Directions Paper - Western Australian Planning Commission

Directions Paper on the Integration of NRM and Land Use PlanningExecutive SummaryThe EnviroPlanning project was initiated in 2006as a joint initiative between the Department forPlanning and Infrastructure (DPI), the WesternAustralian Planning Commission (WAPC), andthe Western Australian Local GovernmentAssociation (WALGA). The primary aim of theproject is to improve the integration of naturalresource management (NRM) into land useplanning through the achievement of thefollowing project objectives;• Ensure NRM considerations areincorporated into land use planningdecision making processes;• Provide advice to State governmentdepartments, local governments,regional NRM groups and the communityfor the effective integration of NRMconsiderations into land use planningprocesses; and• Actively seek implementation of land useplanning related recommendations ofNRM strategies.This Directions Paper is the synthesis of the workthat has been undertaken by EnviroPlanningsince 2007, and has been prepared for anintended audience that includes Commonwealthand State Government NRM agencies, localgovernments and regional NRM groups. TheDirections Paper combines the outcomes ofworkshops, studies, reviews, audits and grantfunded programs to demonstrate best practiceintegration of NRM into land use planning,and provides a new way forward in achievingNRM outcomes through the Western Australianplanning system. The project partners areseeking comment from stakeholders on thecontent of the Directions Paper, with a focuson improvements required to support a moreholistic approach to achieving NRM outcomesthrough land use planning processes.The key directions outlined in this report are:• Land use planning is a powerfultool through which State and localgovernments can achieve NRM outcomes.• NRM planning in Western Australia ischaracterised by a centralised land useplanning system, separate environmentaland planning legislation, and nonstatutoryarrangements for regional NRMgroups.• The Environmental Protection Authority(EPA), as the primary authority responsiblefor environmental impact assessmentin Western Australia, has a major role inNRM planning.• NRM considerations should beincorporated into the planning processas early as possible and reflected in laterstages of planning.• Peri-urban areas provide an importantinterface between NRM and land useplanning.• The local planning strategy providesa significant opportunity for localgovernment to integrate NRM into landuse planning.• The local planning scheme is an importantstatutory tool for achieving NRM outcomesat the local level.• Guidance for implementation of the StatePlanning Framework would improveintegration of NRM into land use planning.• Achievement of NRM outcomes throughland use planning is often constrained bylocal government capacity.iii