Urban and Regional Planning in Western Australia - Term Paper Example

? Describe and Compare the Role of Local and Government in Urban and Regional Planning in Western Australia Introduction The perception of planning is principally described as the procedure of setting different effective goals, developing resourceful strategies as well as outlining useful schedules or tasks for the purpose of attaining the pre-specified objectives (Mintzberg, 1994). Contextually, the various plans which are generally performed by any local planning authority are mainly designed with the intention of making developments in the respective fields. A successful design as well as the implementation of a plan normally relies upon the capability to control and encourage developments. These two factors are considered to be a fundamental basis of planning (Blackhall, 2005). It is in this regard that the local as well as the state government of any particular nation plays a considerable role in making effective plans. In relation to planning system, the primary purposes of the government, in both local as well as state levels, are to generate sustainable communities, encourage sustainable development and enhance the performance of the local authorities in determining any sort of planning applications (Poister, 2005). In this discussion, an overview of the planning system which prevails in Western Australia will be taken into concern. Moreover, a detailed description about how the planning system operates at the local and state level in Western Australia will be discussed henceforth. Various aspects which include the planning legislations, plans and the administrative frameworks prevailing in Western Australia in relation to planning system will also be considered. Besides, an evaluation about the purpose of planning in Western Australia will be portrayed in the below discussion. Operations of the Planning System in Western Australia The planning system currently prevailing in Western Australia has served the state successfully for more than 50 years. The planning system existing in the region of Western Australia is primarily based upon an exceptional combination of steady institutional based arrangements, which enjoys bipartisan support by a certain extent. The system is structurally governed by simple as well as strong legislation along with a centralized legitimate authority titled as The Department of Planning (DoP). DoP was formed in the year 2009 in Western Australia which plays an imperative role in enhancing the living standard of the inhabitants belonging to the state. It broadly aims to support as well as to organize the planning and advancement of regional land-use within Western Australia (Government of Western Australia, 2011). It has been apparent from the fact that most of the people as well as the different government agencies pay utmost attention towards the planning system for the purpose of growing their respective townships in a sustainable manner (Oladipo, 2008). It is worth mentioning in this regard that the chief components of the planning system in Western Australia are based on the ideas of strategic planning and statutory planning. The aspect of strategic planning emphasizes upon long-term regional planning throughout the region of Western Australia. It incorporates a broad assortment of various social, financial, infrastructural and environmental issues by a considerable extent. In the similar context, the idea of statutory planning stresses upon the fact of effectively managing the procedure of land-use, urban development and land supply across the region of Western Australia (State of Western Australia, 2007). The different priority areas that the planning system in Western Australia focuses upon include empowering the institutional arrangements as well as the governance, developing an inclusive regional framework and simplifying various planning approvals. The other concerning areas include paying greater attention to the major planning projects as well as effectual planning instruments and establishing an incorporated infrastructure for developing the initiatives for land-uses(Planning Institute of Australia, 2012). The principle features of planning system in Western Australia can be identified in terms that the system engages the facet of collaboration and enjoys bipartisan support which further encourages incessant improvements in the state level. In relation to planning system, the DoP in Western Australia possesses the accountability for developing as well as implementing effective decisions and most significantly arranging for a substantial level of funding for developing various planning projects. Moreover, the department is also deemed liable to enhance the land-use planning procedures by commencing or establishing strategic as well as comprehensive reforms (Government of Western Australia, 2010). A Brief Overview of the Legislative Planning Framework in Western Australia The planning system in Western Australia is mainly regulated or operated on the basis of three major levels. The levels include the ‘Minister for Planning and Infrastructure’, ‘Western Australian Planning Commission’ (WAPC) and the local government bodies. In this regard, the ‘Minister for Planning and Infrastructure’ performs its major responsibilities as a selected representative of the State Government of Western Australia. Therefore, the Ministers have been empowered with the sole authority concerning town planning in the state. The Ministers are responsible for maintaining as well as frequently reviewing planning legislation frameworks, approving appropriate planning policies and sanctioning various regional or local planning schemes. Conversely, the major responsibilities of WAPC include delivering proper advice to the Ministers and other concerned governmental bodies, handling the development matters of various planning projects and supervising the regional based planning schemes such as the Metropolitan Region Scheme (MRS) among others (State of Western Australia, 2007). Along with the several important roles played by the Ministers and WAPC in relation to planning system, certain responsibilities are also performed by the local governmental bodies in Western Australia. With this concern, it has been viewed that there lies the presence of 144 local governments throughout the Western Australia. The local governments belonging to the state are duly responsible for the planning of their local communities by establishing as well as implementing suitable planning control mechanisms for land-use development which is generally performed by arranging and supervising their different locally concentrated planning strategies as well as schemes. Moreover, the local governmental bodies are also liable for ensuring their various local planning schemes or policies along with the strategies are consistent with that of the planning requirements and the aims of the state government (State of Western Australia, 2007). Thus, on the basis of the aforementioned discussion, it can be stated that the planning system operates in Western Australia on the basis of three different levels which include the participation of the local governments, WAPC and the state government. The major role of the state government in urban and regional planning in Western Australia is to make active coordination with the different governmental agencies along with other chief stakeholders in large infrastructural planning projects. Moreover, the state government connected with urban along with regional planning is liable to ensure the fact that consideration is offered to a majority of public interests as well as needs which include the financial, community and environmental concerns. The various departments belonging to the state government of Western Australia perform as advisory bodies to WAPC when concerning the development of various planning projects as well as the utilization of effective planning policies or schemes (State of Western Australia, 2009). The major role of the local governments belonging to the state of Western Australia relating to urban and regional planning is to make effectual specifications for the local communities. Besides, they also tend to be liable to organize, manage as well as direct various local planning policies or schemes as well as consult with different individuals and business agencies in order to judge whether a specific land is suitable for development (Government of Western Australia, 2010). A Brief Assessment of the Planning Legislation, Policies, Plans and Administrative Frameworks in Western Australia The ‘Planning and Development Act 2005’ is considered to be an imperative legislative planning framework at both local as well as state level which was instigated in the year 2006 in Western Australia. This significant act empowers every local authority within the state to organize a local planning policy in order to perform appropriate land-use development. It also delivers a framework which stresses upon preparing statutory policies on planning. Moreover, the act contributes towards establishing various structural plans or policies which offer a framework for the coordinated provision of planning infrastructures, services, developments and schemes for land-uses. The structural plans or the policies include regional structural plans, district level structural plans and local structural plans. In this context, from the perspective of regional structural plans, the act establishes an extensive framework through which the planning projects within a specific region or sub-regions can be developed in future. In terms of district structural plans, the act delivers a framework in which the details of the general pattern of land-use are provided for a specific regional area. These sorts of plans are generally prepared in aid of the local governments in association with the different business agencies. In relation to the local structural plans, the act offers a framework in which the details about the aspects such as community purpose sites as well as public open space are provided. These kinds of plans are usually prepared by the landowners or the local governmental bodies and are then approved by the WAPC (Government of Western Australia, 2010). Apart from the legislation of ‘The Planning and Development Act 2005’, the other important legislative specifications, such as the ‘Environmental Protection Act 1986’ and ‘Town Planning Regulations 1967’, are also engaged in the planning system throughout the state. In this regard, the ‘Environmental Protection Act 1986’ focuses upon the fact that the assessment procedures in relation to environment are incorporated at the beginning of the planning process. Conversely, the ‘Town Planning Regulations 1967’ emphasizes upon prescribing the methods for preparing, advertising, implementing and most importantly approving the local planning schemes or policies which are introduced by the concerned local authorities in Western Australia. The most crucial legislative planning framework i.e. the ‘Planning and Development Act 2005’ is also acknowledged as an administrative framework in the planning system in Western Australia. This is due to the fact that the local governments belonging to Western Australia and performing under the aforesaid act is responsible for the arrangement as well as the supervision of various local planning policies in the entire region. Moreover, the legal act, being an administrative framework, guides the local government to make effective decisions for long-term sustainable growth concerning the locality (Walga, 2007). An Evaluation about the Purpose of Planning in Western Australia The primary purpose of regional planning in the Western Australia is to make effective decisions for the accomplishment of desired position in the future (Segars, Grover & Teng, 2007). It also assists the governing bodies to execute a proper allocation of resources and thereby facilitate a sustainable development in the region (Kotler & Zaltman, 1971). From a subjective perspective, the purpose of regional planning in Western Australia can be identified in terms to make substantial level of development in land-use which are undertaken by the various governing bodies of the region including the state government, WAPC and local governments as well with the sole intention to preserve public well-being. Moreover, the other purpose of regional planning is to enhance the quality of the landscapes of the state. It is in this context that the governing bodies belonging to the state strongly believes the fact that the landscapes ought to be taken as a major concern in planning sustainable land-uses and regional developments (Squelch, 2007). The various governing bodies in Western Australia pay utmost attention in developing different planning projects as well as policies with the intention of coordinating along with encouraging regional land-use planning as well as developing the living standard of the state. It has been viewed that amid the governing bodies which are prevailing in Western Australia, particularly the local governments are held liable for planning the development of their local communities by implementing proper control mechanisms. Apart from the prevailing governing bodies in Western Australia, the DoP which was formed in the year 2009 supports the public within the state by periodically reviewing the regional policies or schemes and assessing the efficiency level of various local planning methods. The most important purpose of regional planning in Western Australia is to deliver to the public of the state broader opportunities in order to prosper in a sustainable way. In relation to effective planning system, the public are encouraged to participate in the arrangement of almost every land-use related policies or plans. Therefore, it can be stated that the prime purpose of making effective planning processes in Western Australia is to enhance the living standard of the inhabitants belonging to the state by eliminating any sort of unproductive efforts and developing innovative planning policies or schemes by a large level (Government of Western Australia, 2012). Conclusion After acquiring a brief idea about the regional planning system which prevails in Western Australia, it can be stated that there lies immense importance of making effective structural arrangements concerning sate development. It has been viewed that the planning system in Western Australia mainly performs on three distinct levels which include the ‘Minister for Planning and Infrastructure’, ‘WAPC’ and the local governments. However, it can be observed that the role of the local and the state government is quite different, particularly in urban and regional planning within the state. In this regard, the Ministers as well as the WAPC on behalf of the state government of Western Australia are mainly responsible for looking after the supervision of planning agencies and approving major planning policies. Conversely, the local government in Western Australia is accountable for making effective planning policies for their local communities which are further liable for state level approvals. The important legislative frameworks which also act as administrative frameworks for the state include ‘Planning and Development Act 2005’, ‘Environmental Protection Act 1986’ and ‘Town Planning Regulations 1967’. Furthermore, the major policies or schemes relating to the planning system in Western Australia include regional as well as metropolitan developmental strategies and structure plans. It is worth mentioning in this regard that the major purpose of introducing as well as developing the aforementioned schemes by the different governing bodies is to sustainably improve the living standard of the inhabitants belonging to Western Australia. References Blackhall, J. C. (2005). Planning law & practice 3/e. UK: Routledge. Government of Western Australia. (2011). The planning system. Retrieved from http://www.planning.wa.gov.au/619.asp Government of Western Australia. (2010). Guide to the WA planning system for the sport and recreation professional. Retrieved from http://www.dsr.wa.gov.au/assets/files/Facilities/Guide%20WA%20Planning%20System.pdf Government of Western Australia. (2012). Information statement. Retrieved from http://www.planning.wa.gov.au/dop_pub_pdf/Freedom_of_Information_Statement_2012.pdf Kotler, P., & Zaltman, G. (1971). Social marketing: An approach to planned social change. Journal of Marketing 35, pp.3-12. Mintzberg, H. (1994). The rise and fall of strategic planning: Reconceiving roles for planning, plans, planners. US: Simon and Schuster. Oladipo, J. A. (2008). Project planning and implementation at the local government level: lessons of experience. European Journal of Social Sciences 6(4), pp.83-91. Planning Institute of Australia. (2012). Western Australia. Retrieved from http://www.planning.org.au/policy/planning-reforms#wa Poister, T. H. (2005). Elements of strategic planning and management in municipal government: status after two decades. Public Administration Review 65(1), pp.45-56. Segars, A. H., Grover, V., & Teng, J. T. C. (2007). Abstract. Decision Sciences 29(2), pp.303-341. State of Western Australia. (2007). An introduction to the Western Australian planning system. Retrieved from http://www.planning.wa.gov.au/dop_pub_pdf/PFP_Report_Oct_2007.pdf State of Western Australia. (2009). Building a better planning system. Retrieved from http://www.planning.wa.gov.au/dop_pub_pdf/building_a_better_planning_system_consultation_paper.pdf Squelch, J. (2007). Land clearing laws in Western Australia. The Agricultural Industry 9, pp.1-15. Walga. (2007). An overview of land use planning. Retrieved from http://walga.asn.au/Documents/Walga/MemberResources/1525_walga_factsheet_6.pdf Read More