Directions Paper - Western Australian Planning Commission

Directions Paper on the Integration of NRM and Land Use PlanningThe strategies also form the basis of rollinginvestment plans that guide the delivery of fundswithin the region.Further information on the NRM regions and theirroles can be found atwww.nrm.gov.au/nrm/wa.html and within Section4.7 of this report.In March 2008, the Commonwealth Governmentannounced a refocus of its NRM programsthrough the new Caring for our Country initiativeto better target national priorities. Under theCaring for our Country program, six nationalpriority areas have been established:• A national reserve system,• Biodiversity and natural icons,• Coastal environments and critical aquatichabitats,• Sustainable farm practices,• Natural resource management in remoteand northern Australia, and• Community skills, knowledge andengagement.$2.25 billion in funding over five years from 1July 2008 to June 2013 has been allocatedto the program with the program designedto remove restrictions imposed on ‘national’,‘regional’ and ‘local’ level funding to provide theopportunity for non-government organisations,regional bodies, Local Government and State,Territory and Australian Government agenciesto access funds to help achieve the nationalpriorities.Under the new program, regional bodies will beprovided with a base level of funding to invest inactions that complement and contribute to thenational priorities. The regions will also be ableto bid for funds under a competitive process.Details of the Caring for out Country programcan be found atwww.nrm.gov.au/funding/future.htmlAt a State level, the Draft Natural ResourceManagement Plan for Western Australia (June2008), identifies six key priorities for NRM:• Recover and conserve Western Australia’sbiodiversity,• Maintain and enhance the condition andbeneficial use of Western Australia’spriority waterways,• Protect Western Australia’s marine andcoastal environment,• Ensure sustainable management ofWestern Australia’s agricultural and otherland resources,• Planning and management of urban andperi-urban areas to mitigate adversesocial and environmental impacts of rapidpopulation growth,• Enhance community skills, knowledge andengagement through support, knowledgemanagement, resource conditionassessment and evaluation of outcomes.This plan has been developed to providedirection for the management and protection ofthe State’s natural resources and to assist in thecoordination of the State’s investment in NRM.The draft NRM plan can be found atwww.nrm.wa.gov.au/draftNRMPlan.htm3.2 The WA planningsystemIn simple terms, land use planning is aboutdesigning the communities in which we live,work and play. It balances the built and naturalenvironment, community needs, culturalsignificance and economic sustainability in aneffort to improve our way of life.3.2.1 Legislative basis for theWA planning systemThe main legislative basis for the WesternAustralian land use planning system comes fromthe following acts and regulations:5