Governing the City State - Chief Minister and Treasury Directorate ...

There is a high level of inefficiency through agencies acting in an uncoordinatedmanner both in planning policy development and regulation of the constructionindustry. … The existing departmental structures appear to operate as silos, eachfocusing on their small piece of the overall issue rather than how their work needs tobe integrated into a whole-of-government approach to create integrated and effectiveplanning and regulatory mechanisms.There is a demonstrable need for cross agency integration of activity to achievegovernment policy, of which planning is a prime example. There needs to be a singlegroup with clear responsibility for developing strategic policy to be applied acrossmultiple agencies. There may also be benefits from clearer differentiation betweenagencies responsible for policy development, delivery and regulation.Involvement of multiple agencies reflects the complexity of sustainable land managementand development in the ACT. This fragmentation of responsibilities can, however, lead to acompetitive rather than collaborative approach to land management. The time and effortrequired coordinating all inputs and to achieve agreement between the different entities issignificant. When the Government wishes to take an initiative, such as increasing the supplyof land into the market to meet important goals related to the provision of affordable housing,the effects of this fragmentation can become more apparent.Some of the key processes and current administrative players include:• the Development Application (DA) process under which ACTPLA has responsibility forensuring that development applications are consistent with the Territory Plan;• the Environmental Impact Assessment process, undertaken by ACTPLA;• Heritage assessment undertaken by the Heritage Unit in CMD;• Environment protection undertaken by the Environment Protection Authority (EPA),which is responsible for permissions, pollution, the movement of soils and a range ofother processes;• Flora and fauna conservation through the Conservator of Flora and Fauna in DECCEWwhich has responsibility for protecting endangered species and for giving approval for theremoval of trees;• Transport forecasting and management and roads development by TAMS;• Public transport issues managed by ACTION;• ‘Asset Acceptance’ which involves the approval of construction assets which are to behanded back to TAMS;• the Health Protection Service and ACT Health responsibilities for relevant health issuessuch as sewage, or any development involving food or organic processing;• licences and other regulatory processes which are the responsibility of ORS; and• the provision of electricity, gas, water and sewerage services by ACTEW andActewAGL.Administrative Arrangements Changes: 186