A WA parliamentary question highlights a critical shortage of statutory planners, particularly in regional areas like Augusta-Margaret River, and seeks information on training, government assistance, and plans to address the shortage. The Minister acknowledges the demand but largely deflects responsibility to the Commonwealth government regarding university places.

AnsweredQoN 1114Legislative Council
Asked
26 November 2004
Portfolio
Education and Training

QuestionView source ↗

(1) Is the minister aware that there is a critical shortfall in the number of statutory planners in Western Australia; and, if so, what is that shortfall? (2) What formal training is provided to statutory planners in Western Australia, and how many planning graduates will there be from that system in 2004? (3) Can training be undertaken externally by trainee planners employed by remote and regional shires; and, if so, what assistance does the State Government provide to regional shires that are suffering from a chronic shortage of statutory planners, such as the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River? (4) How will the minister undertake to relieve this chronic skill shortage, and will his plan include providing financial assistance for shires and regional TAFEs, like those in Augusta-Margaret River, to set up and fund local government planning assessment courses? Hon GRAHAM GIFFARD

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes. The minister is aware that statutory town planners are in high demand. (2)-(4) The minister understands that educational qualifications to gain employment as statutory planners in local government are generally done via university programs. The minister is also aware that Curtin University’s Department of Urban and Regional Planning offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses in urban and regional planning. The allocation of places in universities is a Commonwealth Government responsibility.
(2) What formal training is provided to statutory planners in Western Australia, and how many planning graduates will there be from that system in 2004? (3) Can training be undertaken externally by trainee planners employed by remote and regional shires; and, if so, what assistance does the State Government provide to regional shires that are suffering from a chronic shortage of statutory planners, such as the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River? (4) How will the minister undertake to relieve this chronic skill shortage, and will his plan include providing financial assistance for shires and regional TAFEs, like those in Augusta-Margaret River, to set up and fund local government planning assessment courses? Hon GRAHAM GIFFARD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes. The minister is aware that statutory town planners are in high demand. (2)-(4) The minister understands that educational qualifications to gain employment as statutory planners in local government are generally done via university programs. The minister is also aware that Curtin University’s Department of Urban and Regional Planning offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses in urban and regional planning. The allocation of places in universities is a Commonwealth Government responsibility.
(3) Can training be undertaken externally by trainee planners employed by remote and regional shires; and, if so, what assistance does the State Government provide to regional shires that are suffering from a chronic shortage of statutory planners, such as the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River? (4) How will the minister undertake to relieve this chronic skill shortage, and will his plan include providing financial assistance for shires and regional TAFEs, like those in Augusta-Margaret River, to set up and fund local government planning assessment courses? Hon GRAHAM GIFFARD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes. The minister is aware that statutory town planners are in high demand. (2)-(4) The minister understands that educational qualifications to gain employment as statutory planners in local government are generally done via university programs. The minister is also aware that Curtin University’s Department of Urban and Regional Planning offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses in urban and regional planning. The allocation of places in universities is a Commonwealth Government responsibility.
(4) How will the minister undertake to relieve this chronic skill shortage, and will his plan include providing financial assistance for shires and regional TAFEs, like those in Augusta-Margaret River, to set up and fund local government planning assessment courses? Hon GRAHAM GIFFARD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes. The minister is aware that statutory town planners are in high demand. (2)-(4) The minister understands that educational qualifications to gain employment as statutory planners in local government are generally done via university programs. The minister is also aware that Curtin University’s Department of Urban and Regional Planning offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses in urban and regional planning. The allocation of places in universities is a Commonwealth Government responsibility.
Hon GRAHAM GIFFARD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes. The minister is aware that statutory town planners are in high demand. (2)-(4) The minister understands that educational qualifications to gain employment as statutory planners in local government are generally done via university programs. The minister is also aware that Curtin University’s Department of Urban and Regional Planning offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses in urban and regional planning. The allocation of places in universities is a Commonwealth Government responsibility.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Yes. The minister is aware that statutory town planners are in high demand. (2)-(4) The minister understands that educational qualifications to gain employment as statutory planners in local government are generally done via university programs. The minister is also aware that Curtin University’s Department of Urban and Regional Planning offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses in urban and regional planning. The allocation of places in universities is a Commonwealth Government responsibility.
(1) Yes. The minister is aware that statutory town planners are in high demand. (2)-(4) The minister understands that educational qualifications to gain employment as statutory planners in local government are generally done via university programs. The minister is also aware that Curtin University’s Department of Urban and Regional Planning offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses in urban and regional planning. The allocation of places in universities is a Commonwealth Government responsibility.
(2)-(4) The minister understands that educational qualifications to gain employment as statutory planners in local government are generally done via university programs. The minister is also aware that Curtin University’s Department of Urban and Regional Planning offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses in urban and regional planning. The allocation of places in universities is a Commonwealth Government responsibility.

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