A full review of all land and planning legislation would be completed by March, the chair of the Infrastructure, Development and Planning committee, David Lamont, said yesterday.
The review by his committee would take place after criticisms of planning law made by the Todd inquiry. That inquiry was charged by the ACT Legislative Assembly to inquire into difficulties over the redevelopment proposal at Section 22 Braddon. It criticised elements of ACT planning law, especially the consultation process with neighbouring residents.
Mr Lamont’s committee after a six-month review ending last month produced significant changes to the Draft Territory Plan giving greater appeal rights to residents and designating more land as public in existing suburbs.
That plan has been tabled in the Assembly and will become law in the August sittings, at which time those changes to the Environment, Land and Planning Act necessary to implement the spirit of the plan would go before the Assembly. These were mainly public-notification clauses.
Mr Lamont said the new review would look at all aspects of planning law. The public would get a break chance to have a say through seminars and public meetings.
The review would also involve government agencies. The committee would then present its report to the Assembly in the form of a whole new proposed Act. This would reduce the time needed for government response. The review would be an efficient and cooperative way of getting acceptable changes to planning law.
“Planning law will always be contentious, and rightly so,” he said.
The Todd report had uncovered defects which must be addressed and the planning committee thought it should play a major role.