Town Planner

City-of-Greater-Geelong; Geelong; On-site; AUD 75,000 - 92,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Geelong is seeking a Planning Officer to assess development and land use applications, ensuring compliance with planning legislation and timely decisions.

You'll work with applicants, community, and agencies to provide planning advice, support investigations, and contribute to sustainable growth across Greater Geelong.

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualification in town planning or urban design.
• Ability to interpret town planning legislation and practices.
• Awareness of current trends affecting town planning.
• Strong analytical, investigative and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to plan, organise and manage time to meet targets.
• National Police check required (funded by the City).

Responsibilities

• Development Applications: Evaluate and investigate development applications, ensuring compliance with legislation and timely processing.
• Permits & Coordination: Assist with issuing Town Planning permits and coordinating input from various departments and the public.
• Advisory Services: Provide expert advice to clients and the public, addressing enquiries and ensuring adherence to planning policies.
• Community Engagement: Represent the City in public forums and legal proceedings and assist with heritage preservation, gaming and liquor control advice.
• Policy Development: Support the development and review of policies and maintain effective administrative systems.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Investigative skills

Interpreting planning legislation

Problem solving

Time management

Education

Town planning or urban design degree

Job description

Job no: 500867
Work type: Permanent Full Time
Classification: Band 5 - $83,436.03 pa plus super
Categories: Town & Statutory Planning

About the role

In this role, you will assess and evaluate development and land use applications, ensuring compliance with planning legislation and contributing to timely, informed decisions.

Working closely with the permit applicants, community, internal departments, other government agencies and key stakeholders, you will provide professional planning advice, assist with investigations on a variety of planning matters, and you will help shape sustainable growth and development across Greater Geelong

Key responsibilities include:

• Development Applications: Evaluate and investigate development applications, ensuring compliance with legislation and timely processing.
• Permits & Coordination: Assist with issuing Town Planning permits and coordinating input from various departments and the public.
• Advisory Services: Provide expert advice to clients and the public, addressing enquiries and ensuring adherence to planning policies.
• Community Engagement: Represent the City in public forums and legal proceedings and assist with heritage preservation, gaming and liquor control advice.
• Policy Development: Support the development and review of policies and maintain effective administrative systems.

About you

To be successful in this role, you will have tertiary qualification in town planning or urban design.

• Theoretical and practical knowledge and ability to interpret town planning legislation and practices and associated legislation.
• Awareness of current trends and issues affecting town planning.
• Well- developed analytical, investigative, interpretative and problem solving skills.
• Ability to manage change and be innovative.
• Ability to effectively plan, organise and manage own time to achieve targets within a set timetable.

Preferred candidates will be required to undergo a National Police as part of the recruitment process (funded by the City).

Child Safety Responsibilities

We are committed to being a child-safe organisation and have zero-tolerance for child abuse. We have specific policies, procedures, and mandatory training in place to support employees, volunteers, and contractors to achieve and adhere to these commitments. Please read our Child Safe Standards Management Policy .

Diversity and Inclusion

At the City we want a workforce that reflects the community we live in. We welcome and embrace everyone, all people with their own unique experiences, and support and encourage all our employees to do their best work, have equal access to opportunities and a just working environment. For this reason, we particularly welcome and encourage applications from First Nations people, people with diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, from the LGBTQIA+ community, people with disability and people of all genders, ages and diverse experience.

We are the City

From parks to offices, childcare centres to works depots, leisure facilities to the Wool Museum and waterfront, our team plays a vital role in shaping our vibrant and growing community. Our community counts on us to get the essentials right while looking for ways to go beyond. By listening, collaborating, and focusing on sustainability, we strive to do the basics brilliantly and create a lasting impact. If you’re ready to be part of something bigger, join us in shaping the future of Geelong.

We support accessibility and encourage discussions about any adjustments or support you may need during the recruitment process.

Advertised: 07 Oct 2026 9:00 AM AUS Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close: 25 Oct 2026 11:55 PM AUS Eastern Daylight Time

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We Acknowledge the Wadawurrung People as the Traditional Owners of the Land, Waterways and Skies. We pay our respects to their Elders, past and present. We Acknowledge all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are part of our Greater Geelong community today.