THE PLANNING AND DESIGN CODE AND E-PLANNING
no clarity – no credibility – no cash…..what next?
It is becoming difficult to see how the Government can contemplate implementing Phases 2 and 3, even on the revised deferred timeline.
An In Daily article (5/5/20) has exposed the chaos in DPTI surrounding the Code and its essential electronic implementation tool, the e-planning system.
The recently appointed State Planning Reform Director, Ray Partridge flies in and out from Sydney with dispensation to circumvent the COVID 19 restrictions. He is currently under Departmental investigation for forcing staff to flaunt social distancing measures, and work in the office rather than at home, because of the panic attending the construction and validation of the e-planning system.
This follows the recent resignations of five members of the IT planning team and of other key DPTI staff.
It is clear that that the Code and its support systems are in chaos. And yet no-one in authority will admit this. A DPTI official has insisted that e-planning was on track with ‘final technical testing underway in partnership with Councils”. This is untrue……apart from a very few rural areas (Phase 2), the majority of Councils are yet to have briefings on the program, let alone being involved in ‘technical testing’.
Planning Minister Knoll consistently denies any problems, and is afflicted with the ‘nothing to see here’ syndrome. He continues to assert that the Code will be implemented as currently planned. It is hard to see how this can happen.
Even if and when the e-planning platform is functional, the policy components of the Code are in no fit state to be implemented; they are still incomplete, inadequate and confusing.
Another confounding unknown is funding. DPTI has no budgetary provision for the Code beyond June 30th, and, indeed, the exigencies of post- COVID 19 and its consequences for the economy and the functioning of State and Local Governments will be considerable.
7 May 2020
It is unlikely that the Government’s newfound Planning Emergency Powers to fast track development will overcome these problems.
If the Code goes ahead in its current state, the confusion and uncertainty it will unleash will be disastrous for Councils, the community and the building and development industries.
Unfortunately, the political imperative is to rush out the Code in the forlorn hope that the backlash it will create will have abated before the 2020 Election.
Professor Warren Jones AO is the Convenor of the Protect our Heritage Alliance, a coalition of concerned organisations and individuals, working to protect our built and natural environment.
Phone: 0419 852 622
