Directions Paper - Western Australian Planning Commission

Directions Paper on the Integration of NRM and Land Use Planningplanning strategies, and the subsequent localplanning scheme, in setting the directionfor future decision making would assist inhighlighting to agencies the importance ofinputting into these stages of planning.The NRM Regional Groups have had veryminimal involvement in the development of localplanning strategies to date, however thesestrategies can provide an effective mechanismfor achieving some of the targets under theNRM regional strategy. An increased investment(funding) into the preparation of local planningstrategies by the groups would result in animprovement in the consideration of NRM inthe decision making framework. In addition,the NRM regions often have relevant data andinformation that can be accessed by the localgovernment. The NRM regional strategiesthemselves provide a good resource for LocalGovernments of the NRM issues and prioritieswithin a region and the regional groups arepotentially a good source of data.Western Australian Planning Commission/Department for Planning and InfrastructureUnder the Town Planning Regulations,consent to advertise and the endorsementof local planning strategies by the WesternAustralian Planning Commission is required.The DPI assists in this task by providingrecommendations to the Commission on thecompliance of the local planning strategy withthe requirements of the Regulations.The support of officers within DPI to LocalGovernment during the preparation of localplanning strategies prior to the above stagesplays an important role in the quality of the finalproduct referred to the WAPC for consent toadvertise. This includes the provision of adviceregarding the preferred process of preparinga local planning strategy, state and regionalpriorities for the Local Government area, adviceon key issues and priorities required to beaddressed and assistance with mapping. Thiscan assist in refining the scope of the localplanning strategy and ensure that time and effortis placed on the key issues within the regionrather than producing an overly comprehensivedocument that does not address the issues.The current guidance on the preparation oflocal planning strategies within the PlanningSchemes Manual provides limited informationon the preparation of a strategy as discussedabove. This has resulted in varying levels ofinvolvement of the DPI in the preparation of alocal planning strategy. In some instances localplanning strategies are submitted for consentto advertise, with no previous involvementfrom DPI officers. This can result in significantchanges being required and delays in theassessment of the strategy due to the strategynot meeting requirements. The incorporation ofa recommended process for developing a localplanning strategy within the current guidanceis considered an important step to improvingquality of local planning strategies.The EPAUnder legislation, there is no formal requirementfor a local planning strategy to be assessed bythe EPA, yet a local planning scheme and itsamendments, requires assessment by the EPAunder section 48 of the EP Act. As it is the localplanning strategy that is providing the rationaleand justification for the scheme it is considerednecessary to have some involvement of theEPA or its service unit in the preparation and/orendorsement of local planning strategies. EPAinvolvement at the local planning strategy stagewould ensure that NRM matters are consideredappropriately in shaping the future growth anddevelopment of the local government area,that there are no fatal flaws in the strategy, andthat no significant environmental impacts willoccur in the implementation of the strategy.Initial assessment of the strategy would alsoassist in streamlining the assessment of localplanning schemes and amendments developedin accordance with a strategy addressing EPAadvice.The EPA has formal involvement in theassessment of local planning schemes andtheir amendments. Prior to these documentsbeing advertised for public comment, schemes53