Department of Transport and Planning
The Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) is a central agency of the Government of Victoria, Australia, responsible for coordinating the state's transport networks, delivering infrastructure projects, managing public transport, and overseeing land use planning and precinct development to foster connected communities and sustainable growth.[1] Established on 1 January 2019 through machinery-of-government reforms that merged transport and planning functions previously divided among separate departments, DTP centralizes policy, operations, and investment decisions to address Victoria's expanding population and urban demands.[1] The department plays a pivotal role in Victoria's Big Build program, investing over $90 billion in major initiatives including the Metro Tunnel, Level Crossing Removal Project, and West Gate Tunnel to enhance rail capacity, reduce congestion, and improve road safety.[2][3] Notable achievements encompass the removal of more than 100 level crossings and the advancement of heavy rail tunneling under Melbourne's CBD, contributing to increased public transport patronage amid rising state population.[4][5] However, DTP has encountered controversies, including criticisms of project cost escalations—such as the Suburban Rail Loop exceeding initial estimates—and allegations of public sector politicisation, where over-reliance on external political advice has reportedly undermined independent policy expertise, as highlighted in official investigations.[6][7]History
Predecessor Departments and Background
The Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) traces its immediate origins to machinery of government changes effective 1 January 2023, when the preexisting Department of Transport (DoT III, VA 5250) was renamed and expanded to incorporate statutory planning functions previously managed by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP, VA 5164).[8][9] This integration aimed to align transport infrastructure delivery with land use and precinct planning to support Victoria's growth, particularly in housing and urban development, amid post-2022 election administrative rearrangements.[10] The DoT itself had originated in September 2018 from a comprehensive restructuring of the state's transport sector, which consolidated road, public transport, and freight responsibilities previously dispersed across entities like the Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources (DEDJTR).[11] DEDJTR, in turn, had evolved from earlier mergers, including the 2014 amalgamation of transport elements from the Department of Transport, Planning and Local Infrastructure (DTPLI, abolished in 2015).[12] Victorian transport governance has deeper historical roots, with centralized administration emerging in the mid-20th century through the Ministry of Transport (1951–1992), which oversaw railways, roads, and regulatory functions succeeding ad hoc colonial-era bodies like the Victorian Railways Commissioners (1856).[13] This evolved into the Department of Infrastructure (1999–2008), focused on economic and transport integration, before its 2008 rebranding to the first modern Department of Transport (VA 4853), which emphasized policy coordination amid rapid urbanization.[14] Planning functions, conversely, developed separately from early 20th-century initiatives like the 1929 report by the Department of Planning and Development (VA 3094) advocating zoning and metropolitan schemes, progressing through the Town and Country Planning Board (1946) and later departments such as Planning and Community Development (2002–2014), before consolidation into DELWP in 2018 for environmental and land use oversight.[15] These parallel tracks reflected Victoria's incremental approach to balancing infrastructure expansion with spatial regulation, often siloed until the 2023 DTP unification to address coordination gaps identified in prior audits.[11]Establishment and 2023 Restructuring
The Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) was established on 1 January 2023 as part of machinery-of-government changes implemented by the Victorian Government following the November 2022 state election.[8][16] These changes renamed the preexisting Department of Transport—itself formed in 2018—and transferred core planning functions from the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP), which had overseen land use, precinct development, and related policy since 2018.[8] The integration centralized transport operations, strategic policy, and land-use coordination under a single entity to enhance alignment between infrastructure delivery and urban growth objectives.[17][9] This restructuring dissolved certain standalone functions within DELWP, such as statutory planning assessments and precinct structure planning, while absorbing approximately 1,200 staff and related budgets into DTP, with DELWP refocused on environment, energy, and water portfolios.[8] The move addressed longstanding silos in policy-making, as evidenced by prior audits highlighting fragmented transport-land use integration under separate departments.[18] DTP's formation under the Transport Integration Act 2010 expanded the Secretary's role to encompass both transport coordination and planning oversight, enabling unified delivery of projects like the Suburban Rail Loop and regional growth corridors.[19] The changes were enacted without legislative amendments beyond administrative orders, reflecting the executive's authority over departmental boundaries in Victoria's Westminster-style system.[20] Initial implementation involved transitional arrangements for IT systems, procurement, and regulatory approvals, with full operational integration completed by mid-2023.[21] Critics, including opposition members, argued the merger risked overburdening transport expertise with planning demands, potentially delaying infrastructure rollout amid Victoria's population growth exceeding 2% annually.[22] However, government statements emphasized efficiency gains, projecting consolidated savings in policy duplication estimated at AUD 50-100 million over five years through shared corporate services.[9]Post-2023 Developments and Integrations
In early 2025, the Victorian Planning Authority (VPA) was integrated into the Department of Transport and Planning to consolidate the principal functions of the state planning system under one entity.[23] This restructuring aimed to reduce planning delays, improve structure planning and development outcomes in growth areas, and enhance collaboration with local governments, planning professionals, and developers.[23] The integration supports faster delivery of zoned housing, jobs, and infrastructure as outlined in Victoria's Housing Statement, aligning with broader goals of integrated land use and transport coordination.[23] On February 28, 2025, the Victorian Government released the Plan for Victoria, replacing Plan Melbourne 2017-2050 as the overarching strategy for metropolitan, regional, and rural planning.[24] This new framework integrates state, regional, and local policies to guide land use, transport, and precinct development amid population growth and housing targets.[24] [25] In August 2025, the department introduced an updated townhouse and low-rise housing code to streamline residential planning rules, facilitating faster construction of medium-density homes while emphasizing liveability and sustainability.[26] Complementing this, the Strategic Plan 2025-29, published in September 2025, reaffirmed the department's vision for thriving places and connected communities through enhanced integration of transport, land, and planning functions, including updated success measures for portfolio agencies.[27] These initiatives reflect ongoing refinements to operational frameworks established in 2023, prioritizing empirical alignment with infrastructure demands and urban growth patterns.[27] Additional developments include the announcement of the Victorian road maintenance program for 2025-2026 on September 23, 2025, allocating resources to sustain transport network reliability amid increasing usage.[28] The department's annual report for 2023-24, released in late 2024, documented initial progress in these areas, with subsequent updates emphasizing data-driven adjustments to policy implementation.[21]Leadership and Governance
Responsible Ministers
The Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) in Victoria operates under a portfolio structure with multiple ministers responsible for its key functions, reflecting the integration of transport operations, infrastructure, roads, ports, freight, and land-use planning. This distributed oversight ensures specialized accountability across sub-areas, with ministers appointed by the Premier and holding concurrent roles in the Victorian Parliament.[19] As of October 2025, the primary ministers include:- Gabrielle Williams MP, Minister for Transport Infrastructure (appointed December 2024) and Minister for Public and Active Transport (appointed October 2023), overseeing major transport projects, public transport systems, and active transport initiatives such as cycling and pedestrian infrastructure.[29]
- Melissa Horne MP, Minister for Roads and Road Safety and Minister for Ports and Freight, responsible for road maintenance, safety regulations, freight logistics, and port operations, including policy on heavy vehicle access and road funding allocations.[19]
- Sonya Kilkenny MP, Minister for Planning (appointed December 2022), handling land-use planning, precinct development, zoning approvals, and strategic planning schemes under the Planning and Environment Act 1987.[30]