FUNDING FOR PLANNING REFORMS

$290,000 has been provided in this year’s Budget to reforming the ACT’s planning and land administration system in 2005-06, Planning Minister Simon Corbell announced today.

Mr Corbell said the reforms will deliver for Canberra a streamlined integrated development process removing duplication and ensuring a whole of Government approach through a one-stop shop for development approvals.

“The reforms will also ensure that the Territory Plan will set defined standards for sustainable development,” he said.

“Making the planning system more efficient and quicker will contribute to the economic development of the Territory.

“It is imperative that we develop a planning system that works for all sectors of the ACT community.

“The funds will be used to further develop a robust set of reform proposals for consideration by stakeholders and the Canberra community.

“An in-house team with substantial experience in both the ACT and national planning jurisdictions has been established and will progress this project through the implementation phase.

“Expertise has also been sought from a range of experts to address specific issues such as valuation, legal issues and best practise in strategic environmental assessments.” 

The reform process will also propose ways to better integrate the National Capital Plan and regional planning as part of a more streamlined and integrated planning system in the future.

Mr Corbell said that short-term changes, separate from the longer term reform process, would also be made to minimise impediments to development in Civic, town centres and along transport corridors.

“The ACT Planning and Land Authority began the reform process last year by reviewing existing legislation, policies and practices and investigating best practise models from across Australia,” he said.

“The Government has been consulting with the Planning and Land Council, key stakeholders and interest groups for some time about the proposed reform directions and will continue to do so throughout the reform process.

“A directions paper and associated technical papers will be released for public comment later this month.

“They will address principal components of the planning and land administration system, explain why reform is needed, and explore the options for realising a new system.

“The ACT needs a clearer, more time responsive and administratively manageable planning system and the Government is demonstrating its commitment to achieving this with the additional funding.”
Statement ends