News - Planning & development

ACTPLA's Karen Wilden went over the changes that are being made to the Territory Plan as a result of the consultation workshops with us and industry prior to Xmas. Consultation will be 8 weeks from end of March into May. As the Minister is looking for the draft to be "policy neutral", it will be a restructure only, with no changes to the substantive rules like setbacks etc. Wherever the new structure means something can't be the same, it will be highlighted. This means that where we want anything actually changed, we will have to accompany our suggestions with lobbying to get the Assembly to take them on - they will be outside the 'brief' for ACTPLA.

Changes to the Plan include 'statements of intent' all the way through - this is something the GCC's Kevin Cox raised, and ended up being a fairly common theme among the early consultation rounds. A key component ofc the draft will be to allow 'exempt residential' where an application is straightforward and meets all code requirements, so no notification will be needed. An example of where this will help is my own situation where we are building a 2-storey house because the block has that as mandatory. But the current Territory Plan requires 2-storey DAs to go to public notification - why when we are simply meeting the development conditions? This sort of anomaly should be cleared up in the new plan.

Also discussed:
Affordable housing - Neil Savery advised that the Molonglo land releases will be ramped up to increase land availability. There will be some pure developer releases to increase competition.
I raised that the 'moderate income' land being made available by the LDA is merely smaller blocks, and that the overall block prices have gone up between Wells Station releases and the newer Hillside, Franklin and Forde releases. Neil seemed surprised at these points. The links between affordable and sustainable housing and small lot housing in particular will be discussed at greater length at the next meeting.

I raised concern at the absence of enforcement of soil and rubbish controls on building sites, and suggested Wells Station is a mess. Neil advised that they would step up efforts. heard it before though - seemingly the only type of enforcement that gets any resourcing in ACT is parking!!!

Water sensitive urban design policy to be released next month.

Minutes from the meeting follow:

A.C.T. PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT FORUM
4.00 pm, 5 February 2007

In attendance:
Paul Cohen, Planning Institute of Australia
Graeme Evans, Belconnen Community Council
Trish Harrup, Conservation Council of the SE Region & Canberra
Alan Kerlin, Gungahlin Community Council
Andrew MacKenzie, Australian Institute of Landscape
David Menzel, Woden Valley Community Council
Alan Morschell, Housing Industry Association
Llewellyn Reynders, ACT Council of Social Service
Katie Saxby, North Canberra Community Council
Andrew Wilson, Royal Australian Institute of Architects

ACT Planning and Land Authority
Neil Savery, Chief Planning Executive (chair)
Jacqui Lavis, Deputy Chief Planning Executive
Vic Smorhun, Manager, Communications & Government Services
Nadia Chami (note taker)

Apologies
Simon Corbell MLA, Minister for Planning
Rosemary Lissimore, Tuggeranong Community Council
Jo Metcalfe, Property Council of Australia
Rob Purdon, Master Builders Association

2. Matters arising from previous meeting of 13 November 2006
Unit Titles
A report on the Unit Titles Legislation Review has been presented to the Minister for his consideration, after the discussion paper consultation concluded. Public input had been very useful.
Parking Strategy
Decision has not been made yet. It was noted, however, that in relation to the Woden Town Centre:
* 150 short term car spaces have been made available, and
* Section 105 – 200 additional permanent car spaces to be provided.

Mr Menzel raised the issue of the landscape and whether trees would remain in the car park. The Authority to provide the information.

Action: Follow up with Rod Baxter

Mr Kerlin asked whether under the bicycle parking guidelines, it would be possible to identify the high usage bus stops where bicycle lockers could be installed. Mr Savery advised that this was not currently in the guidelines but could be something for future consideration.
Affordable housing at Forde
Mr Kerlin indicated that prices have increased significantly in the Forde, Harrison 3 and Franklin areas in recent times.

3. Issues raised by Forum members

* Sustainable housing design:
Developing new subdivision and housing codes; and
Looking at other ways at improving design outcomes.

In relation to the escalating cost of land, Mr Kerlin indicated the need for a policy change. Changes should include issues such as smaller block, solar access and protection of privacy. Also, Mr Kerlin indicated that the development offered as ‘affordable’ housing merely reduces the size of the blocks and does not introduce any innovation in housing product. Discussion followed on a range of issues relating to affordable housing and it was agreed that this should be listed as an agenda item for the next meeting, with the possibility of the head of the Government’s Affordable Housing Taskforce, Mr George Tomlin’s also being invited to the discussion.

Action: Nadia to follow-up

Ms Lavis suggested that the market tends to dictate the size of the blocks.

* Removal of third party appeal regulation – Mr Savery stated that for reasons of confidentiality no advice able to be provided
The Authority to provide the link to the Supreme Court decision on third party appeals regulation.
Action: Mr Smorhun to follow-up

* Water Sensitive Urban Design guidelines
It was noted that the guidelines are scheduled to come into effect from 1 March 2007. Alan Morschel asked if there was to be any transition period, which was to be confirmed out of session
Action: John Neal to follow up

4. Planning System Reform – Territory Plan
Presented by Karen Wilden

Consultation in 2006
* Outline of Territory Plan 2006
• translation of Land Use policies to zones
• introduces concept of development codes, prospective applicant to abide by rules or criteria depending on proposal
• proposed changes discussed with various groups, including key government agencies, ACTEW, TaMS, LDA and NCA.

* Current Status
• Changes were made following the focus meeting, for instance
* new format for codes
* rules and criteria
* development tables
* agency requirements
* challenge of ‘translating’ existing controls
* public Consultation would take place in March-May 2007, most likely at the end of March 2007

It was noted that:
* public consultation would be an opportunity to recommend policy change
* briefing session will take place at the start of the consultation period representatives from the Community Councils and the building industry will be provided with maps, CDs and documentation
* PDF version would be available on line, intention would be to be able to use a hyperlink
* development codes would be available on line
* CD version would also be provided
* each element of the code has its own statement of intent
* Authority to consider ‘on line ‘ communication, take social factor into account
* new structure would be easier to navigate

The Authority advised that if a house design complies with Territory Plan House Code, no development application would be required, and building plans would be certified by a private certifier.

It was noted that at times there is confusion between the public notification and consultation. Mr Savery indicated that the Authority is required by legislation to undertake public notification in relation to development application, Territory Plan variations and Preliminary Assessments. The Authority also consults on a range of planning matters not governed by legislation, for instance on planning guidelines and policies.

The matter of communicating to get the best results is to be included on the agenda for the special meeting of Community Councils on 27 February 2007.
Action: Nadia to follow up

The Authority is progressing the community consultation matrix – which was canvassed in Dr Meredith Edwards report.
Action: Tania Carter to follow up Review of Stakeholder Engagement in ACT Planning (April 2004). Link to report at
http://www.actpla.act.gov.au/publications/reports/nig-report.pdf

5. Other matters and next meeting
Mr Savery indicated that an affordable housing component was likely being included in West Macgregor.
It was noted that affordable housing should be listed for the next PDF meeting, Tuesday 3 April 2007.
Ms Saxby indicated that the energy rating in a number of new dwellings is below the 4 star energy requirement when dwellings are on-sold even though they were approved as 5 star buildings. It was noted that the development application could have been approved prior to the new regulations taking place or approved with say, heavy drapes, which were not provided when the building was occupied.
In relation to the work on the community facility needs assessment document, Ms Lavis stated that the consultation report would be released once it has been signed off by the Minister.
The Character Guidelines for Inner North and South Canberra are awaiting final input from the consultant and should be followed soon after with a report to the Minister to support their release for public comment.
Mr Menzel requested that a postponed discussion on the future of the PDF be listed for the next meeting. Mr Savery indicated that he would try to ensure that this could involve the Minister, which might mean needing to change the date.

Action: Nadia to follow-up

The next meeting of the Planning and Development Forum is scheduled for
Tuesday 3 April 2007, at 4.30pm
Meeting closed at 6:00pm.