WITH THE LIBERAL NATIONAL GOVERNMENT RECEIVING A VOTE OF ENCOURAGEMENT IN WA ON THE WEEKEND, THE TIME HAS COME TO GET SERIOUS ABOUT IMPROVING THE INTEGRATION OF PLANNING BETWEEN STATE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND BETWEEN LAYERS OF GOVERNMENT
The recent announcement of a comprehensive review of state development laws in South Australia prompted comments by State UDIA Director Terry Walsh which resonated with our own pleas to align local aspirations with the interests of the broader community.
“Nobody can deny that local communities are important. But the fact is that what the local community wants is not always in the interests of the broader community. The trick is finding the balance.
Right now, you can be forgiven for feeling that there’s a gaping chasm between the state’s laws on development and local government’s implementation of these laws via its development plans.
Unfortunately, issues and agendas within the local government environment tend to muddy the water, leading to a situation where developments are approved or rejected in stark contrast to the state vision and often against the interests of the broader community that is affected by these decisions.
We know Adelaide has one of the lowest rates of apartment building in Australia. We also know that as a city we need to “grow up” as well as continue to “grow out”.
While residents of the inner suburbs will benefit (after all, we will all need somewhere smaller but local to move into as we get older), the benefits will also accrue to future generations of South Australians and to those who live elsewhere. These people have a legitimate – but often overlooked – voice in the planning process.
Councils need to consider what they contribute to the broader state plan and how their development plans complement rather than detract from them. This is not to suggest that all councils need to slavishly fall in line behind the State Government and have identical plans and vision. They need to make their own way, but ideally in a manner that works with the broader plan.
But surely, when it’s our state’s outlook, job opportunities for our children and a sustainable future in question, when we’re united on a commitment to foster economic growth, and quality of contemporary living, there’s enough common ground to achieve sensible synergy between state planning laws and local government developments.”
Whilst the context is different, we certainly agree with the sentiment.