Local Government Development Assessment Panels

LOCAL GOVERNMENT — DEVELOPMENT ASSESSMENT PANELS

917. Hon LYNN MacLAREN to the minister representing the Minister for Planning:

(1) Is the minister aware that the city councils of Perth, Fremantle, Cockburn and Swan have expressed their opposition to the proposed development assessment panels?

(2) Will the minister please list any other councils that have also expressed their opposition?

(3) Will the minister list those that support development assessment panels?

(4) Is the proposed system of development assessment panels modelled on a planning system in another state or jurisdiction; and, if so, which one?

Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied:

I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. The minister responds —

(1)-(3) I am aware that some councillors have expressed their opposition in the media to the proposal to implement development assessment panels in Western Australia. The discussion paper on development assessment panels is currently out for public comment for the purpose of consulting with all affected parties and obtaining their views on the proposal. I will be in a position to provide a summary of responses when the public consultation period is closed and the submissions received have been reviewed.

(4) The proposed system of development assessment panels is similar to the system in operation in South Australia but it is not entirely based on that system. In South Australia, councils do not determine any development decisions, as local governments are required to delegate all their assessment powers to either council staff or a development assessment panel. For the Western Australian model, it is being proposed only that development assessment panels will determine specified classes of development applications. The remaining applications will continue to be determined by local governments in accordance with current arrangements. Research on the use of development assessment panels in New South Wales and South Australia was conducted when formulating the proposal and that research is incorporated in the discussion paper.