Directions Paper - Western Australian Planning Commission

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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
Directions Paper on the Integration of NRM and Land Use PlanningIt is important that the issues raised within thebackground component are addressed withinthe strategy component as it is the strategiesand actions from which future decision makingwill be based.Many local governments include an‘environment’ section within their strategywith appropriate actions related solely to aparticular environmental issue, however fewlocal governments demonstrated the integrationof environmental considerations into overalldecision making.Local planning schemeAs discussed in Section 3.4.1, Schedule 7 of thePlanning and Development Act 2005 outlinesthe matters which may be dealt with by a localplanning scheme. These include:• The conservation of the naturalenvironment of the scheme area, includingthe protection of natural resources, thepreservation of trees, vegetation and otherflora and fauna, and the maintenance ofecological process and genetic diversity;and• The conservation of water.The Act establishes the consideration of thenatural environment and natural resources asvalid planning considerations within the scheme.The primary purpose of a local planningscheme is to control development within thescheme area. In considering an application forplanning approval under a scheme, the Councilis required to have due regard to all of theprovisions within the scheme.As a statutory tool, a local planning schemeprovides the opportunity to implement thestrategic direction outlined in the local planningstrategy, and can do this through a varietyof mechanisms as further discussed belowand illustrated in Figure 5. The suitability ofeach mechanism to address natural resourcemanagement issues can vary between issuesand between local governments, and in someinstances a combination of mechanisms willachieve the best result.- ReservationUnder a local planning scheme, land can be setaside and reserved for public purposes. In mostcases, land is already in government ownership,however in some instances private land can bereserved for future acquisition.Under a local planning scheme, reserves aredesignated for particular purposes which caninclude parks and recreation, conservation,drainage, civic and cultural and waterwaysreserves. It is important that the designationof the reserve reflects the purposes for whichthe land is used, or is intended to be used anddeveloped, as in determining an applicationfor the development of a reserve, the localgovernment has to have due regard to theultimate purpose intended for that reserve.Reservation of land can provide the greatestlevel of protection to an environmental assetunder the scheme, provided the designationof the reserve matches the intended use.In addition to protection under the Scheme,reservation of land results in title basedprotection, with land being under crownownership with a management order registeredto the title, specifying the purpose for which theland may be used.Whilst a reserve status can provide thegreatest level of protection to natural areasthe reservation of land beyond what is givenup during the process of subdivision, can befinancially onerous on local governments due tocompensation requirements under the Planningand Development Act 2005.- ZoningUnder a local planning scheme, land use zonesare applied to all land within the scheme area.For each zone, an objective is set and provisionsprepared setting out development requirementssuch as minimum lot sizes, the uses permittedwithin the zone and any special provisions45
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Directions Paper - Western Australian Planning Commission

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