What is Big Picture Urban Rural?

BPUR is the planning consultancy led by Matt Gorman BA MUP[1]. Matt is a Certified Practising Planner of twelve years' experience both as a statutory planning officer at both city and shire Councils and as a consultant. BPUR began in 2003 and has a range of Council and private clients.

The Big Picture part of our name is to indicate that the business is about creating a long-term reputation for facilitating excellent designs and reasonable outcomes. It is also about clients' personal big pictures - their need for responsive, cost-effective services that produce results. Urban Rural is to show that, unlike other consultants, our expertise is not limited to Melbourne but covers the rural areas of Victoria. Apart from the Cities of Melbourne, Manningham, Yarra and Greater Geelong, Matt has worked as a statutory planner at the Shires of Delatite (now Benalla and Mansfield), South Gippsland,  Macedon Ranges, Glenelg  and  Melton[2], as well as doing work for Mt Alexander, Hepburn and Casey councils. In addition to inner city issues such as heritage and liquor licensing, BPUR has a strong emphasis on rural, township, environmental and coastal planning.

Our motto is “Taking the pain out of planning”. Our mission is “To achieve best-practice urban and rural planning outcomes and service for our clients”/em>.

BPUR provides cost effective and responsive professional advice, documentation, advocacy and administrative services regarding planning permits, development plans, and other planning issues for: small business; design and development professionals, including architects, designers, land surveyors, building surveyors, solicitors and other planning consultants; Councils; and landowners. We are also able to use the services of the above professionals or refer clients to them. 

We make, certify or assess applications for planning permits or to amend existing permits, in relation to the following: 

  • Residential subdivision, multi-dwelling development (large and small), Retirement villages, Aged Care Facilities and Childcare Facilities particularly in  Residential 1, 2 and 3 Zones, Mixed Use Zones, Low Density Residential Zones and Township Zones.
  • Industrial, office, warehouse and retail use and development in business and industrial zones.
  • Advertising signs under Clause 52.05
  • Waiving/reduction of carparking requirements under Clause 52.06.
  • Liquor licensing/entertainment uses (eg restaurants, bars, hotels) including Noise and Amenity Action Plans, particularly in Business 1 Zones and the Capital City Zone and under Clause 52.27.
  • Subdivision and dwellings in Farming Zones, Rural Conservation Zones and Rural Living Zones.
  • Development/conservation in environmentally sensitive areas, including those in Rural Conservation Zones, Green Wedge Zones or Low Density Residential Zones and/or subject to Environmental Significance Overlays, Vegetation Protection Overlays, Significant Landscape Overlays, Heritage Overlays, Design and Development Overlays, Neighbourhood Character Overlays, Land Subject to Inundation Overlays, Special Building Overlays and Restructure Overlays.
  • Native vegetation removal/protection under Clause 52.17.
  • Private and commercial dog keeping/breeding, Intensive animal husbandry (eg duck farming, piggeries) and Timber production.
  • Rural industry and Extractive industry (quarries).
  • Wineries and smaller tourism uses, including Restaurants and Bed and breakfasts.
  • Restrictive covenants.

BPUR also makes or assesses requests for Council approval regarding:

  • Development Plans
  • Precinct Plans.
  • Extension of permit time limits .
  • Pre-application certification of permit applications.

BPUR is currently focussed on building up our client base within five main geographical areas:

  • Melbourne.

  • Central Victoria.

  • Western Victoria.

  • Yarra Valley.

  • Mornington Peninsula.

[1] Master of Urban Planning, University of Melbourne

[2] Current client