About Dan — Dan with a Plan

One clear head. A lot of experience behind it.

Dan Biggs has spent 15 years working across almost every corner of Victorian planning — statutory and strategic, local and state, growth areas and inner city, parks and infrastructure. He's been the person at the council table, the person briefing the Minister, and the person representing government at Planning Panels Victoria.

Now he works for you. As a sole trader, Dan brings that depth of experience directly to every project — without the overhead of a firm, without being handed off to a graduate, and without the hourly rate that usually comes with it.

He's based in Thornbury and works across Victoria. He also holds a sessional appointment with Planning Panels Victoria — which means he understands how panels think, what they're looking for, and how to present your case to best effect.

Skills & expertise

Dan's experience cuts across both the strategic and the practical. Here's what that looks like in real terms.

Statutory & residential planning

Dan has assessed planning permit applications — from single dwellings to major subdivisions over $10 million — across multiple councils throughout his career. He understands what councils are looking for, what slows applications down, and how to get things through.

Permit applications Subdivisions Extensions & second dwellings Heritage overlays

Strategic planning & structure plans

From preparing Precinct Structure Plans for Melbourne's growth areas at the Victoria Planning Authority, to the Tatura Structure Plan for Greater Shepparton — Dan has deep experience in the big-picture planning documents that shape how places develop.

Precinct Structure Plans Planning scheme amendments Growth area planning State-level experience

Planning Panels & representation

Dan has represented clients and government at Planning Panels Victoria throughout his career — and now sits on panels as a sessional member. That dual perspective is rare and genuinely useful.

Panel submissions PPV Sessional Member

Project management & complex delivery

Dan has led multidisciplinary teams, managed consultant contracts over $200,000, briefed Ministers, and coordinated state-significant infrastructure projects — complexity that was environmental, political, and logistical all at once.

Multidisciplinary teams Consultant management Ministerial briefings

Open space, parks & environmental planning

Two years at Parks Victoria delivering Strategic Directions Plans for new parks — including Traditional Owner engagement frameworks and cross-agency coordination — alongside earlier work on urban greening policy at DELWP.

Open space planning Traditional Owner engagement Urban greening

Stakeholder engagement & negotiation

From deliberative community forums to negotiations with developers, Traditional Owners, and state agencies — Dan has chaired working groups, facilitated consultations, and negotiated complex projects like the Lilydale Quarry redevelopment.

Community consultation Developer negotiation Cross-agency coordination

What Dan does when he's not planning

The same person who navigates planning panels also organises festivals, holds a level 2 paragliding licence, and has a PADI scuba diving certification. Make of that what you will.

Cycling Ultimate Frisbee Basketball Snowboarding Festival management Paragliding Scuba diving Sustainability Travel

15 years finding the smarter route through Victorian planning