13 November 2014
The announcement by the NSW Minister for Local Government, Paul Toole, of the five Joint Organisation pilots is an excellent opportunity to take a more regional approach to planning, says the Urban Taskforce.
“ The Urban Taskforce has supported a joint organisation of councils approach for some years and it is therefore good to see the five pilots now getting underway,” says Chris Johnson, CEO of the Urban Taskforce. “The two urban groups of the Hunter and the Illawarra can demonstrate a successful model that could be applied to Sydney councils if amalgamations do not occur in all areas.”
“ The current Hunter Councils model where 11 councils share services is a good beginning but the big issue of a single centre of excellence for planning needs to be part of the pilot.”
“ A central planning office can develop specialist skills in strategic planning, assessments and infrastructure planning while increasing career prospects for young planners. The planners will also take a more independent position in the assessment of projects.”
“ It is encouraging to see that the Minister for Local Government has identified planning as a key community priority that cuts across traditional local government boundaries along with jobs and infrastructure.”
“ The Urban Taskforce is keen to be involved in the pilots to give a consumer perspective on how a shared service centre that includes planning can help with housing supply and the delivery of infrastructure. The future form of urban areas must come from a partnership between local government and the private sector development industry.”
