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

Did the council have appropriate management arrangements for the delivery of its planning services? 87
4.3.3 Conclusion
Since its adoption, the planning scheme has been subject to an independent
panel review, a Best Value review and 2 internal reviews of the MSS. All
identified a number of significant deficiencies with the scheme. In
undertaking its own assessments of planning permit applications, the council
has also identified some deficiencies.
Many of the deficiencies that have been identified relate to the council’s
strategic planning and policy documents not adequately addressing the
impacts of development activities on environmental and heritage assets. As
we showed in Part 3 of this report, many of the objections to council-issued
planning permits relate to the impact of planning decisions on environmental
and heritage assets.
Despite a number of attempts by the council to address these deficiencies,
they have largely remained unresolved. As shown by the council’s
management of planning scheme amendments, the council did not pay
sufficient attention to ensure legal requirements or due process, were
complied with in amending the scheme.
Had these deficiencies been addressed as part of the planning scheme review
process, many of the problems currently faced by the council would not exist.
Based on this evidence, we consider that the council’s strategic planning
function has not been effectively managed.
Recommendation
15. That:
the council finalise its current review process and submit its
second triennial review of its municipal strategic statement to
the Minister for Planning for approval as soon as possible
in future, the council more closely monitor and review the
operation of the planning scheme and be more proactive in
ensuring proposed necessary changes to the scheme are made.