Posted 10/6/06

Councils look for planning changes

VLGA Media Release - Thursday 8 June 2006

Local governments have called for the strengthening of local planning schemes and a change in the role of VCAT at a key local government forum.

The representatives from local governments and community groups across the state said the present system needed an overhaul.

VLGA Chief Executive Andrew Rowe said the forum showed a great deal of discontent in the way VCAT's planning decisions were being made.

"At the VLGA planning forum, councillors and community groups have called for more certainty about planning outcomes and stronger controls for Councils," he said.

"In general, they want the local planning scheme to have more power, and for VCAT to be a house of review, rather than an overriding decision-maker. In the case of a contested building development for example, VCAT should simply be asking the question, 'Does this development conform to the local planning scheme?", rather than forming its own view of the merits of the development.

"Many representatives at the forum said under the present arrangement, VCAT often ignored residents' objections, overruled local governments and pandered to developers.

"We need a simple and coherent system of land use planning to give certainty to planners, developers and the community. Everyone is calling for consistency in the decision making process."

The VLGA held the forum to help formulate its policy and advocacy to the State Government and Opposition parties in the run-up to the State election later this year, and also in its current involvement in State Government forums and working parties.

For more information contact Chief Executive Andrew Rowe on (03) 9347 2233 or 0419 513 994 

Andrew Rowe

Chief Executive

VLGA

ph 03 9347 2233

fx  03 9347 9933

mob 0419 513 994