Directions Paper - Western Australian Planning Commission

Directions Paper on the Integration of NRM and Land Use PlanningRecommended actions:• Develop Model Scheme Text provisionsto address NRM issues where consistentacross the State.• Incorporate NRM planning advice inthe ‘Guidance for Preparation of LocalPlanning Strategies’ section of thePlanning Schemes Manual.• Facilitate workshops with State NRMagencies, local governments andregional NRM groups on the role of localplanning strategies in NRM.5.3.2 Relevance to NRMLocal planning strategyAs a strategic document, the local planningstrategy has the potential to be an importanttool for implementing NRM priorities, providedplanning policy settings are clearly defined inrelation to proposed land use and developmentto ensure they can deliver the NRM outcomessought. As discussed above, the localplanning strategy provides the justificationand rationale for the local planning scheme,which is the statutory implementation arm of thestrategy. Therefore if NRM considerations areengrained in the local planning strategy, theseconsiderations can be ultimately translated intostatutory considerations, which in turn ensuresNRM matters are considered in the decisionmaking process.The local planning strategy can achieve NRMoutcomes through;1. Directing future development awayfrom environmentally sensitive areas ornatural resources requiring protection.The local planning strategy provides thelong term planning direction for a localgovernment and provides the justificationand rationale for any proposed zoning orprovisions within the scheme. Therefore,if significant NRM issues have beenidentified, one option is to ensure futuredevelopment will not impact on the asset.For example, agricultural resources canbe protected by limiting the expansionof rural residential development to areasadjacent to existing development andaway from priority agricultural areas,thereby minimising land use conflict.Similarly, land largely covered by remnantvegetation or other major constraints(such as low land capability, floodwaysand high bushfire risk areas) should beavoided for future urban expansion orinappropriate development.2. Identifying significant environmentalissues relevant to future decisionmaking, and identifying actions requiredto address these issues. Actions mayinclude means of implementing strategiesthrough the planning scheme (egintroducing scheme provisions, newzones, special control areas, new policy),actions to address gaps in information/knowledge necessary to inform gooddecision making, actions required to beundertaken prior to future developmentbeing considered, as well as actionsrelating to seeking funding, liaising withrelevant agencies and monitoring andevaluation. Strategies and actions shouldbe clear and useable and be justifiedthrough the background component of thestrategy.Although the format and content of localplanning strategies vary between localgovernments, a local planning strategy willgenerally consist of three key components,a background report, a strategy andimplementation section, and the spatialrepresentation of the strategy.In reviewing existing local planning strategiesand strategies under development, a commonfinding was that whilst many local governmentsmay achieve the protection of natural resourcesby default (through directing developmentaway from sensitive areas), and provide arange of information relevant to NRM withinthe background report, there is little analysisof the planning implications of the NRM issuesraised, and limited translation of these issuesinto the strategy component of the document.44