Page 5572 - Week 13 - Thursday, 17 November 2011
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integrity of the Development Assessment Forum’s best practice model. The model proposed for the pre-DA community consultation builds on the trial process that has been in operation since October 2010. Through this trial, industry has become familiar with and demonstrated a willingness to undertake this kind of pre-DA community consultation.
The pre-DA community consultation process enables developers of large scale developments to engage with the community without the constraints imposed at the development application and assessment stage of the development process. There are several benefits that flow from this type of consultation. Through effective and early community engagement, issues can be identified and resolved ahead of the formal development application process. Community consultation engages the community and promotes a sense of involvement with the project. Early and timely community consultation provides time for both the developer and the community to work through issues and finalise the project concept. A project that has gone through this process is more likely to reflect community needs and aspirations.
The benefits of early community consultation also flow through to the subsequent development application and assessment process. For instance, a community that knows and has contributed to the thinking behind a new project will have a good understanding of that project. Discussion at the development application stage will be more focused and allow the DA process to continue in a timely manner. Finally, a community that feels like it has been engaged with and listened to is more likely to understand and accept the decision on the development application. This means, hopefully, that there is less potential for appeals or litigation.
An effective pre-DA community consultation process that has informed and provided the community with the opportunity to have a say in the project has the potential to save the developer both time and money. Time saved means holding costs and other costs are reduced. The bill recognises the importance of pre-DA community consultation by mandating the practice in certain cases.
In summary, the bill requires pre-DA community consultation for large multi-unit developments in all areas other than in an industrial zone or a greenfield estate. For these developments the bill requires the developer to engage in community consultation before proceeding to make the development application. The form and extent of the consultation must be consistent with any guidelines made under new section 138AF. The new process will require a developer to consult with the community and provide a written notice about that consultation before being able to lodge the development application for the prescribed development.
The bill is a balanced measure. It strikes a balance between improving pre-DA community consultation while leaving intact the now widely accepted and highly efficient track-based development assessment framework. In short, the new requirements improve pre-DA consultation without imposing undue cost, undue delay or undue complexity.
This balance is achieved in several ways. Firstly, the new requirements will not apply to all development. The requirements will only apply to relatively large developments.
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