State planning policies are planning instruments that the planning minister (or any minister in conjunction with the planning minister) can make to protect things that are of interest to the state.

This includes:

• agricultural land
• separating agricultural land from residential land
• development within close proximity to airport land
• protecting development from adverse affects of bushfire, floods and landslides.

When a local council is developing their local planning scheme, they must ensure that the planning scheme reflects the elements outlined in state planning policies. If there is a discrepancy between a local planning scheme and a state planning policy, then what is outlined in the state planning policy overrides the planning scheme.

State planning polices have a life span of 10 years if they are not reviewed. State planning policies can be extended to 12 years by the planning minister if its expiry date coincides with an election period or machinery of government changes are occurring.

The department regularly updates the website to reflect existing and expired or repealed state planning policies.