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Community planning services in Glenelg Shire Council : 1998-2005 ...

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Did the council comply with key legislative, <strong>plann<strong>in</strong>g</strong> scheme and other requirements? 51<br />

3.5.4 Environmental considerations<br />

Plann<strong>in</strong>g decisions can have a direct impact on the environment. Proposed<br />

developments and changes <strong>in</strong> land use may <strong>in</strong>volve clear<strong>in</strong>g land and<br />

remov<strong>in</strong>g native vegetation, disrupt<strong>in</strong>g natural habitats for flora and<br />

fauna, pollut<strong>in</strong>g the environment, and impact<strong>in</strong>g on water sal<strong>in</strong>ity levels.<br />

These environmental issues need to be balanced aga<strong>in</strong>st other council<br />

objectives, such as grow<strong>in</strong>g the economy, and foster<strong>in</strong>g employment and<br />

development.<br />

The council uses the Environmental Rural Zone and the Environmental<br />

Significance Overlay to protect areas of environment significance with<strong>in</strong><br />

the shire.<br />

Environmental significance is <strong>in</strong>terpreted widely and may <strong>in</strong>clude issues<br />

such as noise effects or <strong>in</strong>dustrial buffer areas, as well as issues related to<br />

the natural environment.<br />

Where the use or development of land <strong>in</strong>volves the clear<strong>in</strong>g of native<br />

vegetation; impacts on environmentally sensitive areas such as coastal<br />

areas, wetlands, water courses and national parks; or affects native flora<br />

and fauna, it is usual for the proposal to be referred to the Department of<br />

Susta<strong>in</strong>ability and Environment (DSE), or for DSE to be notified of the<br />

proposal.<br />

F<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>gs of our review<br />

Our review of <strong>plann<strong>in</strong>g</strong> decisions disclosed that where developments were<br />

proposed <strong>in</strong> environmentally sensitive areas, the assessment process did<br />

not always consider land capability, the impact of coastal developments on<br />

coastal areas, or the impact of remov<strong>in</strong>g vegetation on the environmental<br />

and landscape quality of the area.<br />

Discussions with DSE about the council’s management of environmental<br />

issues <strong>in</strong>dicated that there had been <strong>in</strong>stances where the council had failed<br />

to obta<strong>in</strong> departmental <strong>in</strong>put <strong>in</strong>to <strong>plann<strong>in</strong>g</strong> permit applications (as either a<br />

referral authority or where DSE was an adjo<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g landowner).<br />

Environmental: Case study 6<br />

This case study shows how the council failed to adequately consider<br />

environmental impacts of a proposed development, particularly land<br />

capability, where an application proposed us<strong>in</strong>g land for a dwell<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> an<br />

area remote to reticulated sewerage.

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