ALGA launches campaign to protect community from open slather planning
4 February 2004
Local government leaders from across the country have resolved to launch a vigorous campaign to protect the critical regulatory role of councils in the planning process and prevent developers from by-passing democratically elected local community representatives.
The Executive of the Australian Local Government Association (representing every state and territory) meeting in Hobart have resolved to launch a campaign to defend council planning functions following the release of a model development assessment process for public consultation.
ALGA President, Cr Mike Montgomery, said the model seeks to remove the power of councillors to make decisions on planning applications and stop third party appeals. "It is an assault on the democratic right of communities to control the planning process," he said.
The model has been developed under the auspices of - but is not endorsed by - the Development Assessment Forum (DAF), a body that reports to the Local Government and Planning Ministerial Council. The Ministerial Council recently agreed to release the model for public consultation.
"ALGA will not accept the so-called 'separation of roles' and 'defined third party appeals' proposals in the model and takes strong exception to local government being labelled a stakeholder in this process when in fact it is the planning authority and decision maker," Cr Montgomery said.
"The model must be immediately amended to recognise and entrench the authority of local government in the determination of development applications.
"Councils make planning policy but usually delegate planning decision powers to planning officers. In controversial cases, councillors will step in and make the necessary decision themselves, as the community demands and expects.
"ALGA calls on the Chairman and members of DAF and the State Planning Ministers to reject the proposed 'separation of roles' and 'defined third party appeals' practices.
"The DAF model is not only daft, it is dangerous. There is no way local government will accept moves to dilute the power of councils and communities to regulate the planning process. Local government is keen to improve the planning process, but we are not going to allow developers open slather on planning issues," Cr Montgomery said.
- Contact
- Cr Mike Montgomery, ALGA President 0427 542 051
- Rohan Greenland, ALGA Public Affairs 0412 859 434
