserved by law for a specific purpose, such as access, drainage or municipal services. Easements are registered on title.
Eaves
The part of a roof that overhangs the exterior walls.
Elevations
A view of a building seen from one side. It is the two dimensional, flat, representation of each facade. Here is an example of a house elevation plan. For VicSmart applications, plans may be hand drawn, as long as they are to scale.
Facade
The exterior face of a building.
Fenestration
The arrangement of windows across the facade of a building
Floor plan
A line drawing showing rooms as though seen from above. Walls, doorways, and windows are often included. Plans are two dimensional drawings that depict what is proposed on a horizontal plane. Here is an example of a house floor plan. For VicSmart applications, plans may be hand drawn, as long as they are to scale.
Landscape Plan
A landscape plan is a plan detailing the planting to occur with the development of a property. It shows which trees on the site are to be retained and removed and includes a planting schedule which specifies the species of plantings. It also specifies the finishes of the landscaped areas such as paths and decking. Here is an example of a landscape plan. For VicSmart applications, plans may be hand drawn, as long as they are to scale.
Masonry
A type of construction using stone, brick, tile or concrete block joined together with mortar.
Natural Ground Level
The ground level of a site before any site works (such as filling and/or excavating) are undertaken to alter the naturally occurring contours of the land.
Parapet
A low wall at the top of a building intended to conceal, or partly conceal, the roof.
Plot Ratio
The gross floor area of all buildings on a site, divided by the area of the site.
Private Open Space
An outdoor area of a dwelling, residential building or land that is for the exclusive use of the occupants.
Relative Level (RL)
Refers to levels on a site which are relative to a nominated point. A base point on the site is nominated and assigned a figure. All levels displayed on the plan are then measures above, or below, that point.
Secluded private open space
That part of private open space primarily intended for outdoor living activities which enjoys a reasonable amount of privacy.
Setback
A setback describes how far back a building is located on a piece of land in comparison to the property boundary. The setback is generally measured to the wall-face of a building and not features such as eaves and balconies.
Shadow diagrams
Plans which demonstrate the amount of shadow cast from a building at 9am, 12pm and 3pm intervals on the equinox (22 September). The date and times have been determined by the State Government and are specified in Local Planning Schemes.
Site context/ analysis plan
A plan showing the subject site and its structures in relation to surrounding properties in the streetscape. Local Planning Schemes include requirements for the level of detail required to be included.
Site coverage
That part of a site which is covered by buildings. This is usually expressed as a percentage of the total area of the site and is measured from external walls.
Site plan
A plan showing the details of a site. Typically it includes the location of all structures, levels, vegetation, private open space, car parking, driveway and crossovers on a site. Here is an example of a house site plan. For VicSmart applications, plans may be hand drawn, as long as they are to scale.
Wall height
The vertical distance between the top of the eaves at the wall line, parapet or flat roof (not including a chimney), whichever is the highest, and the natural ground level directly below.
Waste Management Plan
A Waste Management Plan provides Council with details of private waste collection for a development site to ensure the protection of neighbourhood amenity.
Source: example of a house elevation plan by City of Boroondara