Planning model alienates councils

By Alison Dean

It would be the end of an era. The point of a NIMBY (not in my back yard) protest would be futile. No longer would groups take to the streets to protest against "inappropriate developments". And as for collecting signatures objecting to a development on the scale of the Smith Street tower in Collingwood, the high-rise development in High Street, Northcote, or the "cheese grater" in Fitzroy, forget it.

According to peak local government groups, this would be the consequence of the new planning model proposed by the Federal Government's Development Assessment Forum.

Andrew Rowe, chief executive officer of the Victorian Local Governance Association, said: "Community protests and local government action in planning issues would become irrelevant as decisions would be made exclusively by technocrats".

Under the new model an independent panel of experts and government bureaucrats would decide on all planning permits, removing councils' planning powers.

The Municipal Association of Victoria also condemns the proposal.

"This is being driven by the property industry and has been for many years," president Brad Matheson said. "They find councils a hindrance."

Mr Matheson said councils must continue their direct involvement in planning decisions. He said the new model was undemocratic, ignoring residents' right to object and failing to mention the role of a complaints tribunal.

"We acknowledge that the (planning) process needs to be improved and we are developing ways to streamline the applications, but ... once you remove councils from the process there is nothing to stop the panels from being utilised to ram through inappropriate planning proposals."

Cr Matheson is campaigning for the state's Planning Minister Mary Delahunty to oppose the proposal. Only Queensland's Planning Minister has publicly scorned the new model.

In Melbourne, Ms Delahunty is more careful.

Martin Curtin, a spokesman for Ms Delahunty said: "She supports in principle measures that reduce the delays and cut red tape in planning, and supports the consultation on different models. But she does not support the model that is being presented because it reduces the role of local government."

The Federal Government is continuing to consult on the models.