2015-10-13 Planning & Organisation Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                    13 OCTOBER 2015
                                                                                  ATTACHMENT 2
Government Seeks Feedback on the following                  Comment
options
Purpose of the Act                                          Support the inclusion of concepts relating to
                                                            inter-generational equity, precautionary
The following is an extract from the Draft Bill of the      principle and sustainable use of resources.
proposed purpose of the Act:-                               The alternative purpose here provides a more
(1)      The purpose of this Act is to facilitate           encompassing and balanced approach to
         ecologically sustainable development that          defining the acts purpose and is supported
         balances—                                          over the Draft Bill’s purpose.
         (a) the protection of ecological processes
         and natural systems at local, regional, State,
         and wider levels; and
         (b) economic growth; and
         (c) the maintenance of the cultural,
         economic, physical and social wellbeing of
         people and communities.
(2)      The purpose is to be achieved through an
         efficient, effective, transparent, integrated
         and accountable system for—
         (a) land use planning (planning); and
         (b) development assessment.
(3)      The system for achieving the purpose of this
Act includes—
         (a) State planning policies (including
         temporary ones) setting out planning and
         development assessment policies about
         matters of State interest; and …

Both IPA and SPA include similar sections (s1.2.2 in
IPA and s 4 in SPA) describing how the Act’s
purposes are to be advanced. Feedback is sought
on the proposed purpose and whether the following
kind of provisions should be also included to build on
this purpose.
(a)      following decision-making processes that—
         (i)      are accountable, transparent,
                  coordinated, effective and efficient;
                  and
         (ii)     take account of short and long-term
         environmental effects of development at
         local, regional, State and wider levels; and
         (iii)    apply the precautionary principle,
                  namely that the lack of full scientific
                  certainty is not a reason for delaying
                  taking a measure to prevent
                  degradation of the environment if
                  there are threats of serious or
                  irreversible environmental damage;
                  and
         (iv)     seek to provide for equity between
         present and future generations; and
(b)      providing opportunities for the community to
         be involved in making decisions; and
(c)      considering the sustainable use of
         renewable and non-renewable natural
         resources, including biological, energy,
         extractive, land and water resources that
         contribute to economic development through
         employment creation and wealth generation;



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