WA winning the war to cut development red tape

• Recognition of significant improvements made to WA planning system
• Reflects efforts to cut red tape and provide a more efficient system
• Highest ranked with State and local government planning processes

Planning Minister John Day today welcomed the findings of the Property Council of Australia's Development Assessment Report Card 2012, which acknowledged the significant improvements made to the Western Australian planning system.

Mr Day said WA had considerably advanced since 2010, jumping from a score of 5.3 to 7.1 and ranked in second place over all.

"The State Government has made planning reform a key priority and supported an ambitious reform agenda," he said. 

"It was just over two years ago that we initiated this agenda designed to cut red tape and ensure a transparent, consistent and efficient system.

 
"This report card highlights WA's introduction of leading practice initiatives such as development assessment panels; the current Residential Design Code update; and considerable advancement of both metropolitan and regional strategies.

"The State's government agencies and local government receive invaluable guidance from strategic planning strategies like Directions 2031 and the recently released Pilbara Planning and Infrastructure Framework."

Scoring for the 2012 Report Card incorporated single measures of performance against the Development Assessment Forum 10 leading practice principles and an additional scoring framework based on five distinct measures.

The Minister said WA led the way in two of the five distinct measures: System structure - with the Western Australian Planning Commission recognised for best practice - and commercial acumen.  

"The State placed just behind the Northern Territory, making WA the highest ranked of those planning systems with both State and local government planning processes," he said.

      Fact File

• Report can be downloaded from http://www.propertyoz.com.au  

Minister's - 6552 6200