Posted 13/8/10 

ANNUAL REPORT HIGHLIGHTS TRANSPARENCY IN PLANNING From the Minister for Planning Tuesday, 10 August 2010 (Media Release)

The Brumby Labor Government intervened in 233 planning matters last year to secure jobs and investment during the global financial crisis, continue efforts to rebuild after the 2009 bushfires and address outdated anomalies in the planning system.

Tabling the annual report on Ministerial Interventions to April 2010 in Parliament today, Planning Minister Justin Madden said sustained investment in Victoria during the international economic downturn had been vital in ensuring Victoria survived the economic crisis.

“The Brumby Labor Government is willing to make the hard decisions on planning and ensure our system remains second to none while adapting to the unique conditions of the last 12 months,” Mr Madden said.

“It was absolutely right to help secure jobs and investment during the Global Financial Crisis.”

Mr Madden said that the Government had put in place measures to bring forward planning approvals for communities rebuilding after the fires.

“We streamlined the approval process to help people and communities affected by the Black Saturday and Gippsland bushfires to rebuild and extended the provisions to enable people to take more time,” he said.

“We also introduced new measures around vegetation removal to give landowners greater powers to reduce fuel around their homes and properties.

“New wildfire management overlays and maps were introduced in 23 planning schemes.”

Mr Madden said the Brumby Labor Government recognises the importance of transparency in ministerial interventions in planning.

“Today’s report clearly shows each intervention and why it was appropriate,” Mr Madden said.

“In the ten years since the Labor Government came to power, the Government has reported all ministerial interventions to Parliament annually, and has implemented clear guidelines for the use of such powers.

“This is in stark contrast to the Liberal-National Coalition, who made hundreds of interventions and call-ins for their mates.

“We know they made at least one call in for every working day – but they did not keep proper records, they gave no reasons for intervention, and didn’t publicly report on their activities.”

The 220 planning scheme interventions for the 12 months to the end of April included:

• •    65 technical changes or corrections of planning schemes, fixing of anomalous provisions or removal of redundant controls;
  •    55 amendments that facilitated projects of state or regional significance;
  •    53 interim heritage, vegetation or height controls; and
  •    31 bushfire prevention and recovery amendments.
  
  “Half of these planning scheme interventions were requested by councils,” Mr Madden said.
  
  “There were also 13 matters called in from VCAT to fast track a decision while ensuring all parties had a chance to be heard.
  
  “No planning permit applications were called in from councils.”
  
  Examples of Ministerial Interventions include:

•    Application of Wildfire Management Overlays to bushfire-prone land in 23 planning schemes;
•    New controls along St Kilda Road to protect the Shrine of Remembrance;
•    Implementation of the World Heritage Environs Area Strategy Plan for the Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens;
•    Facilitation of the Western Highway duplication at Ballarat and the realignment between Melton & Bacchus Marsh;
•    Application of interim heritage controls in the municipality of Moreland;
•    Facilitation of the Sunbury Rail Electrification Project;
•    Facilitation of the Springvale Road grade separation;
•    Application of a new Urban Growth Zone to Ballarat West;
•    Introduction of new controls to support the long term operation of the Port of Portland;
•    New controls to facilitate the Epworth Hospital redevelopment;
•    Social housing projects in Richmond, Fitzroy, Prahran and Chadstone; and
•    Rezoning of land for the Melton Health Super Clinic.