The Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate is to scrap the Territory’s current planning Act, Planning and Development Act 2007, and build a new one from the ground up.
Minister for Planning and Land Management, Mick Gentleman said drafting a new Act was the best way to ensure a more transparent planning system that delivered better outcomes.
“The current legislation has grown complex and cumbersome as changes have been added to it in a piecemeal way,” Mr Gentleman said.
“A new Act means starting with a blank slate to build the best possible system that promotes great planning, design and development across Canberra,” he said.
“We have heard extensively from the community and industry on how our planning system can be improved and are determined to carry out reforms that support our city’s growth while maintaining its valued character.”
Mr Gentleman said the community would have the opportunity to provide feedback on the draft Act when it was released for comment and encouraged everyone to stay informed.
The Directorate said that as part of its ACT Planning System Review and Reform Project, it had hosted workshops across each of Canberra’s eight districts throughout June.
“We want everyone who is interested to have the opportunity to have a say and have developed an online activity to complement the work done by workshop participants,” the Directorate said.
“All input from both the workshops and YourSay will feed into our final consultation report due for release later this year.”
The Directorate said people could take part in the online activity until 18 July.
Further information on the Reform Project, including how to have a say and to follow the draft Act’s progress, can be accessed at this PS News link.
