Local Government should be recognized as the sphere of government immediately responsible for integrated land use planning and management.
Specifically, LGAT supports the following principles:
- To maintain the current role and integrity of Councils as local planning authorities
- The development of an effective State Policy framework with input from Local Government to ensure its relevance at a local level
- The development of an integrated State/regional/local planning framework that includes comprehensive planning strategies to guide the preparation and review of planning schemes and investment in infrastructure.
- Cooperation between State and Local Government in jointly exploring opportunities offered by regional initiatives such as regional planning, NRM and planning scheme template improvements to contribute to the integrated planning framework
- Adequate resourcing for both State and Local Government to provide an effective and professional planning regulatory function, including addressing the current shortage of qualified planners
- Improved enforcement powers for Local Government.
Local Government supports the establishment of single purpose joint Council Planning Authorities for major infrastructure projects.
Local Government supports the principle that all Government and Crown Land developments and management plans be subject to the same planning processes that are applicable to Councils and other landowners.
A regional planning framework should be implemented to guide planning scheme preparation and infrastructure decision-making of government agencies and Councils.