​Cr Bill McArthur, MAV President said rural councils had consistently identified the need for additional resources to help with their day-to-day statutory planning workload, and to assist with critical strategic planning initiatives to guide future land use. 

“Planning fees have not kept pace with council costs, and rural shires often have to manage complex issues such as fire, flood and biodiversity conservation when dealing with applications.

"Rural councils are generally too small to retain the range of expert skills required on staff, and also have difficulties attracting and retaining planning staff.

“Earlier this year the MAV undertook a needs analysis to identify immediate and short-term assistance needed by rural councils, and we’re pleased the Minister has used this information in designing the flying squad.

"Support for processing applications, preparing reports and submissions, planning enforcement, and expert advice for assessing large complex applications will be welcomed by rural municipalities.

“Councils also identified the need for assistance to prepare planning scheme amendments and reviews as circumstances or Government policy changes, to comply with legislative requirements.

“Implementation of new planning controls typically involves about 179 steps for councils (610 in total) which is time consuming, costly and complex. Hopefully the proposed Regional Growth Plans will reduce the demands on councils for strategic work, and flow through to fewer and more streamlined permits.

"The additional resources to be provided by the State will make a significant difference to councils struggling to progress both immediate and longer-term planning activities,” he said.

The MAV’s recent submission to the planning system (Underwood) review highlighted the work by councils to undertake self-reform through the MAV STEP Planning Process Improvement Program.

STEP is a low cost, structured and supported way to regularly review and improve councils’ planning services. It aims to identify efficiency improvements, manage compliance and risk, and target scarce resources to achieve time and cost savings for councils, greater transparency and accountability for planning decisions, and service improvements for users.

Cr McArthur said STEP is assisting all participating councils, but especially those in rural areas to improve the quality and efficiency of their planning performance to deliver better and faster decisions.

“We will continue to work closely with the Department and councils as the flying squad program is established, and support the Government to ensure priority needs of rural councils are met.

“We want to ensure this vital investment delivers real benefits to communities in rural Victoria,” he said.

- Ends –

Contact MAV President, Cr Bill McArthur on 0437 984 793 or MAV Communications on 03 9667 5521.