By VANESSA CHIRCOP
THE Opposition has slammed a proposed State Government planning process, ‘VicSmart’, saying it ignores community backlash against the process.
But the Government claims the new planning approval process will give straightforward, low impact planning applications a simpler and faster permit process.
Hobsons Bay director planning and Environment Peter Gaschk said the council understood VicSmart would not be applied to applications for high density developments, like the Port Phillip Woollen Mill site, but was intended to help clear the backlog of minor planning applications.
“Hobsons Bay City Council along with other local governments and stakeholders made a submission to the Victorian Planning System Ministerial Advisory Committee to discuss the ways the Planning and Environment Act 1987 could be improved,” he said.
“The council’s submission focused on a review of the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal’s operations to make it more efficient and to provide greater regard for local planning policy in its consideration of planning appeals.”
Planning Minister Matthew Guy said VicSmart would provide certainty to applicants, councils and communities.
“Currently, all applications follow a single permit process regardless of how complex or simple they are,” he said.
“This is inefficient and costly.
“Over the last decade, there has been a consistent creep of red tape in our planning system to the point where simple planning processes are being undermined by complexity.
“VicSmart will correct this shift and deal with straightforward and low impact applications quickly and efficiently.
“VicSmart has the potential to deal with approximately 10 per cent of annual permit activity which represents more than 5000 permit applications a year and can reduce assessment time from an average of 62 business days to 10 business days.”
However, Shadow Minister for Planning, Brian Tee said the process would rob people of their right to protect the value of their home and lifestyles.
“It will strip away residents’ right to be notified about a property development next door – and abolish residents’ right to appeal against it.
“There are no height or density limits.
“This means a developer could build a multi-storey development next to your house without being legally required to notify you about it.”
Mr Gaschk said the council would wait for the finalisation of the VicSmart legislation before commenting further.
