Planning directives are issued by the Minister to give direction on a range of planning matters. They have been used to require standard provisions in interim planning schemes.
After a draft planning directive is prepared, the Minister for Planning must decide whether it should be assessed and, if so, directs the Commission to assess it. At this point the Minister may issue it as an interim planning directive if the Commission recommends that this occur.
The Commission informs agencies, councils or others potentially affected by the draft planning directive and invites comments. The Commission may also hold a hearing before reporting to the Minister on its findings and whether or not a draft planning directive, or a modified planning directive, be issued. The Minister may then either issue or decide not to issue the planning directive.
Planning directives can be amended and the process is similar to that for a new directive.