Final Report PlanFirst Review Taskforce - Department of Planning

targeted by DIPNR as high priority areas for regional planning initiatives to commence in the
immediate future.
When establishing these priority areas, DIPNR should have regard to the available resources in the
region (including local government and State agency resources) and existing work programs such
as the Comprehensive Coastal Assessment. It is critical that the targeted high priority areas have
the capacity (adequate staff resources and funding) to deliver regional strategies in an appropriate
timeframe.
In particular, the Taskforce considers that the most significant planning issue at this time is the
need to develop a new Metropolitan Strategy. The preparation of such a Strategy is considered to
be of critical importance for guiding the future development of the metropolitan region and for
ensuring that the objectives of State agencies are delivered in a coordinated manner.
Regional Forums
Under PlanFirst, regional forums were intended to bring together key government and community
interests in a region and advise the Minister on the preparation of the regional strategy. Generally,
each regional forum was proposed to consist of an independent chair, five community
representatives, five representatives from State agencies in the region and five representatives
from local government in the region. The Minister could also appoint up to four additional members
to represent particular interests of that region. Regional forums were to have no statutory power
and were not recognised under the EP&A Act.
The creation of regional forums was generally not considered by stakeholders to be the most
appropriate model to assist in the delivery of a regional strategy. DIPNR has been criticised by
some stakeholders (particularly local government) for the non-representative nature of the forums
and for setting the unachievable goal of obtaining consensus from forum members on the final
content of regional strategies. In addition, the validity of some the proposed regional boundaries
(which directly affected membership of the forums throughout NSW) was questionable.
The Taskforce has therefore concluded that the regional forums as proposed under PlanFirst
should be abandoned in their current form.
DIPNR should instead pursue a more targeted approach to meet the different needs of
metropolitan, coastal and inland NSW. In this regard, it is the experience of Taskforce members
that in the best regional planning initiatives, the State and local stakeholders have worked together
to facilitate regional outcomes.
DIPNR must employ appropriate methods of consultation and involvement (including, where
necessary, the establishment of Section 22 Committees) based on the particular regional planning
activity that is being undertaken and the priority for completion of that activity. The specific method
of consultation, including whether a committee or working group or other planning team is formed,
will vary according to the issue being addressed. In some instances it will be appropriate for
DIPNR to form a small core team to work with limited stakeholders to pursue a regional planning
outcome. In other circumstances it will be appropriate to form a larger and more representative
committee and to consult widely on a particular regional planning initiative.
Whilst the Taskforce considers that the regional forums should not be pursued, it is acknowledged
that the current work occurring on various regional planning initiatives will provide the basis for
continuing regional planning in those regions. Hence, the work currently being undertaken by some
Regional Organisations of Councils and other stakeholders should be encouraged to continue.
PRINT VERSION
1 September 2003
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