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Prioritise smart planning system reforms – not removal of community input (30 Nov)

30/11/2011
As the Underwood planning system review delivers its preliminary report to the Minister, the MAV has reiterated the need to prioritise reforms that improve overall system performance by reducing costs and time for both councils and applicants.

​Cr Bill McArthur, MAV President said councils were vocal supporters of the need to improve planning system performance, but previous reviews had missed the mark and a sustained cooperative effort was needed.

“Permit assessments are often targeted for criticism despite the vast majority of applications being approved efficiently and without appeal.

“Councils play an integral role in planning decisions to help deliver state priorities in a way that balances the views of all interested parties – experts, applicants, objectors and the broader community. This is a key element of our democratic process that provides vital checks and balances.

“The Coalition Government came to power with a strong policy to respect community contributions and provide a planning system based on genuine consultation, honesty, openness and certainty.

“While there’s no magic solution or quick fix, there is an opportunity to deliver win-win solutions that benefit industry, communities, State and local government.

“In 2010 the former Government proposed planning law changes that threatened to remove community input rights and add further uncertainty and cost to the system under the guise of ‘process improvements’.

“Our submission to the Underwood review has suggested ways to reduce delays and deliver cost savings to developers while also preserving community input and giving clarity to guide better council decision-making.

“For years the MAV and councils have called for poorly-resolved State policy tensions to be fixed as a growing list of competing State objectives added time and complexity to council decisions about planning permits.

“While the MAV introduced a STEP Planning Process Improvement Program in 2010, complementary State reforms are needed to streamline processes and help councils to expedite developments.

“STEP is working with councils to deliver better, faster planning decisions, and the program is expected to provide annual savings of $6 million to the development industry.

“It’s time for the Victoria Planning Provisions and the State Planning Policy Framework to be cleaned up and made simpler to administer and implement.

“The MAV is calling on the Minister to immediately release the preliminary report from his Advisory Committee so the broader community can discuss the proposals for achieving a simpler planning system,” he said.

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View the MAV’s Underwood Review submission at www.mav.asn.au/policy-services/planning-building

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