Last updated: 19 July 2026
The former Mount Alexander Goldfields is now a sought-after tree-change region of heritage townships and rural land. Heritage Overlays protect the gold-rush character of Castlemaine, Maldon and other towns, while Farming, Rural Living and Rural Conservation zones — often with a Bushfire Management Overlay — govern the land beyond. Whether you’re renovating a heritage property, building on a rural block or subdividing, we can help make it happen.
AS Planning is an independent Town Planning Consultancy working in Mount Alexander and surrounding areas, primarily assisting clients in obtaining Planning Permits through Council in the most efficient and timely manner possible. We work with a high volume of clients requiring a Planning Permit triggered from the various zones (including Farming Zone), Heritage Overlay, Design and Development Overlay (DDO), Vegetation Protection Overlay (VPO), Bushfire Management Overlay (BMO), Significant Landscape Overlay (SLO) and Environmental Significance Overlay (ESO) in the Mount Alexander area.
Andrew Stubbings is the Director & Founder of AS Planning. He has years of experience within both the public and private Town Planning sector and has a solid understanding of Council’s end to end process. Andrew now works independently with home builders, developers, architects, investors and business owners.
AS Planning will ensure the strongest planning application is submitted to the Mt Alexander Shire Council on your behalf. The planning application addresses all relevant planning policies from the Mount Alexander Planning Scheme and includes external consultants reports.
Contact us today about our Town Planning services in and around Barfold, Baringhup, Barkers Creek, Bradford, Campbells Creek, Campbelltown, Carisbrook, Castlemaine, Chewton, Chewton Bushlands, Drummond North, Eastville, Eddington, Elphinstone, Faraday, Franklinford, Fryerstown, Glenluce, Golden Point, Gower, Green Gully, Greenhill, Guildford, Harcourt, Irishtown, Joyces Creek, Langley, Lockwood South, Maldon, Malmsbury, McKenzie Hill, Metcalfe, Moolort, Moonlight Flat, Muckleford, Myrtle Creek, Neereman, Newstead, Nuggetty, Ravenswood, Redesdale, Sandon, Shelbourne, Strangways, Strathlea, Sutton Grange, Taradale, Tarilta, Tarrengower, Vaughan, Walmer, Welshmans Reef, Werona, Yandoit Hills and Yapeen.
Does your property fall within the Farming Zone (FZ), Rural Living Zone (RLZ) or Rural Conservation Zone (RCZ)? These zones can be somewhat restrictive in circumstances and difficult to navigate. AS Planning have an in-depth understanding of the intricacies of Rural Zones and have achieved countless Planning Permits triggered under these zones; whether it be achieving a respectable built form within the agricultural landscape, the need to remove trees (Clause 52.17 Native Vegetation may apply) or a use of the land which isn’t for farming purposes. AS Planning are also able to help arrange the preparation of a Land Capability Assessment (LCA), which is a common requirement for development applications within the Rural Zones.
Here at AS Planning we have an abundance of experience in working with Heritage Overlays and the particular Schedule and Statement of Significance that applies to a heritage site. We understand and appreciate both the need to respect and respond to the heritage values of a site while also achieving an acceptable outcome for the client and/or owner of the heritage property. We have a proven track record of working with Council, including their Heritage Advisor(s), and our clients to achieve heritage approvals that all parties are happy with. So talk to us today about maximising your heritage property!
Andrew has a Bachelor of Applied Science – Planning. He is a strong communicator when it comes to community consultation, as well as engaging with project stakeholders and authority consultation.
Andrew has over 20 years of experience in both private and public town planning, including working in local government. He has extensive knowledge of Council processes.
Support your planning permit application through surveys and assessments from our specialist partners, including expertise in Urban design, Landscape architecture, Flora and fauna, as well as Civil and traffic engineering.
