Sixth Meeting - 27 March 2008

The Local Government and Planning Ministers' Council (LGPMC), consisting of Local Government and Planning Ministers from across Australia and New Zealand and the President of the Australian Local Government Association, convened in Brisbane today. The meeting was chaired by the Australian Government Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, the Honourable Anthony Albanese MP, and hosted by the Queensland Deputy Premier and Minister for Infrastructure and Planning, the Honourable Paul Lucas MP, and the Queensland Minister for Main Roads and Local Government, the Honourable Warren Pitt MP.

Minister Albanese outlined a number of new Australian Government initiatives relevant to the activities of the Ministerial Council including the establishment of:

• Infrastructure Australia and how it reflects the Australian Government's determination to bring greater integration across governments in the delivery and planning of infrastructure,
• a $500 million Housing Affordability Fund; and
• the Council of Australian Local Governments.

Council endorsed an early meeting of infrastructure Ministers with Infrastructure Australia to discuss its proposed approach.

Minister Albanese also noted the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) at its 20 December 2007 meeting had initiated work in a number of Working Groups whose work will have direct implications for the work of the Council, namely:

• Climate Change and Water;
• Infrastructure;
• Business Regulation and Competition - which considers matters including planning and building reform; and
• Housing.

Council endorsed the need to maintain clear lines of communication between the Council and various Working Groups.

Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Issues

Development Assessment Reform

LGPMC noted that states and territories have made good progress in reforming their planning systems and introducing more efficient development assessment practices. All jurisdictions reported on their implementation of the Development Assessment Forum's Leading Practice Model.

Members also welcomed the announcement by the Australian Government that it will provide up to $30 million to roll-out electronic development assessments (eDAs) and online tracking services nationally to streamline planning approvals.

Council endorsed the need for funds to initially target high growth areas and to assist implementation of eDA in these areas by 2009.

The eDA program is intended to fund information technology and supporting infrastructure and processes so that local governments can streamline their development assessment and approval processes. The aim of the program is to reduce processing times for development applications and assist in reducing holding costs.

Council agreed that the states and territories will provide advice by 18 April 2008 to the Honourable Tanya Plibersek MP, Minister for Housing, in conjunction with their respective state and territory local government bodies on:

• the extent of current eDA practices in their jurisdictions, including quantifiable information on the number of Councils that have fully and partly completed the process;
• suggestions on possible ideas for fast tracking eDA best practice in local government areas within their jurisdictions;
• the extent to which referral processes are electronic in their jurisdictions, including quantifiable information; and
• planned strategies as well as new funding and resources that may be provided to support federal funding available to fast track eDA as part of the Housing Affordability Fund, for implementation by 2009.

Council endorsed the need for measurable outcomes to assess the effectiveness of eDA use by councils.

Council agreed that close Commonwealth-State and local government coordination in consultation with local authorities will guarantee maximum effectiveness of the program.

Climate Change

LGPMC today agreed to a set of national planning principles for reducing energy and water demand through land use planning and infrastructure design which will be submitted to COAG for its consideration. Subject to COAG endorsement, Members agreed to consider how the national principles could be used most effectively such as by including them as strategic principles within state and territory planning frameworks, and/or in the objectives or preamble to planning legislation. A progress report will be provided back to the LGPMC in 12 months on how the national principles have been implemented.

Members also agreed that a report identifying planning related initiatives to support adaptation in the states, territories and local government be passed to COAG for consideration as part of the Council's response to the COAG National Climate Change Adaptation Framework.

Council endorsed the need to progress a nationally consistent approach to coastal mapping and to guidelines as a priority. Council agreed that this matter be raised with the COAG Working Group on Climate Change.

Building Regulation Reform

The Council noted a progress report to COAG from the Building Minister's Forum (BMF) against six priority commitments relating to building regulation reform.

Council agreed to support development of a nationally consistent sustainability tool for the assessment of building which supports the targets set by signing the Kyoto protocol in terms of measuring a reduction in CO2 emissions and water usage. Priority will be given to the application of a tool to residential development.

Other Issues Considered

Local Government Sustainability

LGPMC agreed to a set of principles for sustainable local government which it will forward to COAG for consideration. Council also agreed to recommend to COAG that when the Inter-Governmental Agreement on the Reform of Commonwealth-State Financial Relations is next re-negotiated, a specific reference to local government should be considered for inclusion in the renegotiated agreement.

The Council also agreed to reporting arrangements on the implementation of the previously endorsed nationally consistent frameworks on the financial sustainability, asset management and financial reporting of local government.

The Council will commission further work on local government sustainability, taking account of issues emerging from the Productivity Commission Report, developments in relation to the COAG Agenda and other matters of significance to local government financial sustainability. The additional work will be considered by the Council when it next meets, with a view to forwarding the information to COAG.

Planning reforms

The LGPMC supported the development of a nationally consistent approach to development, such as increasing the use of 'complying' development. This would speed up development approvals and help improve housing affordability. New protocols to measure the performance of planning systems across the country would also be established. Council agreed to recommend such an approach to the COAG Housing Working Group for consideration.

LGPMC also noted the role that greater use of technologies in managing the spatial environment, for example, through the 'e-planning' concept, could play in streamlining planning system, reducing the costs associated with development assessment and associated planning processes.

Affordable Housing

The Council reviewed progress on the Framework for National Action on Affordable Housing, developed in conjunction with the Housing Ministers' Conference. The work focuses on how planning systems can play a stronger role in delivering more affordable housing.

Airport Land Development

The Council discussed the issue of airport land development and the Australian Government agreed to report to the next meeting on these issues.

The Council also:

• noted presentations from Queensland - outlining its local government reform initiatives and from New Zealand - providing an update on a range of local government issues.
• noted a report from the Local Government and Planning Joint Committee and its sub-committees - the Local Government Joint Officers Group (LOGJOG) and the Planning Officials Group (POG). The report included an overview of the activities of the Development Assessment Forum (DAF), covering its work on electronic development assessment; implementation of the DAFs Leading Practice Model reforms, including track-based assessment; and, reviewing regulatory issues associated with home-based small businesses.

The Local Government and Planning Ministers' Council agreed to meet next in Hobart, in August 2008.

Contact
Secretary
Local Government and Planning Ministers' Council
C/- Department of Infrastructure, Transport,
Regional Development and Local Government
GPO Box 594
Canberra ACT 2601
Tel: +61 02 6274 8127
Email: lgpmc@infrastructure.gov.au
Web: www.lgpmcouncil.gov.au

Last Updated: 28 March, 2008