Page 1785 - Week 07 - Tuesday, 21 August 2007
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
legislation now before the Assembly is a major step in achieving that goal. The key reforms include the introduction of track-based assessment for development proposals which matches assessment criteria, consultation, public notification and review rights to the complexity of the development proposal. This adapts the DAF best practice model to the ACT, and it is a first in Australia.
More development will be exempt from development assessment. In particular, people seeking to build homes in new estates will no longer require development approval provided they comply with the proposed residential zone development code. There will be a wider range of smaller structures that will no longer require a development approval.
There will be clearer processes and time frames for decision making. For example, the planning and land authority will have to make a decision on a code track development application within 20 working days. Other ACT agencies advising on merit track applications will have to provide advice to the planning and land authority within 15 working days. There will be enhanced environmental impact assessments, including the introduction of strategic environmental impact assessments for major land use policy decisions. There will be more transparent and timely planning and release of land for future urban use and other reforms that will help increase housing affordability. Leasing and development assessment decisions will be more closely integrated, and lease administration has been streamlined. There will be more accountable management of land for community facilities and other special purposes through a new statutory framework for concessional leases, and of course there will be enhanced compliance.
In developing these reforms the government has sought to balance the community’s interests and the interests of various sectors such as industry groups and the professionals who advise them. While achieving this balance is always difficult, the government is confident that all sectors of the community will benefit from these reforms. While the reforms introduce restrictions on third party appeal rights, development applications in the merit and impact tracks will continue to be notified to adjoining householders and more generally, depending on the anticipated impact of the proposed development.
Opportunities remain for people who are materially affected by a proposed development to appeal to the AAT if that development is approved. Compliance is enhanced through new complaints processes, strengthened enforcement powers and higher penalties for offences.
As members are aware, the Planning and Development Bill was presented in December 2006. Since that time the bill has been subject to a report from the scrutiny of bills committee, has undergone internal and external review and has been the subject of ongoing discussions with stakeholders in the community.
The new territory plan has also been exhibited and, as a result, the government will move amendments to the bill reflecting the various events that have occurred since the bill was first presented. I should note that whilst there are a number of amendments, more than two-thirds of these are technical in nature and some amendments actually reflect one amendment although they occur multiple times in the bill.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .