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