The new VCAT fee structure introduced on 1 July 2016 removed monetary limits on major case applications, set up to speed dispute resolution. There was a 130 per cent increase in the number of major case applications and five per cent fewer standard claims. We sent 53 per cent more cases to compulsory conferences, and resolved more through this process, reflecting VCAT’s focus on resolution by alternative dispute resolution. A rise in new land valuation matters is partly due to a cycle of local government property valuations for rates – these are conducted every two years. The small number of land acquisition applications means that a relatively small increase in volume (from seven applications to 15) shows as a large statistical variation (114 per cent). Cases Caseflow 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 Variance 2,729 2,695 2,878 7% Initiations 2,333 2,781 2,517 -9% Finalisations 1,349 1,246 1,605 29% Pending 85% 103% 87% n/a Clearance Rate Timeliness of Finalised 2014-15 2015-16 weeks 2016-17 weeks Variance Cases 23 25 26 n/a Median 30 32 33 n/a 80th Percentile Initiations 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 Variance 2,631 2,619 2,800 7% Planning and Environment 98 76 78 3% Land Valuation 2,729 2,695 2,878 7% Total Finalisations 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 Variance 2,248 2,665 2,446 -8% Planning and Environment 85 116 71 -39% Land Valuation 2,333 2,781 2,517 -9% Total Pending 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 Variance 1,280 1,218 1,570 29% Planning and Environment 69 28 35 25% Land Valuation 1,349 1,246 1,605 29% Total Applications by Enabling 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 Variance Enactment Environmental Protection Act 11 14 18 29% 1970 Planning and Environment 2,606 2,568 2,758 7% Act 1987 Land Acquisition and 9 7 15 114% Compensation Act 1986
The new VCAT fee structure introduced on 1 July 2016 removed monetary limits on major case applications, set up to speed dispute resolution. There was a 130 per cent increase in the number of major case applications and five per cent fewer standard claims. We sent 53 per cent more cases to compulsory conferences, and resolved more through this process, reflecting VCAT’s focus on resolution by alternative dispute resolution. A rise in new land valuation matters is partly due to a cycle of local government property valuations for rates – these are conducted every two years. The small number of land acquisition applications means that a relatively small increase in volume (from seven applications to 15) shows as a large statistical variation (114 per cent). Cases Caseflow 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 Variance Initiations 2,729 2,695 2,878 7% Finalisations 2,333 2,781 2,517 -9% Pending 1,349 1,246 1,605 29% Clearance Rate 85% 103% 87% n/a Timeliness of Finalised Cases 2014-15 2015-16 weeks 2016-17 weeks Variance Median 23 25 26 n/a 80th Percentile 30 32 33 n/a Initiations 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 Variance Planning and Environment 2,631 2,619 2,800 7% Land Valuation 98 76 78 3% Total 2,729 2,695 2,878 7% Finalisations 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 Variance Planning and Environment 2,248 2,665 2,446 -8% Land Valuation 85 116 71 -39% Total 2,333 2,781 2,517 -9% Pending 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 Variance Planning and Environment 1,280 1,218 1,570 29% Land Valuation 69 28 35 25% Total 1,349 1,246 1,605 29% Applications by Enabling Enactment 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 Variance Environmental Protection Act 1970 11 14 18 29% Planning and Environment Act 1987 2,606 2,568 2,758 7% Land Acquisition and Compensation Act 1986 9 7 15 114%
annual-report-2016-17_0.docx