❓ Mr. Norberger asks the Minister for Planning about the purpose of the newly released draft local planning schemes regulations. The Minister explains the reforms aim to modernise the land-use planning system, ensure timely decisions, and introduce consistency across local government areas.
AnsweredQoN 921Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
LOCAL PLANNING SCHEMES REGULATIONS — DRAFT
RELEASE
921. Mr J. NORBERGER to the Minister
for Planning:
Before I ask my question, I acknowledge the Subiaco Football
Club 2014 premiers who are in the Speaker's gallery today, and welcome
them here on behalf of the members for Carine and Kingsley.
I understand that this morning, the Minister for Planning
released draft local planning schemes regulations as part of Repeal Week. Could
the minister please advise the house of the purpose of these proposed changes?
RELEASE
921. Mr J. NORBERGER to the Minister
for Planning:
Before I ask my question, I acknowledge the Subiaco Football
Club 2014 premiers who are in the Speaker's gallery today, and welcome
them here on behalf of the members for Carine and Kingsley.
I understand that this morning, the Minister for Planning
released draft local planning schemes regulations as part of Repeal Week. Could
the minister please advise the house of the purpose of these proposed changes?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question. Since the government
came into office in 2008, it has been very determined to ensure that it
substantially changes the land-use planning and approval system to ensure that
it is contemporary and that it responds to the growing needs of the state, and
that decisions are made in a timely manner whilst balancing appropriately all
the various competing interests. There has been a substantial program of reform
in the government's first term, and there is now a second phase of
planning reform in its second term of government.
A very important aspect of the second phase of planning
reform has been a complete rewrite of the local planning schemes regulations,
which have now been put out for public comment. The draft regulations will
replace the existing town planning regulations of 1967. They include an amended
scheme text that will guide the preparation of local planning schemes. The
model scheme text will include both model and deemed provisions. The model
provisions provide guidance for local governments, but also allow for some local
variation, whereas the deemed provisions will introduce standardised processes
that will apply automatically across all local government areas. The deemed
provisions will ensure that there are consistent planning processes in those
areas right across the state.
Some of the most significant changes include standardising
and expanding the circumstances in which development does not require planning
approval, which includes the exemption from requiring planning approval for a
local scheme and R-code compliance single house or home improvements, as well
as for the change in land use of a property from one permitted land use to
another. That significant change was referred to in the Premier's brief
ministerial statement earlier. There is also the introduction of new risk-based
local planning scheme amendment processes to ensure a quicker process for
simple amendments than is the case for more complex scheme amendments. There
will be a focus on local government resources, and this will allow local
governments to better focus their resources on strategic planning and complex
proposals that need more attention. There is also a streamlining and
standardising of the structure plan approval process to reduce red tape to
ensure that there is, wherever possible, only one decision-maker—either
the WA Planning Commission, which, if I recall correctly, is generally the
case, or in some cases local governments. There is also the introduction of
standard land-use definitions and plan legends into all local planning schemes to
ensure that the terminology and symbols mean the same across the state, and
there is a review of the model scheme text to ensure that the language used is
as clear and simple as possible.
Right across Western Australia the significant review of the
local planning scheme regulations will ensure greater consistency, clarity and
ability for people to understand what they mean. They have been put out for
public comment for a 10-week period, which closes on 30 January 2015, and I
encourage anybody who has an interest to make a submission. I commend all those
involved in reviewing and rewriting the regulations. It has been a substantial
project, and part of the planning reform process. I particularly commend those
in the Department of Planning and my office for their diligent and professional
work to get to this point.
came into office in 2008, it has been very determined to ensure that it
substantially changes the land-use planning and approval system to ensure that
it is contemporary and that it responds to the growing needs of the state, and
that decisions are made in a timely manner whilst balancing appropriately all
the various competing interests. There has been a substantial program of reform
in the government's first term, and there is now a second phase of
planning reform in its second term of government.
A very important aspect of the second phase of planning
reform has been a complete rewrite of the local planning schemes regulations,
which have now been put out for public comment. The draft regulations will
replace the existing town planning regulations of 1967. They include an amended
scheme text that will guide the preparation of local planning schemes. The
model scheme text will include both model and deemed provisions. The model
provisions provide guidance for local governments, but also allow for some local
variation, whereas the deemed provisions will introduce standardised processes
that will apply automatically across all local government areas. The deemed
provisions will ensure that there are consistent planning processes in those
areas right across the state.
Some of the most significant changes include standardising
and expanding the circumstances in which development does not require planning
approval, which includes the exemption from requiring planning approval for a
local scheme and R-code compliance single house or home improvements, as well
as for the change in land use of a property from one permitted land use to
another. That significant change was referred to in the Premier's brief
ministerial statement earlier. There is also the introduction of new risk-based
local planning scheme amendment processes to ensure a quicker process for
simple amendments than is the case for more complex scheme amendments. There
will be a focus on local government resources, and this will allow local
governments to better focus their resources on strategic planning and complex
proposals that need more attention. There is also a streamlining and
standardising of the structure plan approval process to reduce red tape to
ensure that there is, wherever possible, only one decision-maker—either
the WA Planning Commission, which, if I recall correctly, is generally the
case, or in some cases local governments. There is also the introduction of
standard land-use definitions and plan legends into all local planning schemes to
ensure that the terminology and symbols mean the same across the state, and
there is a review of the model scheme text to ensure that the language used is
as clear and simple as possible.
Right across Western Australia the significant review of the
local planning scheme regulations will ensure greater consistency, clarity and
ability for people to understand what they mean. They have been put out for
public comment for a 10-week period, which closes on 30 January 2015, and I
encourage anybody who has an interest to make a submission. I commend all those
involved in reviewing and rewriting the regulations. It has been a substantial
project, and part of the planning reform process. I particularly commend those
in the Department of Planning and my office for their diligent and professional
work to get to this point.
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