New decision-making committee for the South West

Planning decisions for the South West will be made by a South West region planning committee in the future.

Planning Minister David Smith today announced the creation of the South West Region Planning Committee, which meets for the first time today and is based in the South West.

"The Government wants to see planning for the South West emphasise local, community and country-based decision-making," Mr Smith said.

"The new committee replaces the now defunct South West Region Planning Committee which was purely advisory.

"This is no fault of the members, who had all worked hard, but a body without decision-making powers could not be truly effective.

"The new committee will have the delegated authority of the State Planning Commission and therefore almost full decision-making powers on all matters pertaining to the South West region.

"It will allow faster, locally-based decision-making and the further regionalisation of the Department of Planning and Urban Development.

"It will reduce lead time for major projects, improve the strategic planning function and give the local community direct access to the decision-making process."

Mr Smith announced the new committee as:

·         David Hatt, chairman; chief executive officer of the Department of Planning and Urban Development.

·         Dr Ern Manea; Mayor of Bunbury.

·         Councillor Rosanne Pimm; president of the Shire of Collie.

·         Councillor Dudley Tuckey; Mayor of Mandurah.

·         Dr David Carr; consultant to the Building Owners and Managers Association and a former Town Planning Commissioner.

·         Ms Lesley McComish; member of the State Planning Commission.

"The inclusion of the chief executive officer of DPUD, Mr David Hatt, and State Planning Commissioner Lesley McComish will give the new structure added weight.  The insight of well-respected former Town Planning Commissioner Dr David Carr will provide a further dimension of experience.

"The presence of Mrs Rosanne Pimm, Dr Ern Manea and Mr Dudley Tuckey will provide the local input."

The Minister said the committee would meet on a regular basis at varying centres throughout the South West and would be serviced by the Department of Planning and Urban Development.

A technical consultative group with officers from each of the State agencies currently involved in land use planning would ensure that reports to the committee addressed the issues in the broadest possible way.

The committee would be responsible for decisions on major subdivision and use of land, regional planning and policy development in the region; decisions which were previously made in Perth.

Mr Smith said the establishment of the new committee heralded a new and innovative stage in the State's planning process.

"The new committee is an experiment in handing over decision-making to local communities," he said.

"It has been established as an interim committee for a two-year period to give us time to see how it works out and to make any adjustments that are necessary.

"The system will be constantly monitored and reviewed throughout the two-year period."

Mr Smith said membership of the new committee placed an emphasis on a balance of skills and experience, an appreciation of the needs of the South West region and its people, and an awareness of both strategic and local issues.

Membership of the committee would be reviewed at the end of the two-year period.

"Once we are sure it is working effectively, the Government will consider this system of decision-making in other country areas," Mr Smith said.

Councillor Dudley Tuckey, the Mayor of Mandurah and one of the new committee members, said that he was particularly pleased to see the number of South West-based people on the new committee.

Three of the six-member committee are country based and all members have a strong interest in country planning.