The article examines how well strategic environmental assessment (SEA) is used in urban planning in Australia, focusing on the Melbourne Urban Extension Plan. The study found that while most procedural requirements were met, there were some gaps in considering cumulative impacts, socio-economic impacts, and alternative analysis. These shortcomings were attributed to the context of SEA in Australia. The findings can help improve SEA practices in urban planning for practitioners, academics, and policymakers in Australia and beyond.