❓ Ms Carles questions the Minister for Planning regarding the implementation of Development Assessment Panels, focusing on consultation with local councils, appointment criteria, and the Minister's power to 'call in' development applications. The Minister outlines the purpose of the panels and the ongoing consultation process.
AnsweredQoN 736Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PLANNING — “IMPLEMENTING DEVELOPMENT ASSESSMENT PANELS IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA” DISCUSSION PAPER
I refer to the minister’s discussion paper entitled “Implementing Development Assessment Panels in Western Australia”. (1) Has the minister consulted with the Western Australian Local Government Association and individual councils about development assessment panels for the new planning system he is proposing? (2) If yes, can the minister please table any correspondence providing evidence of support from local councils for these changes? (3) What criteria will the minister use to appoint people to development assessment panels? (4) How many elected local government councillors will be appointed to the panels? (5) What criteria will guide the minister when applying his power to “call in” development applications? Mr J.H.D. DAY
I refer to the minister’s discussion paper entitled “Implementing Development Assessment Panels in Western Australia”. (1) Has the minister consulted with the Western Australian Local Government Association and individual councils about development assessment panels for the new planning system he is proposing? (2) If yes, can the minister please table any correspondence providing evidence of support from local councils for these changes? (3) What criteria will the minister use to appoint people to development assessment panels? (4) How many elected local government councillors will be appointed to the panels? (5) What criteria will guide the minister when applying his power to “call in” development applications? Mr J.H.D. DAY
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Fremantle for some notice of this question earlier today. By way of background, the government has put out a discussion paper entitled “Implementing Development Assessment Panels in Western Australia”. It was prepared by the Department of Planning and it has been released for public comment and comment from the local government community, the construction community and anybody else in Western Australia who has an interest in this issue. We seek to implement an approval system in which decisions are made on the basis of a combination of good professional advice and local community input as represented by local government councils. The intention is for panels to be established for projects that are above a certain threshold, in simple terms. The panel will be composed of two local government councillors from the relevant local government area and three professional people from either architectural, planning, engineering, environmental science or planning law backgrounds—whatever is appropriate. Mr E.S. Ripper : Are you saying that local governments do not have planning expertise? Mr J.H.D. DAY : In recent years outcomes for applications for development approvals in this state have been inconsistent. In some cases, decisions have been made in a very timely way; other cases have been dragged out for an excessively long time. Most members, from either side of the chamber, will be aware of cases in which extraneous issues, unrelated to good planning decisions, have come into play when development approval decisions have been made. We want to implement a system that ensures that development projects that deliver community benefits and have architectural merit are given approval after due consideration, rather than being held up for an excessive period. To answer the member’s question specifically — (1) I did have a meeting with a representative of the Western Australian Local Government Association prior to release of the discussion paper last week. WALGA was at that meeting provided with a copy of the discussion paper and the question and answer sheet. I am also aware that there have been some officer-level discussions, as there have been with other interest groups in the community, over a long time in the preparation of this paper. (2) I was asked whether I would table any correspondence relating to support from local councils. It is a discussion paper that is out for comment at the moment. I am not aware of any response that has been received at this stage. However, all local governments and anybody else with an interest, as I said earlier, have an opportunity of making comments and providing input. We will certainly assess all of those comments carefully. It is therefore premature to consider making public any response that has been received. (3)-(4) I was asked about the criteria that will be used to appoint people to the panels. As I mentioned, there will be two local government councillors from the relevant local government area in which the proposed project is located. They will be members of the panel and there will be other people who have appropriate qualifications and experience. Those criteria will be outlined in the regulations that will ultimately be prepared to put these panels into effect. Dr J.M. Woollard : Will they be ward councillors so that they truly represent the local community? Mr J.H.D. DAY : They will be councillors elected by the relevant council as a whole and there may well be some guidelines. The local government community will probably want to adopt a practice in which councillors are appointed who perhaps have not been directly involved, have not been subject to lobbying or have not expressed views on a particular project. Mr J.N. Hyde : Will you select them or will the local council nominate them? Mr J.H.D. DAY : No. It is a discussion paper out for comment at the moment, so not everything is finalised. The intention is that the local government councils will make the decision about the appointment of those councillors. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Will you make it a prerequisite that they have some basic training? Mr J.H.D. DAY : Yes, that is correct; and not only the councillors but also the other members of the panel. Therefore, as far as other members of the panel are concerned, it is expected that a range of expertise will be required which may include but is not limited to backgrounds in planning, architecture, urban design, engineering, landscape design, environment law, property development or local government. There is further information about that aspect contained on page 17 of the discussion paper. (5) The answer to the last part of the question on the criteria that will guide the minister in applying the proposed call-in power for development applications is that it is expected that the minister of the day will have the ability to call in applications in relation to projects of either regional or state significance. They would then be referred back, essentially by the government of the day, to a panel for a recommendation and then for a final decision. The sorts of projects that I have in mind are major state-significant projects, such as, for example, a new desalination plant, a major industrial project or a major tourism project. I will make one other comment. There is a perception that the proposals will remove power from so-called democratically elected councils and councillors and be given to non-elected officers. A quite significant number of decisions on development applications are currently being made by non-elected officers. Anybody who is dissatisfied with the decision of a local government authority has the ability to appeal to the State Administrative Tribunal. Clearly, decisions are made there about development applications by non-elected officers. It is therefore not a new notion to suggest that non-elected officers will be making these sorts of decisions. What we intend is to have a balance between local input and professional expertise.
(1) Has the minister consulted with the Western Australian Local Government Association and individual councils about development assessment panels for the new planning system he is proposing? (2) If yes, can the minister please table any correspondence providing evidence of support from local councils for these changes? (3) What criteria will the minister use to appoint people to development assessment panels? (4) How many elected local government councillors will be appointed to the panels? (5) What criteria will guide the minister when applying his power to “call in” development applications? Mr J.H.D. DAY replied: I thank the member for Fremantle for some notice of this question earlier today. By way of background, the government has put out a discussion paper entitled “Implementing Development Assessment Panels in Western Australia”. It was prepared by the Department of Planning and it has been released for public comment and comment from the local government community, the construction community and anybody else in Western Australia who has an interest in this issue. We seek to implement an approval system in which decisions are made on the basis of a combination of good professional advice and local community input as represented by local government councils. The intention is for panels to be established for projects that are above a certain threshold, in simple terms. The panel will be composed of two local government councillors from the relevant local government area and three professional people from either architectural, planning, engineering, environmental science or planning law backgrounds—whatever is appropriate. Mr E.S. Ripper : Are you saying that local governments do not have planning expertise? Mr J.H.D. DAY : In recent years outcomes for applications for development approvals in this state have been inconsistent. In some cases, decisions have been made in a very timely way; other cases have been dragged out for an excessively long time. Most members, from either side of the chamber, will be aware of cases in which extraneous issues, unrelated to good planning decisions, have come into play when development approval decisions have been made. We want to implement a system that ensures that development projects that deliver community benefits and have architectural merit are given approval after due consideration, rather than being held up for an excessive period. To answer the member’s question specifically — (1) I did have a meeting with a representative of the Western Australian Local Government Association prior to release of the discussion paper last week. WALGA was at that meeting provided with a copy of the discussion paper and the question and answer sheet. I am also aware that there have been some officer-level discussions, as there have been with other interest groups in the community, over a long time in the preparation of this paper. (2) I was asked whether I would table any correspondence relating to support from local councils. It is a discussion paper that is out for comment at the moment. I am not aware of any response that has been received at this stage. However, all local governments and anybody else with an interest, as I said earlier, have an opportunity of making comments and providing input. We will certainly assess all of those comments carefully. It is therefore premature to consider making public any response that has been received. (3)-(4) I was asked about the criteria that will be used to appoint people to the panels. As I mentioned, there will be two local government councillors from the relevant local government area in which the proposed project is located. They will be members of the panel and there will be other people who have appropriate qualifications and experience. Those criteria will be outlined in the regulations that will ultimately be prepared to put these panels into effect. Dr J.M. Woollard : Will they be ward councillors so that they truly represent the local community? Mr J.H.D. DAY : They will be councillors elected by the relevant council as a whole and there may well be some guidelines. The local government community will probably want to adopt a practice in which councillors are appointed who perhaps have not been directly involved, have not been subject to lobbying or have not expressed views on a particular project. Mr J.N. Hyde : Will you select them or will the local council nominate them? Mr J.H.D. DAY : No. It is a discussion paper out for comment at the moment, so not everything is finalised. The intention is that the local government councils will make the decision about the appointment of those councillors. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Will you make it a prerequisite that they have some basic training? Mr J.H.D. DAY : Yes, that is correct; and not only the councillors but also the other members of the panel. Therefore, as far as other members of the panel are concerned, it is expected that a range of expertise will be required which may include but is not limited to backgrounds in planning, architecture, urban design, engineering, landscape design, environment law, property development or local government. There is further information about that aspect contained on page 17 of the discussion paper. (5) The answer to the last part of the question on the criteria that will guide the minister in applying the proposed call-in power for development applications is that it is expected that the minister of the day will have the ability to call in applications in relation to projects of either regional or state significance. They would then be referred back, essentially by the government of the day, to a panel for a recommendation and then for a final decision. The sorts of projects that I have in mind are major state-significant projects, such as, for example, a new desalination plant, a major industrial project or a major tourism project. I will make one other comment. There is a perception that the proposals will remove power from so-called democratically elected councils and councillors and be given to non-elected officers. A quite significant number of decisions on development applications are currently being made by non-elected officers. Anybody who is dissatisfied with the decision of a local government authority has the ability to appeal to the State Administrative Tribunal. Clearly, decisions are made there about development applications by non-elected officers. It is therefore not a new notion to suggest that non-elected officers will be making these sorts of decisions. What we intend is to have a balance between local input and professional expertise.
(2) If yes, can the minister please table any correspondence providing evidence of support from local councils for these changes? (3) What criteria will the minister use to appoint people to development assessment panels? (4) How many elected local government councillors will be appointed to the panels? (5) What criteria will guide the minister when applying his power to “call in” development applications? Mr J.H.D. DAY replied: I thank the member for Fremantle for some notice of this question earlier today. By way of background, the government has put out a discussion paper entitled “Implementing Development Assessment Panels in Western Australia”. It was prepared by the Department of Planning and it has been released for public comment and comment from the local government community, the construction community and anybody else in Western Australia who has an interest in this issue. We seek to implement an approval system in which decisions are made on the basis of a combination of good professional advice and local community input as represented by local government councils. The intention is for panels to be established for projects that are above a certain threshold, in simple terms. The panel will be composed of two local government councillors from the relevant local government area and three professional people from either architectural, planning, engineering, environmental science or planning law backgrounds—whatever is appropriate. Mr E.S. Ripper : Are you saying that local governments do not have planning expertise? Mr J.H.D. DAY : In recent years outcomes for applications for development approvals in this state have been inconsistent. In some cases, decisions have been made in a very timely way; other cases have been dragged out for an excessively long time. Most members, from either side of the chamber, will be aware of cases in which extraneous issues, unrelated to good planning decisions, have come into play when development approval decisions have been made. We want to implement a system that ensures that development projects that deliver community benefits and have architectural merit are given approval after due consideration, rather than being held up for an excessive period. To answer the member’s question specifically — (1) I did have a meeting with a representative of the Western Australian Local Government Association prior to release of the discussion paper last week. WALGA was at that meeting provided with a copy of the discussion paper and the question and answer sheet. I am also aware that there have been some officer-level discussions, as there have been with other interest groups in the community, over a long time in the preparation of this paper. (2) I was asked whether I would table any correspondence relating to support from local councils. It is a discussion paper that is out for comment at the moment. I am not aware of any response that has been received at this stage. However, all local governments and anybody else with an interest, as I said earlier, have an opportunity of making comments and providing input. We will certainly assess all of those comments carefully. It is therefore premature to consider making public any response that has been received. (3)-(4) I was asked about the criteria that will be used to appoint people to the panels. As I mentioned, there will be two local government councillors from the relevant local government area in which the proposed project is located. They will be members of the panel and there will be other people who have appropriate qualifications and experience. Those criteria will be outlined in the regulations that will ultimately be prepared to put these panels into effect. Dr J.M. Woollard : Will they be ward councillors so that they truly represent the local community? Mr J.H.D. DAY : They will be councillors elected by the relevant council as a whole and there may well be some guidelines. The local government community will probably want to adopt a practice in which councillors are appointed who perhaps have not been directly involved, have not been subject to lobbying or have not expressed views on a particular project. Mr J.N. Hyde : Will you select them or will the local council nominate them? Mr J.H.D. DAY : No. It is a discussion paper out for comment at the moment, so not everything is finalised. The intention is that the local government councils will make the decision about the appointment of those councillors. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Will you make it a prerequisite that they have some basic training? Mr J.H.D. DAY : Yes, that is correct; and not only the councillors but also the other members of the panel. Therefore, as far as other members of the panel are concerned, it is expected that a range of expertise will be required which may include but is not limited to backgrounds in planning, architecture, urban design, engineering, landscape design, environment law, property development or local government. There is further information about that aspect contained on page 17 of the discussion paper. (5) The answer to the last part of the question on the criteria that will guide the minister in applying the proposed call-in power for development applications is that it is expected that the minister of the day will have the ability to call in applications in relation to projects of either regional or state significance. They would then be referred back, essentially by the government of the day, to a panel for a recommendation and then for a final decision. The sorts of projects that I have in mind are major state-significant projects, such as, for example, a new desalination plant, a major industrial project or a major tourism project. I will make one other comment. There is a perception that the proposals will remove power from so-called democratically elected councils and councillors and be given to non-elected officers. A quite significant number of decisions on development applications are currently being made by non-elected officers. Anybody who is dissatisfied with the decision of a local government authority has the ability to appeal to the State Administrative Tribunal. Clearly, decisions are made there about development applications by non-elected officers. It is therefore not a new notion to suggest that non-elected officers will be making these sorts of decisions. What we intend is to have a balance between local input and professional expertise.
(3) What criteria will the minister use to appoint people to development assessment panels? (4) How many elected local government councillors will be appointed to the panels? (5) What criteria will guide the minister when applying his power to “call in” development applications? Mr J.H.D. DAY replied: I thank the member for Fremantle for some notice of this question earlier today. By way of background, the government has put out a discussion paper entitled “Implementing Development Assessment Panels in Western Australia”. It was prepared by the Department of Planning and it has been released for public comment and comment from the local government community, the construction community and anybody else in Western Australia who has an interest in this issue. We seek to implement an approval system in which decisions are made on the basis of a combination of good professional advice and local community input as represented by local government councils. The intention is for panels to be established for projects that are above a certain threshold, in simple terms. The panel will be composed of two local government councillors from the relevant local government area and three professional people from either architectural, planning, engineering, environmental science or planning law backgrounds—whatever is appropriate. Mr E.S. Ripper : Are you saying that local governments do not have planning expertise? Mr J.H.D. DAY : In recent years outcomes for applications for development approvals in this state have been inconsistent. In some cases, decisions have been made in a very timely way; other cases have been dragged out for an excessively long time. Most members, from either side of the chamber, will be aware of cases in which extraneous issues, unrelated to good planning decisions, have come into play when development approval decisions have been made. We want to implement a system that ensures that development projects that deliver community benefits and have architectural merit are given approval after due consideration, rather than being held up for an excessive period. To answer the member’s question specifically — (1) I did have a meeting with a representative of the Western Australian Local Government Association prior to release of the discussion paper last week. WALGA was at that meeting provided with a copy of the discussion paper and the question and answer sheet. I am also aware that there have been some officer-level discussions, as there have been with other interest groups in the community, over a long time in the preparation of this paper. (2) I was asked whether I would table any correspondence relating to support from local councils. It is a discussion paper that is out for comment at the moment. I am not aware of any response that has been received at this stage. However, all local governments and anybody else with an interest, as I said earlier, have an opportunity of making comments and providing input. We will certainly assess all of those comments carefully. It is therefore premature to consider making public any response that has been received. (3)-(4) I was asked about the criteria that will be used to appoint people to the panels. As I mentioned, there will be two local government councillors from the relevant local government area in which the proposed project is located. They will be members of the panel and there will be other people who have appropriate qualifications and experience. Those criteria will be outlined in the regulations that will ultimately be prepared to put these panels into effect. Dr J.M. Woollard : Will they be ward councillors so that they truly represent the local community? Mr J.H.D. DAY : They will be councillors elected by the relevant council as a whole and there may well be some guidelines. The local government community will probably want to adopt a practice in which councillors are appointed who perhaps have not been directly involved, have not been subject to lobbying or have not expressed views on a particular project. Mr J.N. Hyde : Will you select them or will the local council nominate them? Mr J.H.D. DAY : No. It is a discussion paper out for comment at the moment, so not everything is finalised. The intention is that the local government councils will make the decision about the appointment of those councillors. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Will you make it a prerequisite that they have some basic training? Mr J.H.D. DAY : Yes, that is correct; and not only the councillors but also the other members of the panel. Therefore, as far as other members of the panel are concerned, it is expected that a range of expertise will be required which may include but is not limited to backgrounds in planning, architecture, urban design, engineering, landscape design, environment law, property development or local government. There is further information about that aspect contained on page 17 of the discussion paper. (5) The answer to the last part of the question on the criteria that will guide the minister in applying the proposed call-in power for development applications is that it is expected that the minister of the day will have the ability to call in applications in relation to projects of either regional or state significance. They would then be referred back, essentially by the government of the day, to a panel for a recommendation and then for a final decision. The sorts of projects that I have in mind are major state-significant projects, such as, for example, a new desalination plant, a major industrial project or a major tourism project. I will make one other comment. There is a perception that the proposals will remove power from so-called democratically elected councils and councillors and be given to non-elected officers. A quite significant number of decisions on development applications are currently being made by non-elected officers. Anybody who is dissatisfied with the decision of a local government authority has the ability to appeal to the State Administrative Tribunal. Clearly, decisions are made there about development applications by non-elected officers. It is therefore not a new notion to suggest that non-elected officers will be making these sorts of decisions. What we intend is to have a balance between local input and professional expertise.
(4) How many elected local government councillors will be appointed to the panels? (5) What criteria will guide the minister when applying his power to “call in” development applications? Mr J.H.D. DAY replied: I thank the member for Fremantle for some notice of this question earlier today. By way of background, the government has put out a discussion paper entitled “Implementing Development Assessment Panels in Western Australia”. It was prepared by the Department of Planning and it has been released for public comment and comment from the local government community, the construction community and anybody else in Western Australia who has an interest in this issue. We seek to implement an approval system in which decisions are made on the basis of a combination of good professional advice and local community input as represented by local government councils. The intention is for panels to be established for projects that are above a certain threshold, in simple terms. The panel will be composed of two local government councillors from the relevant local government area and three professional people from either architectural, planning, engineering, environmental science or planning law backgrounds—whatever is appropriate. Mr E.S. Ripper : Are you saying that local governments do not have planning expertise? Mr J.H.D. DAY : In recent years outcomes for applications for development approvals in this state have been inconsistent. In some cases, decisions have been made in a very timely way; other cases have been dragged out for an excessively long time. Most members, from either side of the chamber, will be aware of cases in which extraneous issues, unrelated to good planning decisions, have come into play when development approval decisions have been made. We want to implement a system that ensures that development projects that deliver community benefits and have architectural merit are given approval after due consideration, rather than being held up for an excessive period. To answer the member’s question specifically — (1) I did have a meeting with a representative of the Western Australian Local Government Association prior to release of the discussion paper last week. WALGA was at that meeting provided with a copy of the discussion paper and the question and answer sheet. I am also aware that there have been some officer-level discussions, as there have been with other interest groups in the community, over a long time in the preparation of this paper. (2) I was asked whether I would table any correspondence relating to support from local councils. It is a discussion paper that is out for comment at the moment. I am not aware of any response that has been received at this stage. However, all local governments and anybody else with an interest, as I said earlier, have an opportunity of making comments and providing input. We will certainly assess all of those comments carefully. It is therefore premature to consider making public any response that has been received. (3)-(4) I was asked about the criteria that will be used to appoint people to the panels. As I mentioned, there will be two local government councillors from the relevant local government area in which the proposed project is located. They will be members of the panel and there will be other people who have appropriate qualifications and experience. Those criteria will be outlined in the regulations that will ultimately be prepared to put these panels into effect. Dr J.M. Woollard : Will they be ward councillors so that they truly represent the local community? Mr J.H.D. DAY : They will be councillors elected by the relevant council as a whole and there may well be some guidelines. The local government community will probably want to adopt a practice in which councillors are appointed who perhaps have not been directly involved, have not been subject to lobbying or have not expressed views on a particular project. Mr J.N. Hyde : Will you select them or will the local council nominate them? Mr J.H.D. DAY : No. It is a discussion paper out for comment at the moment, so not everything is finalised. The intention is that the local government councils will make the decision about the appointment of those councillors. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Will you make it a prerequisite that they have some basic training? Mr J.H.D. DAY : Yes, that is correct; and not only the councillors but also the other members of the panel. Therefore, as far as other members of the panel are concerned, it is expected that a range of expertise will be required which may include but is not limited to backgrounds in planning, architecture, urban design, engineering, landscape design, environment law, property development or local government. There is further information about that aspect contained on page 17 of the discussion paper. (5) The answer to the last part of the question on the criteria that will guide the minister in applying the proposed call-in power for development applications is that it is expected that the minister of the day will have the ability to call in applications in relation to projects of either regional or state significance. They would then be referred back, essentially by the government of the day, to a panel for a recommendation and then for a final decision. The sorts of projects that I have in mind are major state-significant projects, such as, for example, a new desalination plant, a major industrial project or a major tourism project. I will make one other comment. There is a perception that the proposals will remove power from so-called democratically elected councils and councillors and be given to non-elected officers. A quite significant number of decisions on development applications are currently being made by non-elected officers. Anybody who is dissatisfied with the decision of a local government authority has the ability to appeal to the State Administrative Tribunal. Clearly, decisions are made there about development applications by non-elected officers. It is therefore not a new notion to suggest that non-elected officers will be making these sorts of decisions. What we intend is to have a balance between local input and professional expertise.
(5) What criteria will guide the minister when applying his power to “call in” development applications? Mr J.H.D. DAY replied: I thank the member for Fremantle for some notice of this question earlier today. By way of background, the government has put out a discussion paper entitled “Implementing Development Assessment Panels in Western Australia”. It was prepared by the Department of Planning and it has been released for public comment and comment from the local government community, the construction community and anybody else in Western Australia who has an interest in this issue. We seek to implement an approval system in which decisions are made on the basis of a combination of good professional advice and local community input as represented by local government councils. The intention is for panels to be established for projects that are above a certain threshold, in simple terms. The panel will be composed of two local government councillors from the relevant local government area and three professional people from either architectural, planning, engineering, environmental science or planning law backgrounds—whatever is appropriate. Mr E.S. Ripper : Are you saying that local governments do not have planning expertise? Mr J.H.D. DAY : In recent years outcomes for applications for development approvals in this state have been inconsistent. In some cases, decisions have been made in a very timely way; other cases have been dragged out for an excessively long time. Most members, from either side of the chamber, will be aware of cases in which extraneous issues, unrelated to good planning decisions, have come into play when development approval decisions have been made. We want to implement a system that ensures that development projects that deliver community benefits and have architectural merit are given approval after due consideration, rather than being held up for an excessive period. To answer the member’s question specifically — (1) I did have a meeting with a representative of the Western Australian Local Government Association prior to release of the discussion paper last week. WALGA was at that meeting provided with a copy of the discussion paper and the question and answer sheet. I am also aware that there have been some officer-level discussions, as there have been with other interest groups in the community, over a long time in the preparation of this paper. (2) I was asked whether I would table any correspondence relating to support from local councils. It is a discussion paper that is out for comment at the moment. I am not aware of any response that has been received at this stage. However, all local governments and anybody else with an interest, as I said earlier, have an opportunity of making comments and providing input. We will certainly assess all of those comments carefully. It is therefore premature to consider making public any response that has been received. (3)-(4) I was asked about the criteria that will be used to appoint people to the panels. As I mentioned, there will be two local government councillors from the relevant local government area in which the proposed project is located. They will be members of the panel and there will be other people who have appropriate qualifications and experience. Those criteria will be outlined in the regulations that will ultimately be prepared to put these panels into effect. Dr J.M. Woollard : Will they be ward councillors so that they truly represent the local community? Mr J.H.D. DAY : They will be councillors elected by the relevant council as a whole and there may well be some guidelines. The local government community will probably want to adopt a practice in which councillors are appointed who perhaps have not been directly involved, have not been subject to lobbying or have not expressed views on a particular project. Mr J.N. Hyde : Will you select them or will the local council nominate them? Mr J.H.D. DAY : No. It is a discussion paper out for comment at the moment, so not everything is finalised. The intention is that the local government councils will make the decision about the appointment of those councillors. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Will you make it a prerequisite that they have some basic training? Mr J.H.D. DAY : Yes, that is correct; and not only the councillors but also the other members of the panel. Therefore, as far as other members of the panel are concerned, it is expected that a range of expertise will be required which may include but is not limited to backgrounds in planning, architecture, urban design, engineering, landscape design, environment law, property development or local government. There is further information about that aspect contained on page 17 of the discussion paper. (5) The answer to the last part of the question on the criteria that will guide the minister in applying the proposed call-in power for development applications is that it is expected that the minister of the day will have the ability to call in applications in relation to projects of either regional or state significance. They would then be referred back, essentially by the government of the day, to a panel for a recommendation and then for a final decision. The sorts of projects that I have in mind are major state-significant projects, such as, for example, a new desalination plant, a major industrial project or a major tourism project. I will make one other comment. There is a perception that the proposals will remove power from so-called democratically elected councils and councillors and be given to non-elected officers. A quite significant number of decisions on development applications are currently being made by non-elected officers. Anybody who is dissatisfied with the decision of a local government authority has the ability to appeal to the State Administrative Tribunal. Clearly, decisions are made there about development applications by non-elected officers. It is therefore not a new notion to suggest that non-elected officers will be making these sorts of decisions. What we intend is to have a balance between local input and professional expertise.
Mr J.H.D. DAY replied: I thank the member for Fremantle for some notice of this question earlier today. By way of background, the government has put out a discussion paper entitled “Implementing Development Assessment Panels in Western Australia”. It was prepared by the Department of Planning and it has been released for public comment and comment from the local government community, the construction community and anybody else in Western Australia who has an interest in this issue. We seek to implement an approval system in which decisions are made on the basis of a combination of good professional advice and local community input as represented by local government councils. The intention is for panels to be established for projects that are above a certain threshold, in simple terms. The panel will be composed of two local government councillors from the relevant local government area and three professional people from either architectural, planning, engineering, environmental science or planning law backgrounds—whatever is appropriate. Mr E.S. Ripper : Are you saying that local governments do not have planning expertise? Mr J.H.D. DAY : In recent years outcomes for applications for development approvals in this state have been inconsistent. In some cases, decisions have been made in a very timely way; other cases have been dragged out for an excessively long time. Most members, from either side of the chamber, will be aware of cases in which extraneous issues, unrelated to good planning decisions, have come into play when development approval decisions have been made. We want to implement a system that ensures that development projects that deliver community benefits and have architectural merit are given approval after due consideration, rather than being held up for an excessive period. To answer the member’s question specifically — (1) I did have a meeting with a representative of the Western Australian Local Government Association prior to release of the discussion paper last week. WALGA was at that meeting provided with a copy of the discussion paper and the question and answer sheet. I am also aware that there have been some officer-level discussions, as there have been with other interest groups in the community, over a long time in the preparation of this paper. (2) I was asked whether I would table any correspondence relating to support from local councils. It is a discussion paper that is out for comment at the moment. I am not aware of any response that has been received at this stage. However, all local governments and anybody else with an interest, as I said earlier, have an opportunity of making comments and providing input. We will certainly assess all of those comments carefully. It is therefore premature to consider making public any response that has been received. (3)-(4) I was asked about the criteria that will be used to appoint people to the panels. As I mentioned, there will be two local government councillors from the relevant local government area in which the proposed project is located. They will be members of the panel and there will be other people who have appropriate qualifications and experience. Those criteria will be outlined in the regulations that will ultimately be prepared to put these panels into effect. Dr J.M. Woollard : Will they be ward councillors so that they truly represent the local community? Mr J.H.D. DAY : They will be councillors elected by the relevant council as a whole and there may well be some guidelines. The local government community will probably want to adopt a practice in which councillors are appointed who perhaps have not been directly involved, have not been subject to lobbying or have not expressed views on a particular project. Mr J.N. Hyde : Will you select them or will the local council nominate them? Mr J.H.D. DAY : No. It is a discussion paper out for comment at the moment, so not everything is finalised. The intention is that the local government councils will make the decision about the appointment of those councillors. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Will you make it a prerequisite that they have some basic training? Mr J.H.D. DAY : Yes, that is correct; and not only the councillors but also the other members of the panel. Therefore, as far as other members of the panel are concerned, it is expected that a range of expertise will be required which may include but is not limited to backgrounds in planning, architecture, urban design, engineering, landscape design, environment law, property development or local government. There is further information about that aspect contained on page 17 of the discussion paper. (5) The answer to the last part of the question on the criteria that will guide the minister in applying the proposed call-in power for development applications is that it is expected that the minister of the day will have the ability to call in applications in relation to projects of either regional or state significance. They would then be referred back, essentially by the government of the day, to a panel for a recommendation and then for a final decision. The sorts of projects that I have in mind are major state-significant projects, such as, for example, a new desalination plant, a major industrial project or a major tourism project. I will make one other comment. There is a perception that the proposals will remove power from so-called democratically elected councils and councillors and be given to non-elected officers. A quite significant number of decisions on development applications are currently being made by non-elected officers. Anybody who is dissatisfied with the decision of a local government authority has the ability to appeal to the State Administrative Tribunal. Clearly, decisions are made there about development applications by non-elected officers. It is therefore not a new notion to suggest that non-elected officers will be making these sorts of decisions. What we intend is to have a balance between local input and professional expertise.
I thank the member for Fremantle for some notice of this question earlier today. By way of background, the government has put out a discussion paper entitled “Implementing Development Assessment Panels in Western Australia”. It was prepared by the Department of Planning and it has been released for public comment and comment from the local government community, the construction community and anybody else in Western Australia who has an interest in this issue. We seek to implement an approval system in which decisions are made on the basis of a combination of good professional advice and local community input as represented by local government councils. The intention is for panels to be established for projects that are above a certain threshold, in simple terms. The panel will be composed of two local government councillors from the relevant local government area and three professional people from either architectural, planning, engineering, environmental science or planning law backgrounds—whatever is appropriate. Mr E.S. Ripper : Are you saying that local governments do not have planning expertise? Mr J.H.D. DAY : In recent years outcomes for applications for development approvals in this state have been inconsistent. In some cases, decisions have been made in a very timely way; other cases have been dragged out for an excessively long time. Most members, from either side of the chamber, will be aware of cases in which extraneous issues, unrelated to good planning decisions, have come into play when development approval decisions have been made. We want to implement a system that ensures that development projects that deliver community benefits and have architectural merit are given approval after due consideration, rather than being held up for an excessive period. To answer the member’s question specifically — (1) I did have a meeting with a representative of the Western Australian Local Government Association prior to release of the discussion paper last week. WALGA was at that meeting provided with a copy of the discussion paper and the question and answer sheet. I am also aware that there have been some officer-level discussions, as there have been with other interest groups in the community, over a long time in the preparation of this paper. (2) I was asked whether I would table any correspondence relating to support from local councils. It is a discussion paper that is out for comment at the moment. I am not aware of any response that has been received at this stage. However, all local governments and anybody else with an interest, as I said earlier, have an opportunity of making comments and providing input. We will certainly assess all of those comments carefully. It is therefore premature to consider making public any response that has been received. (3)-(4) I was asked about the criteria that will be used to appoint people to the panels. As I mentioned, there will be two local government councillors from the relevant local government area in which the proposed project is located. They will be members of the panel and there will be other people who have appropriate qualifications and experience. Those criteria will be outlined in the regulations that will ultimately be prepared to put these panels into effect. Dr J.M. Woollard : Will they be ward councillors so that they truly represent the local community? Mr J.H.D. DAY : They will be councillors elected by the relevant council as a whole and there may well be some guidelines. The local government community will probably want to adopt a practice in which councillors are appointed who perhaps have not been directly involved, have not been subject to lobbying or have not expressed views on a particular project. Mr J.N. Hyde : Will you select them or will the local council nominate them? Mr J.H.D. DAY : No. It is a discussion paper out for comment at the moment, so not everything is finalised. The intention is that the local government councils will make the decision about the appointment of those councillors. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Will you make it a prerequisite that they have some basic training? Mr J.H.D. DAY : Yes, that is correct; and not only the councillors but also the other members of the panel. Therefore, as far as other members of the panel are concerned, it is expected that a range of expertise will be required which may include but is not limited to backgrounds in planning, architecture, urban design, engineering, landscape design, environment law, property development or local government. There is further information about that aspect contained on page 17 of the discussion paper. (5) The answer to the last part of the question on the criteria that will guide the minister in applying the proposed call-in power for development applications is that it is expected that the minister of the day will have the ability to call in applications in relation to projects of either regional or state significance. They would then be referred back, essentially by the government of the day, to a panel for a recommendation and then for a final decision. The sorts of projects that I have in mind are major state-significant projects, such as, for example, a new desalination plant, a major industrial project or a major tourism project. I will make one other comment. There is a perception that the proposals will remove power from so-called democratically elected councils and councillors and be given to non-elected officers. A quite significant number of decisions on development applications are currently being made by non-elected officers. Anybody who is dissatisfied with the decision of a local government authority has the ability to appeal to the State Administrative Tribunal. Clearly, decisions are made there about development applications by non-elected officers. It is therefore not a new notion to suggest that non-elected officers will be making these sorts of decisions. What we intend is to have a balance between local input and professional expertise.
By way of background, the government has put out a discussion paper entitled “Implementing Development Assessment Panels in Western Australia”. It was prepared by the Department of Planning and it has been released for public comment and comment from the local government community, the construction community and anybody else in Western Australia who has an interest in this issue. We seek to implement an approval system in which decisions are made on the basis of a combination of good professional advice and local community input as represented by local government councils. The intention is for panels to be established for projects that are above a certain threshold, in simple terms. The panel will be composed of two local government councillors from the relevant local government area and three professional people from either architectural, planning, engineering, environmental science or planning law backgrounds—whatever is appropriate. Mr E.S. Ripper : Are you saying that local governments do not have planning expertise? Mr J.H.D. DAY : In recent years outcomes for applications for development approvals in this state have been inconsistent. In some cases, decisions have been made in a very timely way; other cases have been dragged out for an excessively long time. Most members, from either side of the chamber, will be aware of cases in which extraneous issues, unrelated to good planning decisions, have come into play when development approval decisions have been made. We want to implement a system that ensures that development projects that deliver community benefits and have architectural merit are given approval after due consideration, rather than being held up for an excessive period. To answer the member’s question specifically — (1) I did have a meeting with a representative of the Western Australian Local Government Association prior to release of the discussion paper last week. WALGA was at that meeting provided with a copy of the discussion paper and the question and answer sheet. I am also aware that there have been some officer-level discussions, as there have been with other interest groups in the community, over a long time in the preparation of this paper. (2) I was asked whether I would table any correspondence relating to support from local councils. It is a discussion paper that is out for comment at the moment. I am not aware of any response that has been received at this stage. However, all local governments and anybody else with an interest, as I said earlier, have an opportunity of making comments and providing input. We will certainly assess all of those comments carefully. It is therefore premature to consider making public any response that has been received. (3)-(4) I was asked about the criteria that will be used to appoint people to the panels. As I mentioned, there will be two local government councillors from the relevant local government area in which the proposed project is located. They will be members of the panel and there will be other people who have appropriate qualifications and experience. Those criteria will be outlined in the regulations that will ultimately be prepared to put these panels into effect. Dr J.M. Woollard : Will they be ward councillors so that they truly represent the local community? Mr J.H.D. DAY : They will be councillors elected by the relevant council as a whole and there may well be some guidelines. The local government community will probably want to adopt a practice in which councillors are appointed who perhaps have not been directly involved, have not been subject to lobbying or have not expressed views on a particular project. Mr J.N. Hyde : Will you select them or will the local council nominate them? Mr J.H.D. DAY : No. It is a discussion paper out for comment at the moment, so not everything is finalised. The intention is that the local government councils will make the decision about the appointment of those councillors. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Will you make it a prerequisite that they have some basic training? Mr J.H.D. DAY : Yes, that is correct; and not only the councillors but also the other members of the panel. Therefore, as far as other members of the panel are concerned, it is expected that a range of expertise will be required which may include but is not limited to backgrounds in planning, architecture, urban design, engineering, landscape design, environment law, property development or local government. There is further information about that aspect contained on page 17 of the discussion paper. (5) The answer to the last part of the question on the criteria that will guide the minister in applying the proposed call-in power for development applications is that it is expected that the minister of the day will have the ability to call in applications in relation to projects of either regional or state significance. They would then be referred back, essentially by the government of the day, to a panel for a recommendation and then for a final decision. The sorts of projects that I have in mind are major state-significant projects, such as, for example, a new desalination plant, a major industrial project or a major tourism project. I will make one other comment. There is a perception that the proposals will remove power from so-called democratically elected councils and councillors and be given to non-elected officers. A quite significant number of decisions on development applications are currently being made by non-elected officers. Anybody who is dissatisfied with the decision of a local government authority has the ability to appeal to the State Administrative Tribunal. Clearly, decisions are made there about development applications by non-elected officers. It is therefore not a new notion to suggest that non-elected officers will be making these sorts of decisions. What we intend is to have a balance between local input and professional expertise.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Are you saying that local governments do not have planning expertise? Mr J.H.D. DAY : In recent years outcomes for applications for development approvals in this state have been inconsistent. In some cases, decisions have been made in a very timely way; other cases have been dragged out for an excessively long time. Most members, from either side of the chamber, will be aware of cases in which extraneous issues, unrelated to good planning decisions, have come into play when development approval decisions have been made. We want to implement a system that ensures that development projects that deliver community benefits and have architectural merit are given approval after due consideration, rather than being held up for an excessive period. To answer the member’s question specifically — (1) I did have a meeting with a representative of the Western Australian Local Government Association prior to release of the discussion paper last week. WALGA was at that meeting provided with a copy of the discussion paper and the question and answer sheet. I am also aware that there have been some officer-level discussions, as there have been with other interest groups in the community, over a long time in the preparation of this paper. (2) I was asked whether I would table any correspondence relating to support from local councils. It is a discussion paper that is out for comment at the moment. I am not aware of any response that has been received at this stage. However, all local governments and anybody else with an interest, as I said earlier, have an opportunity of making comments and providing input. We will certainly assess all of those comments carefully. It is therefore premature to consider making public any response that has been received. (3)-(4) I was asked about the criteria that will be used to appoint people to the panels. As I mentioned, there will be two local government councillors from the relevant local government area in which the proposed project is located. They will be members of the panel and there will be other people who have appropriate qualifications and experience. Those criteria will be outlined in the regulations that will ultimately be prepared to put these panels into effect. Dr J.M. Woollard : Will they be ward councillors so that they truly represent the local community? Mr J.H.D. DAY : They will be councillors elected by the relevant council as a whole and there may well be some guidelines. The local government community will probably want to adopt a practice in which councillors are appointed who perhaps have not been directly involved, have not been subject to lobbying or have not expressed views on a particular project. Mr J.N. Hyde : Will you select them or will the local council nominate them? Mr J.H.D. DAY : No. It is a discussion paper out for comment at the moment, so not everything is finalised. The intention is that the local government councils will make the decision about the appointment of those councillors. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Will you make it a prerequisite that they have some basic training? Mr J.H.D. DAY : Yes, that is correct; and not only the councillors but also the other members of the panel. Therefore, as far as other members of the panel are concerned, it is expected that a range of expertise will be required which may include but is not limited to backgrounds in planning, architecture, urban design, engineering, landscape design, environment law, property development or local government. There is further information about that aspect contained on page 17 of the discussion paper. (5) The answer to the last part of the question on the criteria that will guide the minister in applying the proposed call-in power for development applications is that it is expected that the minister of the day will have the ability to call in applications in relation to projects of either regional or state significance. They would then be referred back, essentially by the government of the day, to a panel for a recommendation and then for a final decision. The sorts of projects that I have in mind are major state-significant projects, such as, for example, a new desalination plant, a major industrial project or a major tourism project. I will make one other comment. There is a perception that the proposals will remove power from so-called democratically elected councils and councillors and be given to non-elected officers. A quite significant number of decisions on development applications are currently being made by non-elected officers. Anybody who is dissatisfied with the decision of a local government authority has the ability to appeal to the State Administrative Tribunal. Clearly, decisions are made there about development applications by non-elected officers. It is therefore not a new notion to suggest that non-elected officers will be making these sorts of decisions. What we intend is to have a balance between local input and professional expertise.
Mr J.H.D. DAY : In recent years outcomes for applications for development approvals in this state have been inconsistent. In some cases, decisions have been made in a very timely way; other cases have been dragged out for an excessively long time. Most members, from either side of the chamber, will be aware of cases in which extraneous issues, unrelated to good planning decisions, have come into play when development approval decisions have been made. We want to implement a system that ensures that development projects that deliver community benefits and have architectural merit are given approval after due consideration, rather than being held up for an excessive period. To answer the member’s question specifically — (1) I did have a meeting with a representative of the Western Australian Local Government Association prior to release of the discussion paper last week. WALGA was at that meeting provided with a copy of the discussion paper and the question and answer sheet. I am also aware that there have been some officer-level discussions, as there have been with other interest groups in the community, over a long time in the preparation of this paper. (2) I was asked whether I would table any correspondence relating to support from local councils. It is a discussion paper that is out for comment at the moment. I am not aware of any response that has been received at this stage. However, all local governments and anybody else with an interest, as I said earlier, have an opportunity of making comments and providing input. We will certainly assess all of those comments carefully. It is therefore premature to consider making public any response that has been received. (3)-(4) I was asked about the criteria that will be used to appoint people to the panels. As I mentioned, there will be two local government councillors from the relevant local government area in which the proposed project is located. They will be members of the panel and there will be other people who have appropriate qualifications and experience. Those criteria will be outlined in the regulations that will ultimately be prepared to put these panels into effect. Dr J.M. Woollard : Will they be ward councillors so that they truly represent the local community? Mr J.H.D. DAY : They will be councillors elected by the relevant council as a whole and there may well be some guidelines. The local government community will probably want to adopt a practice in which councillors are appointed who perhaps have not been directly involved, have not been subject to lobbying or have not expressed views on a particular project. Mr J.N. Hyde : Will you select them or will the local council nominate them? Mr J.H.D. DAY : No. It is a discussion paper out for comment at the moment, so not everything is finalised. The intention is that the local government councils will make the decision about the appointment of those councillors. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Will you make it a prerequisite that they have some basic training? Mr J.H.D. DAY : Yes, that is correct; and not only the councillors but also the other members of the panel. Therefore, as far as other members of the panel are concerned, it is expected that a range of expertise will be required which may include but is not limited to backgrounds in planning, architecture, urban design, engineering, landscape design, environment law, property development or local government. There is further information about that aspect contained on page 17 of the discussion paper. (5) The answer to the last part of the question on the criteria that will guide the minister in applying the proposed call-in power for development applications is that it is expected that the minister of the day will have the ability to call in applications in relation to projects of either regional or state significance. They would then be referred back, essentially by the government of the day, to a panel for a recommendation and then for a final decision. The sorts of projects that I have in mind are major state-significant projects, such as, for example, a new desalination plant, a major industrial project or a major tourism project. I will make one other comment. There is a perception that the proposals will remove power from so-called democratically elected councils and councillors and be given to non-elected officers. A quite significant number of decisions on development applications are currently being made by non-elected officers. Anybody who is dissatisfied with the decision of a local government authority has the ability to appeal to the State Administrative Tribunal. Clearly, decisions are made there about development applications by non-elected officers. It is therefore not a new notion to suggest that non-elected officers will be making these sorts of decisions. What we intend is to have a balance between local input and professional expertise.
(1) I did have a meeting with a representative of the Western Australian Local Government Association prior to release of the discussion paper last week. WALGA was at that meeting provided with a copy of the discussion paper and the question and answer sheet. I am also aware that there have been some officer-level discussions, as there have been with other interest groups in the community, over a long time in the preparation of this paper. (2) I was asked whether I would table any correspondence relating to support from local councils. It is a discussion paper that is out for comment at the moment. I am not aware of any response that has been received at this stage. However, all local governments and anybody else with an interest, as I said earlier, have an opportunity of making comments and providing input. We will certainly assess all of those comments carefully. It is therefore premature to consider making public any response that has been received. (3)-(4) I was asked about the criteria that will be used to appoint people to the panels. As I mentioned, there will be two local government councillors from the relevant local government area in which the proposed project is located. They will be members of the panel and there will be other people who have appropriate qualifications and experience. Those criteria will be outlined in the regulations that will ultimately be prepared to put these panels into effect. Dr J.M. Woollard : Will they be ward councillors so that they truly represent the local community? Mr J.H.D. DAY : They will be councillors elected by the relevant council as a whole and there may well be some guidelines. The local government community will probably want to adopt a practice in which councillors are appointed who perhaps have not been directly involved, have not been subject to lobbying or have not expressed views on a particular project. Mr J.N. Hyde : Will you select them or will the local council nominate them? Mr J.H.D. DAY : No. It is a discussion paper out for comment at the moment, so not everything is finalised. The intention is that the local government councils will make the decision about the appointment of those councillors. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Will you make it a prerequisite that they have some basic training? Mr J.H.D. DAY : Yes, that is correct; and not only the councillors but also the other members of the panel. Therefore, as far as other members of the panel are concerned, it is expected that a range of expertise will be required which may include but is not limited to backgrounds in planning, architecture, urban design, engineering, landscape design, environment law, property development or local government. There is further information about that aspect contained on page 17 of the discussion paper. (5) The answer to the last part of the question on the criteria that will guide the minister in applying the proposed call-in power for development applications is that it is expected that the minister of the day will have the ability to call in applications in relation to projects of either regional or state significance. They would then be referred back, essentially by the government of the day, to a panel for a recommendation and then for a final decision. The sorts of projects that I have in mind are major state-significant projects, such as, for example, a new desalination plant, a major industrial project or a major tourism project. I will make one other comment. There is a perception that the proposals will remove power from so-called democratically elected councils and councillors and be given to non-elected officers. A quite significant number of decisions on development applications are currently being made by non-elected officers. Anybody who is dissatisfied with the decision of a local government authority has the ability to appeal to the State Administrative Tribunal. Clearly, decisions are made there about development applications by non-elected officers. It is therefore not a new notion to suggest that non-elected officers will be making these sorts of decisions. What we intend is to have a balance between local input and professional expertise.
(2) I was asked whether I would table any correspondence relating to support from local councils. It is a discussion paper that is out for comment at the moment. I am not aware of any response that has been received at this stage. However, all local governments and anybody else with an interest, as I said earlier, have an opportunity of making comments and providing input. We will certainly assess all of those comments carefully. It is therefore premature to consider making public any response that has been received. (3)-(4) I was asked about the criteria that will be used to appoint people to the panels. As I mentioned, there will be two local government councillors from the relevant local government area in which the proposed project is located. They will be members of the panel and there will be other people who have appropriate qualifications and experience. Those criteria will be outlined in the regulations that will ultimately be prepared to put these panels into effect. Dr J.M. Woollard : Will they be ward councillors so that they truly represent the local community? Mr J.H.D. DAY : They will be councillors elected by the relevant council as a whole and there may well be some guidelines. The local government community will probably want to adopt a practice in which councillors are appointed who perhaps have not been directly involved, have not been subject to lobbying or have not expressed views on a particular project. Mr J.N. Hyde : Will you select them or will the local council nominate them? Mr J.H.D. DAY : No. It is a discussion paper out for comment at the moment, so not everything is finalised. The intention is that the local government councils will make the decision about the appointment of those councillors. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Will you make it a prerequisite that they have some basic training? Mr J.H.D. DAY : Yes, that is correct; and not only the councillors but also the other members of the panel. Therefore, as far as other members of the panel are concerned, it is expected that a range of expertise will be required which may include but is not limited to backgrounds in planning, architecture, urban design, engineering, landscape design, environment law, property development or local government. There is further information about that aspect contained on page 17 of the discussion paper. (5) The answer to the last part of the question on the criteria that will guide the minister in applying the proposed call-in power for development applications is that it is expected that the minister of the day will have the ability to call in applications in relation to projects of either regional or state significance. They would then be referred back, essentially by the government of the day, to a panel for a recommendation and then for a final decision. The sorts of projects that I have in mind are major state-significant projects, such as, for example, a new desalination plant, a major industrial project or a major tourism project. I will make one other comment. There is a perception that the proposals will remove power from so-called democratically elected councils and councillors and be given to non-elected officers. A quite significant number of decisions on development applications are currently being made by non-elected officers. Anybody who is dissatisfied with the decision of a local government authority has the ability to appeal to the State Administrative Tribunal. Clearly, decisions are made there about development applications by non-elected officers. It is therefore not a new notion to suggest that non-elected officers will be making these sorts of decisions. What we intend is to have a balance between local input and professional expertise.
(3)-(4) I was asked about the criteria that will be used to appoint people to the panels. As I mentioned, there will be two local government councillors from the relevant local government area in which the proposed project is located. They will be members of the panel and there will be other people who have appropriate qualifications and experience. Those criteria will be outlined in the regulations that will ultimately be prepared to put these panels into effect. Dr J.M. Woollard : Will they be ward councillors so that they truly represent the local community? Mr J.H.D. DAY : They will be councillors elected by the relevant council as a whole and there may well be some guidelines. The local government community will probably want to adopt a practice in which councillors are appointed who perhaps have not been directly involved, have not been subject to lobbying or have not expressed views on a particular project. Mr J.N. Hyde : Will you select them or will the local council nominate them? Mr J.H.D. DAY : No. It is a discussion paper out for comment at the moment, so not everything is finalised. The intention is that the local government councils will make the decision about the appointment of those councillors. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Will you make it a prerequisite that they have some basic training? Mr J.H.D. DAY : Yes, that is correct; and not only the councillors but also the other members of the panel. Therefore, as far as other members of the panel are concerned, it is expected that a range of expertise will be required which may include but is not limited to backgrounds in planning, architecture, urban design, engineering, landscape design, environment law, property development or local government. There is further information about that aspect contained on page 17 of the discussion paper. (5) The answer to the last part of the question on the criteria that will guide the minister in applying the proposed call-in power for development applications is that it is expected that the minister of the day will have the ability to call in applications in relation to projects of either regional or state significance. They would then be referred back, essentially by the government of the day, to a panel for a recommendation and then for a final decision. The sorts of projects that I have in mind are major state-significant projects, such as, for example, a new desalination plant, a major industrial project or a major tourism project. I will make one other comment. There is a perception that the proposals will remove power from so-called democratically elected councils and councillors and be given to non-elected officers. A quite significant number of decisions on development applications are currently being made by non-elected officers. Anybody who is dissatisfied with the decision of a local government authority has the ability to appeal to the State Administrative Tribunal. Clearly, decisions are made there about development applications by non-elected officers. It is therefore not a new notion to suggest that non-elected officers will be making these sorts of decisions. What we intend is to have a balance between local input and professional expertise.
Dr J.M. Woollard : Will they be ward councillors so that they truly represent the local community? Mr J.H.D. DAY : They will be councillors elected by the relevant council as a whole and there may well be some guidelines. The local government community will probably want to adopt a practice in which councillors are appointed who perhaps have not been directly involved, have not been subject to lobbying or have not expressed views on a particular project. Mr J.N. Hyde : Will you select them or will the local council nominate them? Mr J.H.D. DAY : No. It is a discussion paper out for comment at the moment, so not everything is finalised. The intention is that the local government councils will make the decision about the appointment of those councillors. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Will you make it a prerequisite that they have some basic training? Mr J.H.D. DAY : Yes, that is correct; and not only the councillors but also the other members of the panel. Therefore, as far as other members of the panel are concerned, it is expected that a range of expertise will be required which may include but is not limited to backgrounds in planning, architecture, urban design, engineering, landscape design, environment law, property development or local government. There is further information about that aspect contained on page 17 of the discussion paper. (5) The answer to the last part of the question on the criteria that will guide the minister in applying the proposed call-in power for development applications is that it is expected that the minister of the day will have the ability to call in applications in relation to projects of either regional or state significance. They would then be referred back, essentially by the government of the day, to a panel for a recommendation and then for a final decision. The sorts of projects that I have in mind are major state-significant projects, such as, for example, a new desalination plant, a major industrial project or a major tourism project. I will make one other comment. There is a perception that the proposals will remove power from so-called democratically elected councils and councillors and be given to non-elected officers. A quite significant number of decisions on development applications are currently being made by non-elected officers. Anybody who is dissatisfied with the decision of a local government authority has the ability to appeal to the State Administrative Tribunal. Clearly, decisions are made there about development applications by non-elected officers. It is therefore not a new notion to suggest that non-elected officers will be making these sorts of decisions. What we intend is to have a balance between local input and professional expertise.
Mr J.H.D. DAY : They will be councillors elected by the relevant council as a whole and there may well be some guidelines. The local government community will probably want to adopt a practice in which councillors are appointed who perhaps have not been directly involved, have not been subject to lobbying or have not expressed views on a particular project. Mr J.N. Hyde : Will you select them or will the local council nominate them? Mr J.H.D. DAY : No. It is a discussion paper out for comment at the moment, so not everything is finalised. The intention is that the local government councils will make the decision about the appointment of those councillors. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Will you make it a prerequisite that they have some basic training? Mr J.H.D. DAY : Yes, that is correct; and not only the councillors but also the other members of the panel. Therefore, as far as other members of the panel are concerned, it is expected that a range of expertise will be required which may include but is not limited to backgrounds in planning, architecture, urban design, engineering, landscape design, environment law, property development or local government. There is further information about that aspect contained on page 17 of the discussion paper. (5) The answer to the last part of the question on the criteria that will guide the minister in applying the proposed call-in power for development applications is that it is expected that the minister of the day will have the ability to call in applications in relation to projects of either regional or state significance. They would then be referred back, essentially by the government of the day, to a panel for a recommendation and then for a final decision. The sorts of projects that I have in mind are major state-significant projects, such as, for example, a new desalination plant, a major industrial project or a major tourism project. I will make one other comment. There is a perception that the proposals will remove power from so-called democratically elected councils and councillors and be given to non-elected officers. A quite significant number of decisions on development applications are currently being made by non-elected officers. Anybody who is dissatisfied with the decision of a local government authority has the ability to appeal to the State Administrative Tribunal. Clearly, decisions are made there about development applications by non-elected officers. It is therefore not a new notion to suggest that non-elected officers will be making these sorts of decisions. What we intend is to have a balance between local input and professional expertise.
Mr J.N. Hyde : Will you select them or will the local council nominate them? Mr J.H.D. DAY : No. It is a discussion paper out for comment at the moment, so not everything is finalised. The intention is that the local government councils will make the decision about the appointment of those councillors. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Will you make it a prerequisite that they have some basic training? Mr J.H.D. DAY : Yes, that is correct; and not only the councillors but also the other members of the panel. Therefore, as far as other members of the panel are concerned, it is expected that a range of expertise will be required which may include but is not limited to backgrounds in planning, architecture, urban design, engineering, landscape design, environment law, property development or local government. There is further information about that aspect contained on page 17 of the discussion paper. (5) The answer to the last part of the question on the criteria that will guide the minister in applying the proposed call-in power for development applications is that it is expected that the minister of the day will have the ability to call in applications in relation to projects of either regional or state significance. They would then be referred back, essentially by the government of the day, to a panel for a recommendation and then for a final decision. The sorts of projects that I have in mind are major state-significant projects, such as, for example, a new desalination plant, a major industrial project or a major tourism project. I will make one other comment. There is a perception that the proposals will remove power from so-called democratically elected councils and councillors and be given to non-elected officers. A quite significant number of decisions on development applications are currently being made by non-elected officers. Anybody who is dissatisfied with the decision of a local government authority has the ability to appeal to the State Administrative Tribunal. Clearly, decisions are made there about development applications by non-elected officers. It is therefore not a new notion to suggest that non-elected officers will be making these sorts of decisions. What we intend is to have a balance between local input and professional expertise.
Mr J.H.D. DAY : No. It is a discussion paper out for comment at the moment, so not everything is finalised. The intention is that the local government councils will make the decision about the appointment of those councillors. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Will you make it a prerequisite that they have some basic training? Mr J.H.D. DAY : Yes, that is correct; and not only the councillors but also the other members of the panel. Therefore, as far as other members of the panel are concerned, it is expected that a range of expertise will be required which may include but is not limited to backgrounds in planning, architecture, urban design, engineering, landscape design, environment law, property development or local government. There is further information about that aspect contained on page 17 of the discussion paper. (5) The answer to the last part of the question on the criteria that will guide the minister in applying the proposed call-in power for development applications is that it is expected that the minister of the day will have the ability to call in applications in relation to projects of either regional or state significance. They would then be referred back, essentially by the government of the day, to a panel for a recommendation and then for a final decision. The sorts of projects that I have in mind are major state-significant projects, such as, for example, a new desalination plant, a major industrial project or a major tourism project. I will make one other comment. There is a perception that the proposals will remove power from so-called democratically elected councils and councillors and be given to non-elected officers. A quite significant number of decisions on development applications are currently being made by non-elected officers. Anybody who is dissatisfied with the decision of a local government authority has the ability to appeal to the State Administrative Tribunal. Clearly, decisions are made there about development applications by non-elected officers. It is therefore not a new notion to suggest that non-elected officers will be making these sorts of decisions. What we intend is to have a balance between local input and professional expertise.
Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Will you make it a prerequisite that they have some basic training? Mr J.H.D. DAY : Yes, that is correct; and not only the councillors but also the other members of the panel. Therefore, as far as other members of the panel are concerned, it is expected that a range of expertise will be required which may include but is not limited to backgrounds in planning, architecture, urban design, engineering, landscape design, environment law, property development or local government. There is further information about that aspect contained on page 17 of the discussion paper. (5) The answer to the last part of the question on the criteria that will guide the minister in applying the proposed call-in power for development applications is that it is expected that the minister of the day will have the ability to call in applications in relation to projects of either regional or state significance. They would then be referred back, essentially by the government of the day, to a panel for a recommendation and then for a final decision. The sorts of projects that I have in mind are major state-significant projects, such as, for example, a new desalination plant, a major industrial project or a major tourism project. I will make one other comment. There is a perception that the proposals will remove power from so-called democratically elected councils and councillors and be given to non-elected officers. A quite significant number of decisions on development applications are currently being made by non-elected officers. Anybody who is dissatisfied with the decision of a local government authority has the ability to appeal to the State Administrative Tribunal. Clearly, decisions are made there about development applications by non-elected officers. It is therefore not a new notion to suggest that non-elected officers will be making these sorts of decisions. What we intend is to have a balance between local input and professional expertise.
Mr J.H.D. DAY : Yes, that is correct; and not only the councillors but also the other members of the panel. Therefore, as far as other members of the panel are concerned, it is expected that a range of expertise will be required which may include but is not limited to backgrounds in planning, architecture, urban design, engineering, landscape design, environment law, property development or local government. There is further information about that aspect contained on page 17 of the discussion paper. (5) The answer to the last part of the question on the criteria that will guide the minister in applying the proposed call-in power for development applications is that it is expected that the minister of the day will have the ability to call in applications in relation to projects of either regional or state significance. They would then be referred back, essentially by the government of the day, to a panel for a recommendation and then for a final decision. The sorts of projects that I have in mind are major state-significant projects, such as, for example, a new desalination plant, a major industrial project or a major tourism project. I will make one other comment. There is a perception that the proposals will remove power from so-called democratically elected councils and councillors and be given to non-elected officers. A quite significant number of decisions on development applications are currently being made by non-elected officers. Anybody who is dissatisfied with the decision of a local government authority has the ability to appeal to the State Administrative Tribunal. Clearly, decisions are made there about development applications by non-elected officers. It is therefore not a new notion to suggest that non-elected officers will be making these sorts of decisions. What we intend is to have a balance between local input and professional expertise.
(5) The answer to the last part of the question on the criteria that will guide the minister in applying the proposed call-in power for development applications is that it is expected that the minister of the day will have the ability to call in applications in relation to projects of either regional or state significance. They would then be referred back, essentially by the government of the day, to a panel for a recommendation and then for a final decision. The sorts of projects that I have in mind are major state-significant projects, such as, for example, a new desalination plant, a major industrial project or a major tourism project. I will make one other comment. There is a perception that the proposals will remove power from so-called democratically elected councils and councillors and be given to non-elected officers. A quite significant number of decisions on development applications are currently being made by non-elected officers. Anybody who is dissatisfied with the decision of a local government authority has the ability to appeal to the State Administrative Tribunal. Clearly, decisions are made there about development applications by non-elected officers. It is therefore not a new notion to suggest that non-elected officers will be making these sorts of decisions. What we intend is to have a balance between local input and professional expertise.
I will make one other comment. There is a perception that the proposals will remove power from so-called democratically elected councils and councillors and be given to non-elected officers. A quite significant number of decisions on development applications are currently being made by non-elected officers. Anybody who is dissatisfied with the decision of a local government authority has the ability to appeal to the State Administrative Tribunal. Clearly, decisions are made there about development applications by non-elected officers. It is therefore not a new notion to suggest that non-elected officers will be making these sorts of decisions. What we intend is to have a balance between local input and professional expertise.
(1) Has the minister consulted with the Western Australian Local Government Association and individual councils about development assessment panels for the new planning system he is proposing? (2) If yes, can the minister please table any correspondence providing evidence of support from local councils for these changes? (3) What criteria will the minister use to appoint people to development assessment panels? (4) How many elected local government councillors will be appointed to the panels? (5) What criteria will guide the minister when applying his power to “call in” development applications? Mr J.H.D. DAY replied: I thank the member for Fremantle for some notice of this question earlier today. By way of background, the government has put out a discussion paper entitled “Implementing Development Assessment Panels in Western Australia”. It was prepared by the Department of Planning and it has been released for public comment and comment from the local government community, the construction community and anybody else in Western Australia who has an interest in this issue. We seek to implement an approval system in which decisions are made on the basis of a combination of good professional advice and local community input as represented by local government councils. The intention is for panels to be established for projects that are above a certain threshold, in simple terms. The panel will be composed of two local government councillors from the relevant local government area and three professional people from either architectural, planning, engineering, environmental science or planning law backgrounds—whatever is appropriate. Mr E.S. Ripper : Are you saying that local governments do not have planning expertise? Mr J.H.D. DAY : In recent years outcomes for applications for development approvals in this state have been inconsistent. In some cases, decisions have been made in a very timely way; other cases have been dragged out for an excessively long time. Most members, from either side of the chamber, will be aware of cases in which extraneous issues, unrelated to good planning decisions, have come into play when development approval decisions have been made. We want to implement a system that ensures that development projects that deliver community benefits and have architectural merit are given approval after due consideration, rather than being held up for an excessive period. To answer the member’s question specifically — (1) I did have a meeting with a representative of the Western Australian Local Government Association prior to release of the discussion paper last week. WALGA was at that meeting provided with a copy of the discussion paper and the question and answer sheet. I am also aware that there have been some officer-level discussions, as there have been with other interest groups in the community, over a long time in the preparation of this paper. (2) I was asked whether I would table any correspondence relating to support from local councils. It is a discussion paper that is out for comment at the moment. I am not aware of any response that has been received at this stage. However, all local governments and anybody else with an interest, as I said earlier, have an opportunity of making comments and providing input. We will certainly assess all of those comments carefully. It is therefore premature to consider making public any response that has been received. (3)-(4) I was asked about the criteria that will be used to appoint people to the panels. As I mentioned, there will be two local government councillors from the relevant local government area in which the proposed project is located. They will be members of the panel and there will be other people who have appropriate qualifications and experience. Those criteria will be outlined in the regulations that will ultimately be prepared to put these panels into effect. Dr J.M. Woollard : Will they be ward councillors so that they truly represent the local community? Mr J.H.D. DAY : They will be councillors elected by the relevant council as a whole and there may well be some guidelines. The local government community will probably want to adopt a practice in which councillors are appointed who perhaps have not been directly involved, have not been subject to lobbying or have not expressed views on a particular project. Mr J.N. Hyde : Will you select them or will the local council nominate them? Mr J.H.D. DAY : No. It is a discussion paper out for comment at the moment, so not everything is finalised. The intention is that the local government councils will make the decision about the appointment of those councillors. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Will you make it a prerequisite that they have some basic training? Mr J.H.D. DAY : Yes, that is correct; and not only the councillors but also the other members of the panel. Therefore, as far as other members of the panel are concerned, it is expected that a range of expertise will be required which may include but is not limited to backgrounds in planning, architecture, urban design, engineering, landscape design, environment law, property development or local government. There is further information about that aspect contained on page 17 of the discussion paper. (5) The answer to the last part of the question on the criteria that will guide the minister in applying the proposed call-in power for development applications is that it is expected that the minister of the day will have the ability to call in applications in relation to projects of either regional or state significance. They would then be referred back, essentially by the government of the day, to a panel for a recommendation and then for a final decision. The sorts of projects that I have in mind are major state-significant projects, such as, for example, a new desalination plant, a major industrial project or a major tourism project. I will make one other comment. There is a perception that the proposals will remove power from so-called democratically elected councils and councillors and be given to non-elected officers. A quite significant number of decisions on development applications are currently being made by non-elected officers. Anybody who is dissatisfied with the decision of a local government authority has the ability to appeal to the State Administrative Tribunal. Clearly, decisions are made there about development applications by non-elected officers. It is therefore not a new notion to suggest that non-elected officers will be making these sorts of decisions. What we intend is to have a balance between local input and professional expertise.
(2) If yes, can the minister please table any correspondence providing evidence of support from local councils for these changes? (3) What criteria will the minister use to appoint people to development assessment panels? (4) How many elected local government councillors will be appointed to the panels? (5) What criteria will guide the minister when applying his power to “call in” development applications? Mr J.H.D. DAY replied: I thank the member for Fremantle for some notice of this question earlier today. By way of background, the government has put out a discussion paper entitled “Implementing Development Assessment Panels in Western Australia”. It was prepared by the Department of Planning and it has been released for public comment and comment from the local government community, the construction community and anybody else in Western Australia who has an interest in this issue. We seek to implement an approval system in which decisions are made on the basis of a combination of good professional advice and local community input as represented by local government councils. The intention is for panels to be established for projects that are above a certain threshold, in simple terms. The panel will be composed of two local government councillors from the relevant local government area and three professional people from either architectural, planning, engineering, environmental science or planning law backgrounds—whatever is appropriate. Mr E.S. Ripper : Are you saying that local governments do not have planning expertise? Mr J.H.D. DAY : In recent years outcomes for applications for development approvals in this state have been inconsistent. In some cases, decisions have been made in a very timely way; other cases have been dragged out for an excessively long time. Most members, from either side of the chamber, will be aware of cases in which extraneous issues, unrelated to good planning decisions, have come into play when development approval decisions have been made. We want to implement a system that ensures that development projects that deliver community benefits and have architectural merit are given approval after due consideration, rather than being held up for an excessive period. To answer the member’s question specifically — (1) I did have a meeting with a representative of the Western Australian Local Government Association prior to release of the discussion paper last week. WALGA was at that meeting provided with a copy of the discussion paper and the question and answer sheet. I am also aware that there have been some officer-level discussions, as there have been with other interest groups in the community, over a long time in the preparation of this paper. (2) I was asked whether I would table any correspondence relating to support from local councils. It is a discussion paper that is out for comment at the moment. I am not aware of any response that has been received at this stage. However, all local governments and anybody else with an interest, as I said earlier, have an opportunity of making comments and providing input. We will certainly assess all of those comments carefully. It is therefore premature to consider making public any response that has been received. (3)-(4) I was asked about the criteria that will be used to appoint people to the panels. As I mentioned, there will be two local government councillors from the relevant local government area in which the proposed project is located. They will be members of the panel and there will be other people who have appropriate qualifications and experience. Those criteria will be outlined in the regulations that will ultimately be prepared to put these panels into effect. Dr J.M. Woollard : Will they be ward councillors so that they truly represent the local community? Mr J.H.D. DAY : They will be councillors elected by the relevant council as a whole and there may well be some guidelines. The local government community will probably want to adopt a practice in which councillors are appointed who perhaps have not been directly involved, have not been subject to lobbying or have not expressed views on a particular project. Mr J.N. Hyde : Will you select them or will the local council nominate them? Mr J.H.D. DAY : No. It is a discussion paper out for comment at the moment, so not everything is finalised. The intention is that the local government councils will make the decision about the appointment of those councillors. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Will you make it a prerequisite that they have some basic training? Mr J.H.D. DAY : Yes, that is correct; and not only the councillors but also the other members of the panel. Therefore, as far as other members of the panel are concerned, it is expected that a range of expertise will be required which may include but is not limited to backgrounds in planning, architecture, urban design, engineering, landscape design, environment law, property development or local government. There is further information about that aspect contained on page 17 of the discussion paper. (5) The answer to the last part of the question on the criteria that will guide the minister in applying the proposed call-in power for development applications is that it is expected that the minister of the day will have the ability to call in applications in relation to projects of either regional or state significance. They would then be referred back, essentially by the government of the day, to a panel for a recommendation and then for a final decision. The sorts of projects that I have in mind are major state-significant projects, such as, for example, a new desalination plant, a major industrial project or a major tourism project. I will make one other comment. There is a perception that the proposals will remove power from so-called democratically elected councils and councillors and be given to non-elected officers. A quite significant number of decisions on development applications are currently being made by non-elected officers. Anybody who is dissatisfied with the decision of a local government authority has the ability to appeal to the State Administrative Tribunal. Clearly, decisions are made there about development applications by non-elected officers. It is therefore not a new notion to suggest that non-elected officers will be making these sorts of decisions. What we intend is to have a balance between local input and professional expertise.
(3) What criteria will the minister use to appoint people to development assessment panels? (4) How many elected local government councillors will be appointed to the panels? (5) What criteria will guide the minister when applying his power to “call in” development applications? Mr J.H.D. DAY replied: I thank the member for Fremantle for some notice of this question earlier today. By way of background, the government has put out a discussion paper entitled “Implementing Development Assessment Panels in Western Australia”. It was prepared by the Department of Planning and it has been released for public comment and comment from the local government community, the construction community and anybody else in Western Australia who has an interest in this issue. We seek to implement an approval system in which decisions are made on the basis of a combination of good professional advice and local community input as represented by local government councils. The intention is for panels to be established for projects that are above a certain threshold, in simple terms. The panel will be composed of two local government councillors from the relevant local government area and three professional people from either architectural, planning, engineering, environmental science or planning law backgrounds—whatever is appropriate. Mr E.S. Ripper : Are you saying that local governments do not have planning expertise? Mr J.H.D. DAY : In recent years outcomes for applications for development approvals in this state have been inconsistent. In some cases, decisions have been made in a very timely way; other cases have been dragged out for an excessively long time. Most members, from either side of the chamber, will be aware of cases in which extraneous issues, unrelated to good planning decisions, have come into play when development approval decisions have been made. We want to implement a system that ensures that development projects that deliver community benefits and have architectural merit are given approval after due consideration, rather than being held up for an excessive period. To answer the member’s question specifically — (1) I did have a meeting with a representative of the Western Australian Local Government Association prior to release of the discussion paper last week. WALGA was at that meeting provided with a copy of the discussion paper and the question and answer sheet. I am also aware that there have been some officer-level discussions, as there have been with other interest groups in the community, over a long time in the preparation of this paper. (2) I was asked whether I would table any correspondence relating to support from local councils. It is a discussion paper that is out for comment at the moment. I am not aware of any response that has been received at this stage. However, all local governments and anybody else with an interest, as I said earlier, have an opportunity of making comments and providing input. We will certainly assess all of those comments carefully. It is therefore premature to consider making public any response that has been received. (3)-(4) I was asked about the criteria that will be used to appoint people to the panels. As I mentioned, there will be two local government councillors from the relevant local government area in which the proposed project is located. They will be members of the panel and there will be other people who have appropriate qualifications and experience. Those criteria will be outlined in the regulations that will ultimately be prepared to put these panels into effect. Dr J.M. Woollard : Will they be ward councillors so that they truly represent the local community? Mr J.H.D. DAY : They will be councillors elected by the relevant council as a whole and there may well be some guidelines. The local government community will probably want to adopt a practice in which councillors are appointed who perhaps have not been directly involved, have not been subject to lobbying or have not expressed views on a particular project. Mr J.N. Hyde : Will you select them or will the local council nominate them? Mr J.H.D. DAY : No. It is a discussion paper out for comment at the moment, so not everything is finalised. The intention is that the local government councils will make the decision about the appointment of those councillors. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Will you make it a prerequisite that they have some basic training? Mr J.H.D. DAY : Yes, that is correct; and not only the councillors but also the other members of the panel. Therefore, as far as other members of the panel are concerned, it is expected that a range of expertise will be required which may include but is not limited to backgrounds in planning, architecture, urban design, engineering, landscape design, environment law, property development or local government. There is further information about that aspect contained on page 17 of the discussion paper. (5) The answer to the last part of the question on the criteria that will guide the minister in applying the proposed call-in power for development applications is that it is expected that the minister of the day will have the ability to call in applications in relation to projects of either regional or state significance. They would then be referred back, essentially by the government of the day, to a panel for a recommendation and then for a final decision. The sorts of projects that I have in mind are major state-significant projects, such as, for example, a new desalination plant, a major industrial project or a major tourism project. I will make one other comment. There is a perception that the proposals will remove power from so-called democratically elected councils and councillors and be given to non-elected officers. A quite significant number of decisions on development applications are currently being made by non-elected officers. Anybody who is dissatisfied with the decision of a local government authority has the ability to appeal to the State Administrative Tribunal. Clearly, decisions are made there about development applications by non-elected officers. It is therefore not a new notion to suggest that non-elected officers will be making these sorts of decisions. What we intend is to have a balance between local input and professional expertise.
(4) How many elected local government councillors will be appointed to the panels? (5) What criteria will guide the minister when applying his power to “call in” development applications? Mr J.H.D. DAY replied: I thank the member for Fremantle for some notice of this question earlier today. By way of background, the government has put out a discussion paper entitled “Implementing Development Assessment Panels in Western Australia”. It was prepared by the Department of Planning and it has been released for public comment and comment from the local government community, the construction community and anybody else in Western Australia who has an interest in this issue. We seek to implement an approval system in which decisions are made on the basis of a combination of good professional advice and local community input as represented by local government councils. The intention is for panels to be established for projects that are above a certain threshold, in simple terms. The panel will be composed of two local government councillors from the relevant local government area and three professional people from either architectural, planning, engineering, environmental science or planning law backgrounds—whatever is appropriate. Mr E.S. Ripper : Are you saying that local governments do not have planning expertise? Mr J.H.D. DAY : In recent years outcomes for applications for development approvals in this state have been inconsistent. In some cases, decisions have been made in a very timely way; other cases have been dragged out for an excessively long time. Most members, from either side of the chamber, will be aware of cases in which extraneous issues, unrelated to good planning decisions, have come into play when development approval decisions have been made. We want to implement a system that ensures that development projects that deliver community benefits and have architectural merit are given approval after due consideration, rather than being held up for an excessive period. To answer the member’s question specifically — (1) I did have a meeting with a representative of the Western Australian Local Government Association prior to release of the discussion paper last week. WALGA was at that meeting provided with a copy of the discussion paper and the question and answer sheet. I am also aware that there have been some officer-level discussions, as there have been with other interest groups in the community, over a long time in the preparation of this paper. (2) I was asked whether I would table any correspondence relating to support from local councils. It is a discussion paper that is out for comment at the moment. I am not aware of any response that has been received at this stage. However, all local governments and anybody else with an interest, as I said earlier, have an opportunity of making comments and providing input. We will certainly assess all of those comments carefully. It is therefore premature to consider making public any response that has been received. (3)-(4) I was asked about the criteria that will be used to appoint people to the panels. As I mentioned, there will be two local government councillors from the relevant local government area in which the proposed project is located. They will be members of the panel and there will be other people who have appropriate qualifications and experience. Those criteria will be outlined in the regulations that will ultimately be prepared to put these panels into effect. Dr J.M. Woollard : Will they be ward councillors so that they truly represent the local community? Mr J.H.D. DAY : They will be councillors elected by the relevant council as a whole and there may well be some guidelines. The local government community will probably want to adopt a practice in which councillors are appointed who perhaps have not been directly involved, have not been subject to lobbying or have not expressed views on a particular project. Mr J.N. Hyde : Will you select them or will the local council nominate them? Mr J.H.D. DAY : No. It is a discussion paper out for comment at the moment, so not everything is finalised. The intention is that the local government councils will make the decision about the appointment of those councillors. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Will you make it a prerequisite that they have some basic training? Mr J.H.D. DAY : Yes, that is correct; and not only the councillors but also the other members of the panel. Therefore, as far as other members of the panel are concerned, it is expected that a range of expertise will be required which may include but is not limited to backgrounds in planning, architecture, urban design, engineering, landscape design, environment law, property development or local government. There is further information about that aspect contained on page 17 of the discussion paper. (5) The answer to the last part of the question on the criteria that will guide the minister in applying the proposed call-in power for development applications is that it is expected that the minister of the day will have the ability to call in applications in relation to projects of either regional or state significance. They would then be referred back, essentially by the government of the day, to a panel for a recommendation and then for a final decision. The sorts of projects that I have in mind are major state-significant projects, such as, for example, a new desalination plant, a major industrial project or a major tourism project. I will make one other comment. There is a perception that the proposals will remove power from so-called democratically elected councils and councillors and be given to non-elected officers. A quite significant number of decisions on development applications are currently being made by non-elected officers. Anybody who is dissatisfied with the decision of a local government authority has the ability to appeal to the State Administrative Tribunal. Clearly, decisions are made there about development applications by non-elected officers. It is therefore not a new notion to suggest that non-elected officers will be making these sorts of decisions. What we intend is to have a balance between local input and professional expertise.
(5) What criteria will guide the minister when applying his power to “call in” development applications? Mr J.H.D. DAY replied: I thank the member for Fremantle for some notice of this question earlier today. By way of background, the government has put out a discussion paper entitled “Implementing Development Assessment Panels in Western Australia”. It was prepared by the Department of Planning and it has been released for public comment and comment from the local government community, the construction community and anybody else in Western Australia who has an interest in this issue. We seek to implement an approval system in which decisions are made on the basis of a combination of good professional advice and local community input as represented by local government councils. The intention is for panels to be established for projects that are above a certain threshold, in simple terms. The panel will be composed of two local government councillors from the relevant local government area and three professional people from either architectural, planning, engineering, environmental science or planning law backgrounds—whatever is appropriate. Mr E.S. Ripper : Are you saying that local governments do not have planning expertise? Mr J.H.D. DAY : In recent years outcomes for applications for development approvals in this state have been inconsistent. In some cases, decisions have been made in a very timely way; other cases have been dragged out for an excessively long time. Most members, from either side of the chamber, will be aware of cases in which extraneous issues, unrelated to good planning decisions, have come into play when development approval decisions have been made. We want to implement a system that ensures that development projects that deliver community benefits and have architectural merit are given approval after due consideration, rather than being held up for an excessive period. To answer the member’s question specifically — (1) I did have a meeting with a representative of the Western Australian Local Government Association prior to release of the discussion paper last week. WALGA was at that meeting provided with a copy of the discussion paper and the question and answer sheet. I am also aware that there have been some officer-level discussions, as there have been with other interest groups in the community, over a long time in the preparation of this paper. (2) I was asked whether I would table any correspondence relating to support from local councils. It is a discussion paper that is out for comment at the moment. I am not aware of any response that has been received at this stage. However, all local governments and anybody else with an interest, as I said earlier, have an opportunity of making comments and providing input. We will certainly assess all of those comments carefully. It is therefore premature to consider making public any response that has been received. (3)-(4) I was asked about the criteria that will be used to appoint people to the panels. As I mentioned, there will be two local government councillors from the relevant local government area in which the proposed project is located. They will be members of the panel and there will be other people who have appropriate qualifications and experience. Those criteria will be outlined in the regulations that will ultimately be prepared to put these panels into effect. Dr J.M. Woollard : Will they be ward councillors so that they truly represent the local community? Mr J.H.D. DAY : They will be councillors elected by the relevant council as a whole and there may well be some guidelines. The local government community will probably want to adopt a practice in which councillors are appointed who perhaps have not been directly involved, have not been subject to lobbying or have not expressed views on a particular project. Mr J.N. Hyde : Will you select them or will the local council nominate them? Mr J.H.D. DAY : No. It is a discussion paper out for comment at the moment, so not everything is finalised. The intention is that the local government councils will make the decision about the appointment of those councillors. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Will you make it a prerequisite that they have some basic training? Mr J.H.D. DAY : Yes, that is correct; and not only the councillors but also the other members of the panel. Therefore, as far as other members of the panel are concerned, it is expected that a range of expertise will be required which may include but is not limited to backgrounds in planning, architecture, urban design, engineering, landscape design, environment law, property development or local government. There is further information about that aspect contained on page 17 of the discussion paper. (5) The answer to the last part of the question on the criteria that will guide the minister in applying the proposed call-in power for development applications is that it is expected that the minister of the day will have the ability to call in applications in relation to projects of either regional or state significance. They would then be referred back, essentially by the government of the day, to a panel for a recommendation and then for a final decision. The sorts of projects that I have in mind are major state-significant projects, such as, for example, a new desalination plant, a major industrial project or a major tourism project. I will make one other comment. There is a perception that the proposals will remove power from so-called democratically elected councils and councillors and be given to non-elected officers. A quite significant number of decisions on development applications are currently being made by non-elected officers. Anybody who is dissatisfied with the decision of a local government authority has the ability to appeal to the State Administrative Tribunal. Clearly, decisions are made there about development applications by non-elected officers. It is therefore not a new notion to suggest that non-elected officers will be making these sorts of decisions. What we intend is to have a balance between local input and professional expertise.
Mr J.H.D. DAY replied: I thank the member for Fremantle for some notice of this question earlier today. By way of background, the government has put out a discussion paper entitled “Implementing Development Assessment Panels in Western Australia”. It was prepared by the Department of Planning and it has been released for public comment and comment from the local government community, the construction community and anybody else in Western Australia who has an interest in this issue. We seek to implement an approval system in which decisions are made on the basis of a combination of good professional advice and local community input as represented by local government councils. The intention is for panels to be established for projects that are above a certain threshold, in simple terms. The panel will be composed of two local government councillors from the relevant local government area and three professional people from either architectural, planning, engineering, environmental science or planning law backgrounds—whatever is appropriate. Mr E.S. Ripper : Are you saying that local governments do not have planning expertise? Mr J.H.D. DAY : In recent years outcomes for applications for development approvals in this state have been inconsistent. In some cases, decisions have been made in a very timely way; other cases have been dragged out for an excessively long time. Most members, from either side of the chamber, will be aware of cases in which extraneous issues, unrelated to good planning decisions, have come into play when development approval decisions have been made. We want to implement a system that ensures that development projects that deliver community benefits and have architectural merit are given approval after due consideration, rather than being held up for an excessive period. To answer the member’s question specifically — (1) I did have a meeting with a representative of the Western Australian Local Government Association prior to release of the discussion paper last week. WALGA was at that meeting provided with a copy of the discussion paper and the question and answer sheet. I am also aware that there have been some officer-level discussions, as there have been with other interest groups in the community, over a long time in the preparation of this paper. (2) I was asked whether I would table any correspondence relating to support from local councils. It is a discussion paper that is out for comment at the moment. I am not aware of any response that has been received at this stage. However, all local governments and anybody else with an interest, as I said earlier, have an opportunity of making comments and providing input. We will certainly assess all of those comments carefully. It is therefore premature to consider making public any response that has been received. (3)-(4) I was asked about the criteria that will be used to appoint people to the panels. As I mentioned, there will be two local government councillors from the relevant local government area in which the proposed project is located. They will be members of the panel and there will be other people who have appropriate qualifications and experience. Those criteria will be outlined in the regulations that will ultimately be prepared to put these panels into effect. Dr J.M. Woollard : Will they be ward councillors so that they truly represent the local community? Mr J.H.D. DAY : They will be councillors elected by the relevant council as a whole and there may well be some guidelines. The local government community will probably want to adopt a practice in which councillors are appointed who perhaps have not been directly involved, have not been subject to lobbying or have not expressed views on a particular project. Mr J.N. Hyde : Will you select them or will the local council nominate them? Mr J.H.D. DAY : No. It is a discussion paper out for comment at the moment, so not everything is finalised. The intention is that the local government councils will make the decision about the appointment of those councillors. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Will you make it a prerequisite that they have some basic training? Mr J.H.D. DAY : Yes, that is correct; and not only the councillors but also the other members of the panel. Therefore, as far as other members of the panel are concerned, it is expected that a range of expertise will be required which may include but is not limited to backgrounds in planning, architecture, urban design, engineering, landscape design, environment law, property development or local government. There is further information about that aspect contained on page 17 of the discussion paper. (5) The answer to the last part of the question on the criteria that will guide the minister in applying the proposed call-in power for development applications is that it is expected that the minister of the day will have the ability to call in applications in relation to projects of either regional or state significance. They would then be referred back, essentially by the government of the day, to a panel for a recommendation and then for a final decision. The sorts of projects that I have in mind are major state-significant projects, such as, for example, a new desalination plant, a major industrial project or a major tourism project. I will make one other comment. There is a perception that the proposals will remove power from so-called democratically elected councils and councillors and be given to non-elected officers. A quite significant number of decisions on development applications are currently being made by non-elected officers. Anybody who is dissatisfied with the decision of a local government authority has the ability to appeal to the State Administrative Tribunal. Clearly, decisions are made there about development applications by non-elected officers. It is therefore not a new notion to suggest that non-elected officers will be making these sorts of decisions. What we intend is to have a balance between local input and professional expertise.
I thank the member for Fremantle for some notice of this question earlier today. By way of background, the government has put out a discussion paper entitled “Implementing Development Assessment Panels in Western Australia”. It was prepared by the Department of Planning and it has been released for public comment and comment from the local government community, the construction community and anybody else in Western Australia who has an interest in this issue. We seek to implement an approval system in which decisions are made on the basis of a combination of good professional advice and local community input as represented by local government councils. The intention is for panels to be established for projects that are above a certain threshold, in simple terms. The panel will be composed of two local government councillors from the relevant local government area and three professional people from either architectural, planning, engineering, environmental science or planning law backgrounds—whatever is appropriate. Mr E.S. Ripper : Are you saying that local governments do not have planning expertise? Mr J.H.D. DAY : In recent years outcomes for applications for development approvals in this state have been inconsistent. In some cases, decisions have been made in a very timely way; other cases have been dragged out for an excessively long time. Most members, from either side of the chamber, will be aware of cases in which extraneous issues, unrelated to good planning decisions, have come into play when development approval decisions have been made. We want to implement a system that ensures that development projects that deliver community benefits and have architectural merit are given approval after due consideration, rather than being held up for an excessive period. To answer the member’s question specifically — (1) I did have a meeting with a representative of the Western Australian Local Government Association prior to release of the discussion paper last week. WALGA was at that meeting provided with a copy of the discussion paper and the question and answer sheet. I am also aware that there have been some officer-level discussions, as there have been with other interest groups in the community, over a long time in the preparation of this paper. (2) I was asked whether I would table any correspondence relating to support from local councils. It is a discussion paper that is out for comment at the moment. I am not aware of any response that has been received at this stage. However, all local governments and anybody else with an interest, as I said earlier, have an opportunity of making comments and providing input. We will certainly assess all of those comments carefully. It is therefore premature to consider making public any response that has been received. (3)-(4) I was asked about the criteria that will be used to appoint people to the panels. As I mentioned, there will be two local government councillors from the relevant local government area in which the proposed project is located. They will be members of the panel and there will be other people who have appropriate qualifications and experience. Those criteria will be outlined in the regulations that will ultimately be prepared to put these panels into effect. Dr J.M. Woollard : Will they be ward councillors so that they truly represent the local community? Mr J.H.D. DAY : They will be councillors elected by the relevant council as a whole and there may well be some guidelines. The local government community will probably want to adopt a practice in which councillors are appointed who perhaps have not been directly involved, have not been subject to lobbying or have not expressed views on a particular project. Mr J.N. Hyde : Will you select them or will the local council nominate them? Mr J.H.D. DAY : No. It is a discussion paper out for comment at the moment, so not everything is finalised. The intention is that the local government councils will make the decision about the appointment of those councillors. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Will you make it a prerequisite that they have some basic training? Mr J.H.D. DAY : Yes, that is correct; and not only the councillors but also the other members of the panel. Therefore, as far as other members of the panel are concerned, it is expected that a range of expertise will be required which may include but is not limited to backgrounds in planning, architecture, urban design, engineering, landscape design, environment law, property development or local government. There is further information about that aspect contained on page 17 of the discussion paper. (5) The answer to the last part of the question on the criteria that will guide the minister in applying the proposed call-in power for development applications is that it is expected that the minister of the day will have the ability to call in applications in relation to projects of either regional or state significance. They would then be referred back, essentially by the government of the day, to a panel for a recommendation and then for a final decision. The sorts of projects that I have in mind are major state-significant projects, such as, for example, a new desalination plant, a major industrial project or a major tourism project. I will make one other comment. There is a perception that the proposals will remove power from so-called democratically elected councils and councillors and be given to non-elected officers. A quite significant number of decisions on development applications are currently being made by non-elected officers. Anybody who is dissatisfied with the decision of a local government authority has the ability to appeal to the State Administrative Tribunal. Clearly, decisions are made there about development applications by non-elected officers. It is therefore not a new notion to suggest that non-elected officers will be making these sorts of decisions. What we intend is to have a balance between local input and professional expertise.
By way of background, the government has put out a discussion paper entitled “Implementing Development Assessment Panels in Western Australia”. It was prepared by the Department of Planning and it has been released for public comment and comment from the local government community, the construction community and anybody else in Western Australia who has an interest in this issue. We seek to implement an approval system in which decisions are made on the basis of a combination of good professional advice and local community input as represented by local government councils. The intention is for panels to be established for projects that are above a certain threshold, in simple terms. The panel will be composed of two local government councillors from the relevant local government area and three professional people from either architectural, planning, engineering, environmental science or planning law backgrounds—whatever is appropriate. Mr E.S. Ripper : Are you saying that local governments do not have planning expertise? Mr J.H.D. DAY : In recent years outcomes for applications for development approvals in this state have been inconsistent. In some cases, decisions have been made in a very timely way; other cases have been dragged out for an excessively long time. Most members, from either side of the chamber, will be aware of cases in which extraneous issues, unrelated to good planning decisions, have come into play when development approval decisions have been made. We want to implement a system that ensures that development projects that deliver community benefits and have architectural merit are given approval after due consideration, rather than being held up for an excessive period. To answer the member’s question specifically — (1) I did have a meeting with a representative of the Western Australian Local Government Association prior to release of the discussion paper last week. WALGA was at that meeting provided with a copy of the discussion paper and the question and answer sheet. I am also aware that there have been some officer-level discussions, as there have been with other interest groups in the community, over a long time in the preparation of this paper. (2) I was asked whether I would table any correspondence relating to support from local councils. It is a discussion paper that is out for comment at the moment. I am not aware of any response that has been received at this stage. However, all local governments and anybody else with an interest, as I said earlier, have an opportunity of making comments and providing input. We will certainly assess all of those comments carefully. It is therefore premature to consider making public any response that has been received. (3)-(4) I was asked about the criteria that will be used to appoint people to the panels. As I mentioned, there will be two local government councillors from the relevant local government area in which the proposed project is located. They will be members of the panel and there will be other people who have appropriate qualifications and experience. Those criteria will be outlined in the regulations that will ultimately be prepared to put these panels into effect. Dr J.M. Woollard : Will they be ward councillors so that they truly represent the local community? Mr J.H.D. DAY : They will be councillors elected by the relevant council as a whole and there may well be some guidelines. The local government community will probably want to adopt a practice in which councillors are appointed who perhaps have not been directly involved, have not been subject to lobbying or have not expressed views on a particular project. Mr J.N. Hyde : Will you select them or will the local council nominate them? Mr J.H.D. DAY : No. It is a discussion paper out for comment at the moment, so not everything is finalised. The intention is that the local government councils will make the decision about the appointment of those councillors. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Will you make it a prerequisite that they have some basic training? Mr J.H.D. DAY : Yes, that is correct; and not only the councillors but also the other members of the panel. Therefore, as far as other members of the panel are concerned, it is expected that a range of expertise will be required which may include but is not limited to backgrounds in planning, architecture, urban design, engineering, landscape design, environment law, property development or local government. There is further information about that aspect contained on page 17 of the discussion paper. (5) The answer to the last part of the question on the criteria that will guide the minister in applying the proposed call-in power for development applications is that it is expected that the minister of the day will have the ability to call in applications in relation to projects of either regional or state significance. They would then be referred back, essentially by the government of the day, to a panel for a recommendation and then for a final decision. The sorts of projects that I have in mind are major state-significant projects, such as, for example, a new desalination plant, a major industrial project or a major tourism project. I will make one other comment. There is a perception that the proposals will remove power from so-called democratically elected councils and councillors and be given to non-elected officers. A quite significant number of decisions on development applications are currently being made by non-elected officers. Anybody who is dissatisfied with the decision of a local government authority has the ability to appeal to the State Administrative Tribunal. Clearly, decisions are made there about development applications by non-elected officers. It is therefore not a new notion to suggest that non-elected officers will be making these sorts of decisions. What we intend is to have a balance between local input and professional expertise.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Are you saying that local governments do not have planning expertise? Mr J.H.D. DAY : In recent years outcomes for applications for development approvals in this state have been inconsistent. In some cases, decisions have been made in a very timely way; other cases have been dragged out for an excessively long time. Most members, from either side of the chamber, will be aware of cases in which extraneous issues, unrelated to good planning decisions, have come into play when development approval decisions have been made. We want to implement a system that ensures that development projects that deliver community benefits and have architectural merit are given approval after due consideration, rather than being held up for an excessive period. To answer the member’s question specifically — (1) I did have a meeting with a representative of the Western Australian Local Government Association prior to release of the discussion paper last week. WALGA was at that meeting provided with a copy of the discussion paper and the question and answer sheet. I am also aware that there have been some officer-level discussions, as there have been with other interest groups in the community, over a long time in the preparation of this paper. (2) I was asked whether I would table any correspondence relating to support from local councils. It is a discussion paper that is out for comment at the moment. I am not aware of any response that has been received at this stage. However, all local governments and anybody else with an interest, as I said earlier, have an opportunity of making comments and providing input. We will certainly assess all of those comments carefully. It is therefore premature to consider making public any response that has been received. (3)-(4) I was asked about the criteria that will be used to appoint people to the panels. As I mentioned, there will be two local government councillors from the relevant local government area in which the proposed project is located. They will be members of the panel and there will be other people who have appropriate qualifications and experience. Those criteria will be outlined in the regulations that will ultimately be prepared to put these panels into effect. Dr J.M. Woollard : Will they be ward councillors so that they truly represent the local community? Mr J.H.D. DAY : They will be councillors elected by the relevant council as a whole and there may well be some guidelines. The local government community will probably want to adopt a practice in which councillors are appointed who perhaps have not been directly involved, have not been subject to lobbying or have not expressed views on a particular project. Mr J.N. Hyde : Will you select them or will the local council nominate them? Mr J.H.D. DAY : No. It is a discussion paper out for comment at the moment, so not everything is finalised. The intention is that the local government councils will make the decision about the appointment of those councillors. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Will you make it a prerequisite that they have some basic training? Mr J.H.D. DAY : Yes, that is correct; and not only the councillors but also the other members of the panel. Therefore, as far as other members of the panel are concerned, it is expected that a range of expertise will be required which may include but is not limited to backgrounds in planning, architecture, urban design, engineering, landscape design, environment law, property development or local government. There is further information about that aspect contained on page 17 of the discussion paper. (5) The answer to the last part of the question on the criteria that will guide the minister in applying the proposed call-in power for development applications is that it is expected that the minister of the day will have the ability to call in applications in relation to projects of either regional or state significance. They would then be referred back, essentially by the government of the day, to a panel for a recommendation and then for a final decision. The sorts of projects that I have in mind are major state-significant projects, such as, for example, a new desalination plant, a major industrial project or a major tourism project. I will make one other comment. There is a perception that the proposals will remove power from so-called democratically elected councils and councillors and be given to non-elected officers. A quite significant number of decisions on development applications are currently being made by non-elected officers. Anybody who is dissatisfied with the decision of a local government authority has the ability to appeal to the State Administrative Tribunal. Clearly, decisions are made there about development applications by non-elected officers. It is therefore not a new notion to suggest that non-elected officers will be making these sorts of decisions. What we intend is to have a balance between local input and professional expertise.
Mr J.H.D. DAY : In recent years outcomes for applications for development approvals in this state have been inconsistent. In some cases, decisions have been made in a very timely way; other cases have been dragged out for an excessively long time. Most members, from either side of the chamber, will be aware of cases in which extraneous issues, unrelated to good planning decisions, have come into play when development approval decisions have been made. We want to implement a system that ensures that development projects that deliver community benefits and have architectural merit are given approval after due consideration, rather than being held up for an excessive period. To answer the member’s question specifically — (1) I did have a meeting with a representative of the Western Australian Local Government Association prior to release of the discussion paper last week. WALGA was at that meeting provided with a copy of the discussion paper and the question and answer sheet. I am also aware that there have been some officer-level discussions, as there have been with other interest groups in the community, over a long time in the preparation of this paper. (2) I was asked whether I would table any correspondence relating to support from local councils. It is a discussion paper that is out for comment at the moment. I am not aware of any response that has been received at this stage. However, all local governments and anybody else with an interest, as I said earlier, have an opportunity of making comments and providing input. We will certainly assess all of those comments carefully. It is therefore premature to consider making public any response that has been received. (3)-(4) I was asked about the criteria that will be used to appoint people to the panels. As I mentioned, there will be two local government councillors from the relevant local government area in which the proposed project is located. They will be members of the panel and there will be other people who have appropriate qualifications and experience. Those criteria will be outlined in the regulations that will ultimately be prepared to put these panels into effect. Dr J.M. Woollard : Will they be ward councillors so that they truly represent the local community? Mr J.H.D. DAY : They will be councillors elected by the relevant council as a whole and there may well be some guidelines. The local government community will probably want to adopt a practice in which councillors are appointed who perhaps have not been directly involved, have not been subject to lobbying or have not expressed views on a particular project. Mr J.N. Hyde : Will you select them or will the local council nominate them? Mr J.H.D. DAY : No. It is a discussion paper out for comment at the moment, so not everything is finalised. The intention is that the local government councils will make the decision about the appointment of those councillors. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Will you make it a prerequisite that they have some basic training? Mr J.H.D. DAY : Yes, that is correct; and not only the councillors but also the other members of the panel. Therefore, as far as other members of the panel are concerned, it is expected that a range of expertise will be required which may include but is not limited to backgrounds in planning, architecture, urban design, engineering, landscape design, environment law, property development or local government. There is further information about that aspect contained on page 17 of the discussion paper. (5) The answer to the last part of the question on the criteria that will guide the minister in applying the proposed call-in power for development applications is that it is expected that the minister of the day will have the ability to call in applications in relation to projects of either regional or state significance. They would then be referred back, essentially by the government of the day, to a panel for a recommendation and then for a final decision. The sorts of projects that I have in mind are major state-significant projects, such as, for example, a new desalination plant, a major industrial project or a major tourism project. I will make one other comment. There is a perception that the proposals will remove power from so-called democratically elected councils and councillors and be given to non-elected officers. A quite significant number of decisions on development applications are currently being made by non-elected officers. Anybody who is dissatisfied with the decision of a local government authority has the ability to appeal to the State Administrative Tribunal. Clearly, decisions are made there about development applications by non-elected officers. It is therefore not a new notion to suggest that non-elected officers will be making these sorts of decisions. What we intend is to have a balance between local input and professional expertise.
(1) I did have a meeting with a representative of the Western Australian Local Government Association prior to release of the discussion paper last week. WALGA was at that meeting provided with a copy of the discussion paper and the question and answer sheet. I am also aware that there have been some officer-level discussions, as there have been with other interest groups in the community, over a long time in the preparation of this paper. (2) I was asked whether I would table any correspondence relating to support from local councils. It is a discussion paper that is out for comment at the moment. I am not aware of any response that has been received at this stage. However, all local governments and anybody else with an interest, as I said earlier, have an opportunity of making comments and providing input. We will certainly assess all of those comments carefully. It is therefore premature to consider making public any response that has been received. (3)-(4) I was asked about the criteria that will be used to appoint people to the panels. As I mentioned, there will be two local government councillors from the relevant local government area in which the proposed project is located. They will be members of the panel and there will be other people who have appropriate qualifications and experience. Those criteria will be outlined in the regulations that will ultimately be prepared to put these panels into effect. Dr J.M. Woollard : Will they be ward councillors so that they truly represent the local community? Mr J.H.D. DAY : They will be councillors elected by the relevant council as a whole and there may well be some guidelines. The local government community will probably want to adopt a practice in which councillors are appointed who perhaps have not been directly involved, have not been subject to lobbying or have not expressed views on a particular project. Mr J.N. Hyde : Will you select them or will the local council nominate them? Mr J.H.D. DAY : No. It is a discussion paper out for comment at the moment, so not everything is finalised. The intention is that the local government councils will make the decision about the appointment of those councillors. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Will you make it a prerequisite that they have some basic training? Mr J.H.D. DAY : Yes, that is correct; and not only the councillors but also the other members of the panel. Therefore, as far as other members of the panel are concerned, it is expected that a range of expertise will be required which may include but is not limited to backgrounds in planning, architecture, urban design, engineering, landscape design, environment law, property development or local government. There is further information about that aspect contained on page 17 of the discussion paper. (5) The answer to the last part of the question on the criteria that will guide the minister in applying the proposed call-in power for development applications is that it is expected that the minister of the day will have the ability to call in applications in relation to projects of either regional or state significance. They would then be referred back, essentially by the government of the day, to a panel for a recommendation and then for a final decision. The sorts of projects that I have in mind are major state-significant projects, such as, for example, a new desalination plant, a major industrial project or a major tourism project. I will make one other comment. There is a perception that the proposals will remove power from so-called democratically elected councils and councillors and be given to non-elected officers. A quite significant number of decisions on development applications are currently being made by non-elected officers. Anybody who is dissatisfied with the decision of a local government authority has the ability to appeal to the State Administrative Tribunal. Clearly, decisions are made there about development applications by non-elected officers. It is therefore not a new notion to suggest that non-elected officers will be making these sorts of decisions. What we intend is to have a balance between local input and professional expertise.
(2) I was asked whether I would table any correspondence relating to support from local councils. It is a discussion paper that is out for comment at the moment. I am not aware of any response that has been received at this stage. However, all local governments and anybody else with an interest, as I said earlier, have an opportunity of making comments and providing input. We will certainly assess all of those comments carefully. It is therefore premature to consider making public any response that has been received. (3)-(4) I was asked about the criteria that will be used to appoint people to the panels. As I mentioned, there will be two local government councillors from the relevant local government area in which the proposed project is located. They will be members of the panel and there will be other people who have appropriate qualifications and experience. Those criteria will be outlined in the regulations that will ultimately be prepared to put these panels into effect. Dr J.M. Woollard : Will they be ward councillors so that they truly represent the local community? Mr J.H.D. DAY : They will be councillors elected by the relevant council as a whole and there may well be some guidelines. The local government community will probably want to adopt a practice in which councillors are appointed who perhaps have not been directly involved, have not been subject to lobbying or have not expressed views on a particular project. Mr J.N. Hyde : Will you select them or will the local council nominate them? Mr J.H.D. DAY : No. It is a discussion paper out for comment at the moment, so not everything is finalised. The intention is that the local government councils will make the decision about the appointment of those councillors. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Will you make it a prerequisite that they have some basic training? Mr J.H.D. DAY : Yes, that is correct; and not only the councillors but also the other members of the panel. Therefore, as far as other members of the panel are concerned, it is expected that a range of expertise will be required which may include but is not limited to backgrounds in planning, architecture, urban design, engineering, landscape design, environment law, property development or local government. There is further information about that aspect contained on page 17 of the discussion paper. (5) The answer to the last part of the question on the criteria that will guide the minister in applying the proposed call-in power for development applications is that it is expected that the minister of the day will have the ability to call in applications in relation to projects of either regional or state significance. They would then be referred back, essentially by the government of the day, to a panel for a recommendation and then for a final decision. The sorts of projects that I have in mind are major state-significant projects, such as, for example, a new desalination plant, a major industrial project or a major tourism project. I will make one other comment. There is a perception that the proposals will remove power from so-called democratically elected councils and councillors and be given to non-elected officers. A quite significant number of decisions on development applications are currently being made by non-elected officers. Anybody who is dissatisfied with the decision of a local government authority has the ability to appeal to the State Administrative Tribunal. Clearly, decisions are made there about development applications by non-elected officers. It is therefore not a new notion to suggest that non-elected officers will be making these sorts of decisions. What we intend is to have a balance between local input and professional expertise.
(3)-(4) I was asked about the criteria that will be used to appoint people to the panels. As I mentioned, there will be two local government councillors from the relevant local government area in which the proposed project is located. They will be members of the panel and there will be other people who have appropriate qualifications and experience. Those criteria will be outlined in the regulations that will ultimately be prepared to put these panels into effect. Dr J.M. Woollard : Will they be ward councillors so that they truly represent the local community? Mr J.H.D. DAY : They will be councillors elected by the relevant council as a whole and there may well be some guidelines. The local government community will probably want to adopt a practice in which councillors are appointed who perhaps have not been directly involved, have not been subject to lobbying or have not expressed views on a particular project. Mr J.N. Hyde : Will you select them or will the local council nominate them? Mr J.H.D. DAY : No. It is a discussion paper out for comment at the moment, so not everything is finalised. The intention is that the local government councils will make the decision about the appointment of those councillors. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Will you make it a prerequisite that they have some basic training? Mr J.H.D. DAY : Yes, that is correct; and not only the councillors but also the other members of the panel. Therefore, as far as other members of the panel are concerned, it is expected that a range of expertise will be required which may include but is not limited to backgrounds in planning, architecture, urban design, engineering, landscape design, environment law, property development or local government. There is further information about that aspect contained on page 17 of the discussion paper. (5) The answer to the last part of the question on the criteria that will guide the minister in applying the proposed call-in power for development applications is that it is expected that the minister of the day will have the ability to call in applications in relation to projects of either regional or state significance. They would then be referred back, essentially by the government of the day, to a panel for a recommendation and then for a final decision. The sorts of projects that I have in mind are major state-significant projects, such as, for example, a new desalination plant, a major industrial project or a major tourism project. I will make one other comment. There is a perception that the proposals will remove power from so-called democratically elected councils and councillors and be given to non-elected officers. A quite significant number of decisions on development applications are currently being made by non-elected officers. Anybody who is dissatisfied with the decision of a local government authority has the ability to appeal to the State Administrative Tribunal. Clearly, decisions are made there about development applications by non-elected officers. It is therefore not a new notion to suggest that non-elected officers will be making these sorts of decisions. What we intend is to have a balance between local input and professional expertise.
Dr J.M. Woollard : Will they be ward councillors so that they truly represent the local community? Mr J.H.D. DAY : They will be councillors elected by the relevant council as a whole and there may well be some guidelines. The local government community will probably want to adopt a practice in which councillors are appointed who perhaps have not been directly involved, have not been subject to lobbying or have not expressed views on a particular project. Mr J.N. Hyde : Will you select them or will the local council nominate them? Mr J.H.D. DAY : No. It is a discussion paper out for comment at the moment, so not everything is finalised. The intention is that the local government councils will make the decision about the appointment of those councillors. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Will you make it a prerequisite that they have some basic training? Mr J.H.D. DAY : Yes, that is correct; and not only the councillors but also the other members of the panel. Therefore, as far as other members of the panel are concerned, it is expected that a range of expertise will be required which may include but is not limited to backgrounds in planning, architecture, urban design, engineering, landscape design, environment law, property development or local government. There is further information about that aspect contained on page 17 of the discussion paper. (5) The answer to the last part of the question on the criteria that will guide the minister in applying the proposed call-in power for development applications is that it is expected that the minister of the day will have the ability to call in applications in relation to projects of either regional or state significance. They would then be referred back, essentially by the government of the day, to a panel for a recommendation and then for a final decision. The sorts of projects that I have in mind are major state-significant projects, such as, for example, a new desalination plant, a major industrial project or a major tourism project. I will make one other comment. There is a perception that the proposals will remove power from so-called democratically elected councils and councillors and be given to non-elected officers. A quite significant number of decisions on development applications are currently being made by non-elected officers. Anybody who is dissatisfied with the decision of a local government authority has the ability to appeal to the State Administrative Tribunal. Clearly, decisions are made there about development applications by non-elected officers. It is therefore not a new notion to suggest that non-elected officers will be making these sorts of decisions. What we intend is to have a balance between local input and professional expertise.
Mr J.H.D. DAY : They will be councillors elected by the relevant council as a whole and there may well be some guidelines. The local government community will probably want to adopt a practice in which councillors are appointed who perhaps have not been directly involved, have not been subject to lobbying or have not expressed views on a particular project. Mr J.N. Hyde : Will you select them or will the local council nominate them? Mr J.H.D. DAY : No. It is a discussion paper out for comment at the moment, so not everything is finalised. The intention is that the local government councils will make the decision about the appointment of those councillors. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Will you make it a prerequisite that they have some basic training? Mr J.H.D. DAY : Yes, that is correct; and not only the councillors but also the other members of the panel. Therefore, as far as other members of the panel are concerned, it is expected that a range of expertise will be required which may include but is not limited to backgrounds in planning, architecture, urban design, engineering, landscape design, environment law, property development or local government. There is further information about that aspect contained on page 17 of the discussion paper. (5) The answer to the last part of the question on the criteria that will guide the minister in applying the proposed call-in power for development applications is that it is expected that the minister of the day will have the ability to call in applications in relation to projects of either regional or state significance. They would then be referred back, essentially by the government of the day, to a panel for a recommendation and then for a final decision. The sorts of projects that I have in mind are major state-significant projects, such as, for example, a new desalination plant, a major industrial project or a major tourism project. I will make one other comment. There is a perception that the proposals will remove power from so-called democratically elected councils and councillors and be given to non-elected officers. A quite significant number of decisions on development applications are currently being made by non-elected officers. Anybody who is dissatisfied with the decision of a local government authority has the ability to appeal to the State Administrative Tribunal. Clearly, decisions are made there about development applications by non-elected officers. It is therefore not a new notion to suggest that non-elected officers will be making these sorts of decisions. What we intend is to have a balance between local input and professional expertise.
Mr J.N. Hyde : Will you select them or will the local council nominate them? Mr J.H.D. DAY : No. It is a discussion paper out for comment at the moment, so not everything is finalised. The intention is that the local government councils will make the decision about the appointment of those councillors. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Will you make it a prerequisite that they have some basic training? Mr J.H.D. DAY : Yes, that is correct; and not only the councillors but also the other members of the panel. Therefore, as far as other members of the panel are concerned, it is expected that a range of expertise will be required which may include but is not limited to backgrounds in planning, architecture, urban design, engineering, landscape design, environment law, property development or local government. There is further information about that aspect contained on page 17 of the discussion paper. (5) The answer to the last part of the question on the criteria that will guide the minister in applying the proposed call-in power for development applications is that it is expected that the minister of the day will have the ability to call in applications in relation to projects of either regional or state significance. They would then be referred back, essentially by the government of the day, to a panel for a recommendation and then for a final decision. The sorts of projects that I have in mind are major state-significant projects, such as, for example, a new desalination plant, a major industrial project or a major tourism project. I will make one other comment. There is a perception that the proposals will remove power from so-called democratically elected councils and councillors and be given to non-elected officers. A quite significant number of decisions on development applications are currently being made by non-elected officers. Anybody who is dissatisfied with the decision of a local government authority has the ability to appeal to the State Administrative Tribunal. Clearly, decisions are made there about development applications by non-elected officers. It is therefore not a new notion to suggest that non-elected officers will be making these sorts of decisions. What we intend is to have a balance between local input and professional expertise.
Mr J.H.D. DAY : No. It is a discussion paper out for comment at the moment, so not everything is finalised. The intention is that the local government councils will make the decision about the appointment of those councillors. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Will you make it a prerequisite that they have some basic training? Mr J.H.D. DAY : Yes, that is correct; and not only the councillors but also the other members of the panel. Therefore, as far as other members of the panel are concerned, it is expected that a range of expertise will be required which may include but is not limited to backgrounds in planning, architecture, urban design, engineering, landscape design, environment law, property development or local government. There is further information about that aspect contained on page 17 of the discussion paper. (5) The answer to the last part of the question on the criteria that will guide the minister in applying the proposed call-in power for development applications is that it is expected that the minister of the day will have the ability to call in applications in relation to projects of either regional or state significance. They would then be referred back, essentially by the government of the day, to a panel for a recommendation and then for a final decision. The sorts of projects that I have in mind are major state-significant projects, such as, for example, a new desalination plant, a major industrial project or a major tourism project. I will make one other comment. There is a perception that the proposals will remove power from so-called democratically elected councils and councillors and be given to non-elected officers. A quite significant number of decisions on development applications are currently being made by non-elected officers. Anybody who is dissatisfied with the decision of a local government authority has the ability to appeal to the State Administrative Tribunal. Clearly, decisions are made there about development applications by non-elected officers. It is therefore not a new notion to suggest that non-elected officers will be making these sorts of decisions. What we intend is to have a balance between local input and professional expertise.
Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : Will you make it a prerequisite that they have some basic training? Mr J.H.D. DAY : Yes, that is correct; and not only the councillors but also the other members of the panel. Therefore, as far as other members of the panel are concerned, it is expected that a range of expertise will be required which may include but is not limited to backgrounds in planning, architecture, urban design, engineering, landscape design, environment law, property development or local government. There is further information about that aspect contained on page 17 of the discussion paper. (5) The answer to the last part of the question on the criteria that will guide the minister in applying the proposed call-in power for development applications is that it is expected that the minister of the day will have the ability to call in applications in relation to projects of either regional or state significance. They would then be referred back, essentially by the government of the day, to a panel for a recommendation and then for a final decision. The sorts of projects that I have in mind are major state-significant projects, such as, for example, a new desalination plant, a major industrial project or a major tourism project. I will make one other comment. There is a perception that the proposals will remove power from so-called democratically elected councils and councillors and be given to non-elected officers. A quite significant number of decisions on development applications are currently being made by non-elected officers. Anybody who is dissatisfied with the decision of a local government authority has the ability to appeal to the State Administrative Tribunal. Clearly, decisions are made there about development applications by non-elected officers. It is therefore not a new notion to suggest that non-elected officers will be making these sorts of decisions. What we intend is to have a balance between local input and professional expertise.
Mr J.H.D. DAY : Yes, that is correct; and not only the councillors but also the other members of the panel. Therefore, as far as other members of the panel are concerned, it is expected that a range of expertise will be required which may include but is not limited to backgrounds in planning, architecture, urban design, engineering, landscape design, environment law, property development or local government. There is further information about that aspect contained on page 17 of the discussion paper. (5) The answer to the last part of the question on the criteria that will guide the minister in applying the proposed call-in power for development applications is that it is expected that the minister of the day will have the ability to call in applications in relation to projects of either regional or state significance. They would then be referred back, essentially by the government of the day, to a panel for a recommendation and then for a final decision. The sorts of projects that I have in mind are major state-significant projects, such as, for example, a new desalination plant, a major industrial project or a major tourism project. I will make one other comment. There is a perception that the proposals will remove power from so-called democratically elected councils and councillors and be given to non-elected officers. A quite significant number of decisions on development applications are currently being made by non-elected officers. Anybody who is dissatisfied with the decision of a local government authority has the ability to appeal to the State Administrative Tribunal. Clearly, decisions are made there about development applications by non-elected officers. It is therefore not a new notion to suggest that non-elected officers will be making these sorts of decisions. What we intend is to have a balance between local input and professional expertise.
(5) The answer to the last part of the question on the criteria that will guide the minister in applying the proposed call-in power for development applications is that it is expected that the minister of the day will have the ability to call in applications in relation to projects of either regional or state significance. They would then be referred back, essentially by the government of the day, to a panel for a recommendation and then for a final decision. The sorts of projects that I have in mind are major state-significant projects, such as, for example, a new desalination plant, a major industrial project or a major tourism project. I will make one other comment. There is a perception that the proposals will remove power from so-called democratically elected councils and councillors and be given to non-elected officers. A quite significant number of decisions on development applications are currently being made by non-elected officers. Anybody who is dissatisfied with the decision of a local government authority has the ability to appeal to the State Administrative Tribunal. Clearly, decisions are made there about development applications by non-elected officers. It is therefore not a new notion to suggest that non-elected officers will be making these sorts of decisions. What we intend is to have a balance between local input and professional expertise.
I will make one other comment. There is a perception that the proposals will remove power from so-called democratically elected councils and councillors and be given to non-elected officers. A quite significant number of decisions on development applications are currently being made by non-elected officers. Anybody who is dissatisfied with the decision of a local government authority has the ability to appeal to the State Administrative Tribunal. Clearly, decisions are made there about development applications by non-elected officers. It is therefore not a new notion to suggest that non-elected officers will be making these sorts of decisions. What we intend is to have a balance between local input and professional expertise.
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