Adjust font size:

Eighth Meeting - Sydney - 8 May 2009

The Local Government and Planning Ministers' Council (LGPMC) convened in Sydney today and was attended by Local Government and Planning Ministers from across Australia and the President of the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA).

The meeting, chaired by the Australian Government Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, the Hon Anthony Albanese MP, was hosted by the Hon Barbara Perry MLA, New South Wales Minister for Local Government, and the Hon Kristina Keneally MLA, New South Wales Minister for Planning.

Minister Albanese outlined a number of Australian Government initiatives relevant to the activities of the Ministerial Council, noting the significant effort and progress that jurisdictions, working with local government, have made in responding to the Nation Building – Economic Stimulus Plan – including $800 million for community infrastructure projects as part of the Government’s Nation Building Packages. He discussed the further opportunities arising from the recently announced $650 million Jobs Fund Initiative with its $150 million for Infrastructure Employment Projects and $40 million for the National Bike Paths Program.

The Chair also advised that the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) agreed at its 30 April 2009 meeting to pursue a number of important reforms that are interconnected with the work of the LGPMC.
 
In particular he highlighted COAG’s agreement that existing strategic planning frameworks within jurisdictions will be examined by a Taskforce to ensure they support the ongoing integration of state and national infrastructure in major metropolitan cities with land-use planning and urban development. This work will recognise:

• that the States have clear responsibility for land-use planning within their jurisdictions;
• that the Commonwealth has an interest in the efficient operation of national infrastructure; and
• that efficient infrastructure and improving our cities requires the better integration in jurisdictions of major cities land-use planning with state and national transport, energy, water and social infrastructure investment plans.

The Taskforce will report to COAG by the end of 2009 on the outcomes of this work. The Chair indicated that the Commonwealth’s hope is that the work of this Taskforce will encourage each jurisdiction to put in place, by the end of June 2010, best practice major strategic corridor and metropolitan planning arrangements that will ensure consistent strategic decision-making, improve the efficiency of infrastructure investment and further contribute to productivity and economic growth.

COAG had indicated that a review of ministerial councils should be undertaken and finalised by November 2009.

Other issues considered by the LGPMC included:

A report on the different approaches taken by jurisdictions and local governments to resolve complex issues and challenges to facilitate spending and maximise the effect of the Nation Building – Economic Stimulus Plan.  The LGPMC acknowledged the speed with which planning jurisdictions have responded to help streamline development assessment processes for economic stimulus package projects.

Members noted a report from WA on Environmental Assessment and Approval Processes.  As there are a number of reviews currently underway, including one by Dr Allan Hawke which is due to report later this year and the Infrastructure Working Group work on major project approval (due mid-year), the LGPMC agreed to take a close interest in progressing more effective outcomes and will review in detail progress at its next meeting.

Council considered various capacity building measures for local government, with a particular focus on plans to develop a workforce strategy for local government and the establishment of the Centre of Excellence for Local Government to showcase innovation and best practice, to lift local government’s professionalism and to facilitate a national approach to local government capacity building.  In this context Members agreed to local government officials developing a draft local government workforce strategy, in consultation with stakeholders, which will examine the skills shortage in the context of workforce planning, career development and retention.

The LGPMC agreed to the enhancement of existing nationally consistent frameworks on local government asset and financial management frameworks to assist councils improve their asset and financial management and planning.  They also committed to the acceleration of the implementation of the frameworks.

Members expressed concerns about the levels of participation by women in local government, at both the elected and executive level.  The LGPMC expressed a desire to work cooperatively with local government to promote the increased participation of women. They agreed unanimously to develop a nationally consistent program aimed at achieving a greater participation of women in local government at both the elected member and senior staff levels.

The Council reviewed progress made by the LGPMC Sub-Group on Development Assessment (DA) Reform and noted a number of projects had been initiated aimed at accelerating the rate of DA reform and introducing more efficient planning systems.  Further details are provided at Attachment A [PDF: 10 KB]

Members also noted progress made by the States and Territories in the implementation of electronic Development Assessment (eDA) projects funded under the Housing Affordability Fund (HAF) and the establishment of a WA-hosted National eDAIS Coordination Office which will provide governance, management and technical support of eDAIS for the next three years.  A technical support officer has been engaged to advise on technical issues arising from eDAIS.

Acknowledging the decision of COAG to advance work on integrated planning and infrastructure investment through the Taskforce established at the 30 April 2009 COAG meeting, the LGPMC agreed to participate in the development of a National Urban Policy, which will be led by the Australian Government through the Major Cities Unit (MCU).  In making their decision the LGPMC took account of the papers presented by WA and MCU and agreed to consider a progress report prepared by the MCU and containing the main elements of a National Urban Policy at the next meeting.  LGPMC also took account of the relationship between this work and the Queensland work on establishing leading practice national planning system principles.

Jurisdictions undertook to develop state-specific climate change planning policies to inform local governments and regional planning responses to climate change by mid 2011. They also agreed to collaborate with the Climate Change & Water Working Group (CCWWG), Australian Transport Council (ATC), & Ministerial Council on Police & Emergency Management (MCPEM-EM) to develop a national framework and tools for use by local government to inform planning for climate change mitigation and climate change adaptation.

The LGPMC acknowledges the need to make Australia’s retail sector more competitive, but noted concerns from its members about calls for changes to planning and zoning laws by the ACCC.  It will work with the Business Regulation and Competition Working Group (BRCWG) to ensure that comprehensive planning issues are adequately addressed.

Following its Summit on the Constitutional Recognition of Local Government, ALGA is now further developing the recognition option identified by the Summit for discussion with the Australian Government, the Australian Council of Local Governments, and other interested parties.

Members noted a progress report on the implementation of the National Framework for Action on Affordable Housing and that the Affordable Housing National Leading Practice Guide and Tool Kit is now accessible via the LGPMC website www.lgpmcouncil.gov.au

The Chair advised that the Aviation Green Paper - Flightpath to the Future was released in December 2008 and it foreshadowed directions for improving the system of planning and development control at airports to which the Airports Act applies.  The Australian Government will continue to consult with State and Territory Governments on airport planning initiative proposals.

The council also noted that Planning and Local Government Ministers had a critical role in the roll out of the National Broadband Network.

The Local Government and Planning Ministers’ Council agreed to meet next in Darwin, in late 2009.

Contact
Secretary