|
State and Territories will have capital city strategic plans by 2012 that meet national criteria for transport, housing, urban development and sustainability. State and Territory planning systems will be independently assessed by the COAG Reform Council in this major microeconomic reform agreed by Governments at today's COAG meeting. Capital city strategic plans are needed to lift economic productivity, respond to climate change and ensure the nation is geared up for 35 million people by 2049. The national criteria will deliver better integrated and longer term - 30 year - infrastructure and land use plans. The criteria require planned, evidence based land release to improve housing affordability, better transport planning to tackle urban congestion, and new urban development to be better linked to transport, jobs and services. Work will begin in 2010, with an initial report on each jurisdiction's plan to be completed during 2011. A formal intergovernmental agreement will provide details of these arrangements. From 1 January 2012, the Commonwealth will link future infrastructure funding to States and Territories meeting these criteria. The Commonwealth must have confidence in the integrity of a capital city's strategic planning system if it is to invest in that city. The Commonwealth also has agreed to contribute to the reforms through its own property, assets, service delivery and approval processes. The reforms adopted today will secure better outcomes from investments of all governments in Australia's cities and they will strengthen public confidence in planning systems.
Media Contacts
|
(
Albanese's Office ) |
(02) 6277 7680
|
|
(
Press Office ) |
(02) 6277 7744
|
NATIONAL OBJECTIVE AND CRITERIA FOR FUTURE STRATEGIC PLANNING OF CAPITAL CITIES Objective
To ensure Australian cities are globally competitive, productive, sustainable, liveable and socially inclusive and are well placed to meet future challenges and growth. Criteria
Capital city strategic planning systems should: - Be integrated:
- across functions, including land-use and transport planning, economic and, infrastructure development, environmental assessment and urban development; and
- across government agencies.
- Provide for a consistent hierarchy of future oriented and publicly available plans, including:
- long term (for example, 15-30 year) integrated strategic plans;
- medium term (for example, 5-15 year) prioritised infrastructure and land-use plans; and
- near term prioritised infrastructure project pipeline backed by appropriately detailed project plans.
- Provide for nationally significant economic infrastructure (both new and upgrade of existing) including:
- transport corridors;
- international gateways;
- intermodal connections;
- major communications and utilities infrastructure; and
- reservation of appropriate lands to support future expansion.
- Address nationally significant policy issues including:
- population growth and demographic change;
- productivity and global competitiveness;
- climate change mitigation and adaptation;
- efficient development and use of existing and new infrastructure and other public assets;
- connectivity of people to jobs and businesses to markets;
- development of major urban corridors;
- social inclusion;
- health, liveability, and community wellbeing;
- housing affordability; and
- matters of national environmental significance.
- Consider and strengthen the networks between capital cities and major regional centres, and other important domestic and international connections.
- Provide for planned, sequenced and evidence-based land release and an appropriate balance of infill and greenfields development.
- Clearly identify priorities for investment and policy effort by governments, and provide an effective framework for private sector investment and innovation.
- Encourage world-class urban design and architecture.
- Provide effective implementation arrangements and supporting mechanisms, including:
- clear accountabilities, timelines and appropriate performance measures;
- coordination between all three levels of government, with opportunities for Commonwealth and Local Government input, and linked, streamlined and efficient approval processes, including under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999;
- evaluation and review cycles that support the need for balance between flexibility and certainty, including trigger points that identify the need for change in policy settings; and
- appropriate consultation and engagement with external stakeholders, experts and the wider community.
Council of Australian Governments' Meeting [ PDF: 309 KB]
|
