Print Version PDFLand Use Planning
A brief introduction to the planning role
Council
planning decisions shape communities and influence the physical environment and
quality of life. The consequences of planning decisions are around for a long
time.
Planning
is essentially about the use, development and protection of land in the present
and long-term interests of all Victorians.
The
planning system in Victoria is a critical part of many council activities and
presents both opportunities and challenges for elected representatives. The
planning system contributes towards sustainability objectives, economic
development, heritage and environmental conservation, as well as guiding
development for long-term community benefit.
The
planning system is increasingly complex with high levels of public involvement
and scrutiny. Often it is only through planning matters that communities engage
with their local government and too often this experience is not positive.
To
be effective in this area, councillors:
- must understand and be able to explain their
decisions locally;
- must build and maintain constructive working
relationships;
- must actively contribute to local, regional
and state policy development and reform; and
- must maintain an oversight of planning
assessment and policy framework.
For
land use planning issues, local government has two important mechanisms:
The
Council Plan and the Municipal Strategic Statement which are important tools
that provide direction about council objectives for land use planning.
In
carrying out its functions under the Planning and Environment Act 1987,
a council has two key roles:
- As the planning authority, a council
sets the strategic policy framework for the municipality and initiates
changes to the planning scheme.
- As the responsible authority, a council
administers the planning scheme for its municipality and makes decisions
on individual applications for a planning permit.
In
most cases, local government has the ultimate responsibility for the strategic
direction of the municipality and planning decisions. A council administration
must give effect to the strategic direction and priorities developed by council,
and is accountable for the decisions made under delegation on behalf of
council. Furthermore, individual councillors have no decision-making power.
This lies with the council – the collective group of councillors.
A
councillor does not have to be a professional planner to respond to these
challenges and community concerns. Often the best approach is to refer
technical questions to the council planner, but a basic understanding of the
planning system is essential for a councillor to represent the local community
effectively and to know where to find more information about planning processes
or issues.
