The Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) has launched a new program to help councils improve the efficiency of planning systems . MAV President Bill McArthur said the STEP planning process improvement program will target scarce resources and deliver better outcomes for users of Victoria’s planning system, the “The new STEP program uses an intensive audit and […]
19 August, 2010
By Angela Dorizas As federal politicians continue to debate the way Australia ought to look in the future, local government in South Australia is on the front foot of planning for population growth. Representatives from local government, the SA Governnent and the development industry have embarked on a two-day study tour across greater Adelaide to […]
6 August, 2010
Capital city strategic planning systems will be reviewed by a new expert panel, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has announced. In an address to the Australian Council of Local Government (ACLG) on Thursday, Mr Rudd said the panel will support the COAG Reform Council in its review of planning systems to ensure they meet the agreed […]
18 June, 2010
Changes to infrastructure funding will force New South Wales councils to increase their rates or defer basic community infrastructure, the Local Government and Shires Associations have warned. Local Government Association president, Genia McCaffery, said councils were considering refusing new DAs that require development contributions until they work out how to fund shortfalls resulting from changes […]
10 June, 2010
By Angela Dorizas The demolition of an historic homestead in inner-west Sydney has raised serious concerns about New South Wales planning legislation. The National Trust has warned that the destruction of the 1913 property in Burwood Heights, known as ‘Tilba’, may well be the tip of the iceberg. National Trust NSW advocacy manager Graham Quint […]
19 April, 2010
By Rob O'Brien The president of the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) has issued a terse warning to developers and state planning officials in a speech to the National Press Club in Canberra. In his address ALGA president Geoff Lake warned governments to expect a 'Your Rights at Home' campaign at the ballot box if […]
31 March, 2010
By Angela Dorizas A number of councils across New South Wales are failing to list significant heritage items on their Local Environmental Plans (LEP), the National Trust of Australia has said. Department of Planning directives require councils to list heritage items on their LEPs, but at least five councils have failed to list any items […]
15 March, 2010
By Angela Dorizas Western Sydney has been deprived $1.4 billion worth of investment because the NSW Government has refused to give Part 3A status to a number of major projects, a leading industry group has claimed. Through a freedom of information request the Urban Taskforce, representing developers, obtained internal documents showing that the Department of […]
15 March, 2010
By Rob O’Brien A decision by Premier Kristina Keneally to review planning laws introduced during the financial crisis has left local government fuming. Ms Keneally yesterday announced a review of the legislation that has allowed for quicker approvals of school projects and public housing developments funded under the Federal Government’s economic stimulus package. The Local […]
9 February, 2010
By Staff Writer Sydney councils have shunned the State Government’s $200 million infrastructure fund, developers claim. The NSW Government scheme provides interest-free loans to local governments to fact-track local infrastructure projects. The Urban Taskforce’s chief executive Aaron Gadiel said councils had only claimed $38 million from the $200 million fund. “Only six of Sydney’s 41 councils […]
27 January, 2010
By Rob O’Brien Kevin Rudd’s vision for a Big Australia will be hampered without improvements to development assessment processes, according to new research from the Residential Development Council (RDC) and the Property Council of Australia (PCA). The RDC/PCA’s Development Assessment Forum (DAF) Reform Implementation Report Card reveals that Australia underperforms in the delivery of efficient, […]
22 January, 2010
By Angela Dorizas PERTH: Development contributions towards community infrastructure costs will become more equitable and transparent with the introduction of a new planning framework in Western Australia. Planning Minister John Day said the state planning policy on development contributions for infrastructure would ovide a consistent, accountable and transparent system for local government. Mr Day said […]
23 November, 2009
By Angela Dorizas New South Wales councils have warned that a double standard exists in the rules underpinning the integrity of the new Joint Regional Planning Panels (JRPP). The Local Government and Shires Associations of New South Wales have called for state appointed members on the planning panels to declare their pecuniary interests up front. While the Local Government Act requires […]
19 November, 2009
By Staff Writer The Victorian Government has introduced new regulations and accreditation process for the construction of bunkers and bushfire shelters. Planning Minister Justin Madden said the interim regulations will be in place until proposed new national regulations are introduced next year. The regulation and accreditation process was developed by the Victorian Building Commission in […]
12 November, 2009End of content
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