By Angela Dorizas Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has proposed greater Federal Government involvement in the planning of major cities to prepare for future population growth. In an address to the Business Council of Australia in Sydney last week, Mr Rudd said Commonwealth Government involvement in future planning of major cities was “critical to achieving our […]
2 November, 2009
By Angela Dorizas Councils in the Sydney basin must amalgamate and a new super agency must replace the Department of Local Government and the Department of Planning, if Sydney is to cope with a population of 10 million by 2050. That is the advice of the Association of Consulting Engineers Australia (ACEA) in its Sydney Towards Tomorrow report released on […]
23 October, 2009
By Staff Writer The NSW Local Government and Shires Associations, Walsh Consulting and the UTS Centre for Local Government were joint recipients of two accolades at the Planning Institute of Australia’s 2009 NSW Planning Excellence Awards. The consortium were winners in the Environmental Planning/Conservation category and the overall President’s Award for their Integrating NRM into Local […]
20 October, 2009
By Staff Writer The Federal Government has released the guidelines and operating arrangements for the $25 million Local Government Reform Fund. Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Anthony Albanese, announced the plans at the Local Government and Planning Ministers’ Council in Darwin last Friday. Albanese said it was the first time in more […]
12 October, 2009
By Staff Writer Uncertainty over sea-level rise has lead to both inaction and over-cautious responses from government, according to climate change researchers. The Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre (ACE CRC) said projections of future sea-level rise were subject to great uncertainty. In 2100, the rise in sea-levels could range anywhere between 0.2 metres […]
28 September, 2009
By Staff Writer Major metropolitan infrastructure and development projects in Western Australia will be assessed by expert panels, under a proposed plan to streamline the approvals process. Under the proposed changes, metropolitan projects valued at more than $2 million will be referred to the assessment panel, along with regional, commercial and retail projects valued at more than $1 million. […]
14 September, 2009
In an Australian first, planning and design experts have worked with local government and health professionals to deliver a national guide for building sustainable communities. The national Healthy Spaces and Places initiative was launched at the annual Built Environment Meets Parliament (BEMP) Summit at Parliament House Canberra. Funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing […]
13 August, 2009
By Angela Dorizas Fast-tracked planning approvals for businesses in New South Wales will come into effect next month, with the launch of the
7 August, 2009
By Penny Langfield Townsville City Council is attempting to entice developers with an innovative new scheme that offers a discount on recently introduced infrastructure charges. For a number of years the Queensland State Government has required Priority Infrastructure Plans (PIPs) to be created by councils, identifying how urban growth will be managed. Under the PIPs […]
25 June, 2009
By Angela Dorizas The New South Wales Government has allocated $2.4 million in the 2009-10 State budget to establish, operate and administer the newly announced Joint Regional Planning Panels (JRPP). The funding boost was announced by Planning Minister, Kristina Keneally, at the annual conference of the Shires Association of NSW, held in Sydney on Wednesday. “As you […]
5 June, 2009
By Staff Writer The New South Wales Planning Minister, Kristina Keneally, has announced the first results of a review into local council infrastructure contributions plans. The Government appointed contributions review panel examined the plans of councils applying to exceed the $20,000 levy threshold, introduced by the State Government in December. Keneally said of the 152 […]
5 June, 2009
Coastal housing development is “hopelessly unsustainable”. Image: iStock. By Rachel Borchardt Stripping investors of their tax breaks could be the solution to unsustainable development, according to a coastal sustainability advocate. Speaking at the Queensland Coastal Conference 2009, Mike Berwick, Queensland’s representative on the National NRM Working Group and former mayor of Douglas Shire, said housing […]
20 May, 2009
By Staff Writer The New South Wales Local Government and Shires Associations (LGSA) have welcomed a draft bill that will require councils to develop 10-year financial plans. Local Government Association president Cr Genia McCaffery said the integrated planning and reporting guidelines will offer councils a clear framework for identifying and responding to community priorities. “The […]
13 May, 2009
By Staff Writer Local councils in New South Wales will be required to develop 10-year financial plans under draft legislation released by the State Government today. Under the proposed changes, each council will be required to develop a strategic plan setting out its priorities for the next 10 years; an action plan showing how these […]
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