Today (1/5/2006) the Liberal Party (Vic) released their Planning Policy. Download it!
SOS Analysis
Overall, we are impressed with key core parts of the policy, particularly the commitment to appoint a statutory, independent, Board of Review to completely review Melbourne 2030.
Starting with the high level summary, with the italics being our comments –
Key features of the policy include:
SOS agrees, planning is too important to only have a Ministers attention part time – a key problem with the present and last two planning ministers.
SOS agrees – while still committed to many of the ‘principles’ in M2030, in practice the implementation is so flawed we need to start again with a statutory and transparent process that guarantees the inclusion of input from the community and independent experts.
SOS agrees – and while it would be difficult to get the confidence and support of all, the new Strategy must be a process which transparently balances key issues while also meeting basic principles of democracy, residential amenity, and environmental sustainability.
SOS needs more detail on this topic, and input from other community groups.
SOS agrees, councils should have control over town planning matters but be more accountable (via reform of VCAT).
SOS needs more detail on this topic, and input from other community groups.
SOS agrees in principle to this, but does not agree to the detailed proposal in this paper. VCAT should be a court of law, with powers to oversight council process, but not (as present) being able to take over the role of the planning authority .
SOS needs more detail on this topic, and input from other community groups.
Not within the SOS terms of reference .