The Western Australian Planning Commission is given too much power and control in terms of the Western Australian Planning system
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The Western Australian Planning Commission is given too much power and control in terms of the Western Australian Planning system
Introduction
Regional planning has been one of the key concerns in Western Australia. The essence stems from Western Australia’s largest state in Australia in terms of areal coverage. It exhibits diversity in terms of the economy, social structure, and environment. The region primarily relies on mining and agriculture and fishing and forestry as the critical economic drivers. The majority of these activities are located in the non-metropolitan regions of Perth. It is a high population of over two million individuals. The non-metropolitan region contributes at least 65% of the economy in Western Australia.
Given the primary economic activities’ location, it is critical to recognize that disparity can cause tension in policy formulation. This tension is evidenced by arguments concerning the concentration of services and infrastructure in Western Australia’s metropolitan regions. Over the years, the government of Western Australia has dealt with tension through policies. The strategies were based on the principle of spatial equity and balance in the economy. The focus of the development process was based on the natural resources of Western Australia. Therefore, much as investments for development was focused on improving the non-metropolitan areas1.
The Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC)
The modern planning system used in Western Australia has its origins in the 19th century’s industrial revolution. The issues of rapid population growth and limited resources in the urban areas created the need for effective use of resources. As such, developments entailed the distribution of resources to create a balance between economic development and environmental issues. Therefore it is essential to recognize that the modern planning system comprises two significant components, strategic planning, and statutory planning. Strategic planning entails focusing on the long term development of metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas of Western Australia. On the other hand, statutory planning involves using the legislative framework and policy concern to guide day-to-day decisions on the development.
In Western Australia, the planning and development system is based on policies and institutional frameworks. The arrangements made in the system are provided by a simple and advanced legal framework and a central statutory regional planning. Also, statutory authority and funds are vital to the development system. The legislative and regulatory framework used by the system has undergone numerous changes. As a result of these changes, the current planning authorities in western austral draw their power and responsibility from numerous laws such as the Municipal institution’s act (1871), the Town Planning, and the develop act (1928). In relation to the Western Australia planning commission, the critical legal frameworks in which its responsibilities are drawn from the metropolitan region town and planning scheme act (1959) and the Western Australian Planning Commission Act (1985)2 .
The Western Australian Planning Commission is a statutory planning authority responsible for the statewide urban and regional planning and development. It was created to respond to government directions, hence responsible for strategic planning and development in the state of Western Australia. As stated in the Planning and Development Act, the commission can have a maximum of fifteen members. The members must include an independent head (chairperson), the chief executive officer of the planning department. Chief executive officers from other planning agencies are also included on the board of commissioners. Other commission members include representatives of the metropolitan regions and local government and the experts in fields of economic planning and environmental management3.
Power and control by the Western Australian Planning Commission
Hooper et al. recognize that the Residential environment project is one of the planning commission’s ley planning initiatives. The project was designed to examine the impacts of the so-called livable neighborhood planning policies. The policies were introduced by the government of Western Australia to create optimum living conditions in the suburbs. Given that it is a governmental project with the metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas, the Western Australian Planning Commission has a role to play in its execution. Through these projects, the commission is given the power to dictate the population’s living conditions in the region. However, the study does not address critical issues such as the citizens’ participation within the region.
While looking at its actions, the concept of power and control in planning development is often visible when a given commission’s mandates come into play. One of the commission’s key responsibilities is to serve as an advisory to the minister for planning. In this role, the Western Australian Planning Commission is responsible for advising the ministry on strategic urban land use development. Also, they provide an insight into legal reforms and the local development plans. Given the delicacy of land use issues, the commission is given a tremendous responsibility. Tensions from land use and settlement issues, the commission exercises control on land distribution, property, and ownership. Therefore, the commission’s effectiveness in handling the question of land distribution and management remains unanswered.
Horsley recognizes that the government of Western Australia has been able to implement successful development for over 60 years. The main reason for this success is its unique policies and state agreements. The agreements often made concern natural resources, management, and development of infrastructure. Generally, the state agreements used have often been in contracts between the companies and or organizations in the private sector and the state government. With the development of the Western Australian Planning Commission, the state has enhanced private-public sector co-operation. For this reason, the commission has employed critical strategies acceptable to all. Despite the presence of this argument, the evidence to support the participatory approach to development remains insufficient7.
The insufficiency of the evidence stems from the fact that the development projects are often carried out using private companies. As a result, evidence of involving the local communities is minimum. The involvement of private companies often means profit at the expense of the people in the non-metropolitan areas. Nevertheless, there has been significantly evidenced by the commission supporting the aboriginal communities within the region. Thus, improving economic and education standards in the region. While the evidence of supporting locals in the region is available, little is known about these projects’ sustainability through public participation and or consultation.
As part of natural resources in the region, water is an essential set for survival and economic growth. Therefore, it is management, distribution, and sustainable use fall under the jurisdiction of the Western Australian Planning Commission. Despite their effort to manage the resource, studies show low levels of rainfall and the gradual depletion of groundwater in the region. Groundwater in Perth is considered an acritical lifeline of the city. Therefore, its depletion could have severe repercussions on the economy as well as the health of city-dwellers. The continued depletion of water in the metropolitan and suburban regions of Western Australia shows the ineffectiveness of the commission’s strategies to improve living standards. Given their power over resources in the region, their mode of control does not fully favor future survival. This results in the questioning of the role of the commission towards sustainable development in the region8.
As already mentioned, the planning policies often infringe on citizens rights or dwellers in a given region. This infringement often comes as settlement action plans, despite the strategies to improve Western Australia’s housing and settlement. While they exist, the commission still has the authority to change the housing policies and land uses. However, they have not solved the majority of these problems. The reason behind the commission’s inability to solve the problem of housing is yet to be determined.
While the problem still exists, it is essential to recons theta peart has often been a low priority in national development. However, recent developments show that Perth’s growth has sparked a series of interest from different stakeholders. With a remarkable growth in population and employment of strategic development measures, Perth is gradually becoming one of Australia’s leading cities. The majority of these developments have happened at the hands of the Western Australian Planning Commission. Through this development, it is clear that the commission has significant authority in planning and development9.
The recent global pandemic has had server impacts on the economy of different regions in the world. In Western Australia, these impacts have been severely felt, especially in cases where employment and business opportunities are lost. As the region attempts to recover, different reforms have been put in place. For instance, there is a move to minimize bureaucratic procedures hence fast access to services. While this reform is welcomed by different cities such as Perth, Waneero, and Joondalup, there has been an emergence of concerns in the region. Perhaps one of the critical concerns is the consultation and engagement of the locals in the decision making. Further, the threat of small businesses failing due to growing macro enterprises’ focus has created unrest within the population. These reforms’ possible negative impacts speak volumes about the Western Australian Planning Commission’s control and power.
As much as the Western Australian Planning Commission is in charge of the planning and development process, not all developments are approved by the commission. For instance, Newsome et al. recognize the stingray tourism project in Hamelin bay as one of the development projects not supervised by the commission. The project grew in popularity due to its use of the media to gain interest. Given its impacts on the economy of Western Australia, the project went on unopposed and unsupervised. Due to this development, the question of the Western Australian Planning Commission’s effectiveness raises a crucial concern. Perhaps the most crucial concern is on the criteria used by the commission to engage in development projects. Further, the question of human safety by individual beneficial projects was not addressed by the projects10.
Planning authorities are essentially the pinnacle of development in Western Australia. Given the planning and development system employed, Schatz and Piracha recognize that the legislative framework governs Australia’s planning. In essence, the issue of plan formulation, development process, and development assessment is so well contained in the policy framework. As a result, the terms efficiency and streamlining are frequently used for economic development. Like the policies used in New South Wales, the Western Australian Planning Commission is in the habit of demonizing the problem. As such, social barriers are presented as core problems that need to be eliminated.
On the other hand, the reforms and strategies are presented as a solution to the demonized problem. As a result, the planning progress tends to affect human lives by failing to account for the immediate and long-term needs. Where needs are accounted for, only one perspective is accounted for. This is evidence that the Western Australian Planning Commission has possessed excess power hence able to control different social and economic situations. Despite the power, the question of how well or effectively the commission deploys the power is still a mystery.
Reforms, development, and power of the commission
Their role as the Western Australian Planning Commission has often come under scrutiny regarding management and monitoring different projects. This is due to the planning authority’s inability to monitor and supervise the development project in Hamelin back in 2004. The commission’s inability to exercise its legislative right zoned land in 2010 has also raised many questions on its responsibilities, powers, and control. For this reason, a series of reforms have taken place to improve the planning system employed by the commission. Perhaps one of the critical reform entails collaborative work in delivering social and economic growth. The commission seeks to recognize the fact that the community shares social barriers and challenges. As a result, the commission is set to undertake stakeholder analysis and initiate working groups. Further consultation with professionals, local governments, and individuals in the private sector is likely to enhance compatible development. Through this reform, different barriers will be integrated and effectively dealt with by the commission, reducing doubts about its ability to provide sustainable economic development.
The system used by the Western Australian Planning Commission has been critical in enhancing the reputation of Perth on a global stage. Today, Perth is regarded as one of Australia’s vital metropolitan regions, characterized by a robust regional economy and strong communities. However, recently, the planning process has become complex, especially with the demographics’ dynamism and the changing environment. Further, the need to draw the power from different legal documents makes the process challenging, and in some cases, they tend to become non-responsive. Due to this development in the planning process, the commission seeks to improve livability and change its action plan. This reform is directed towards improving the housing situation, importing safety in public spaces, and enhancing the use of infrastructure as well as minimizing the cost of living. This reform in the action plan is likely to settle the issue of water management in the urban and suburban regions of Perth and reduce and or eliminate the challenge of homelessness in the region. Additionally, it is likely to eliminate security concerns in the urban environments of Western Australia12.
Amidst the global pandemic, different sectors of the regional structure have been on the decline. Perhaps the most notable decline has been in economic development. Due to this decline, the Western Australian Planning Commission seeks to create an Eco mimic recovery plan. The commission seeks to implement reforms that will provide rapid economic recovery and sustainable economic growth through the ministry of planning. The commission proposes changes to the planned and development act (2005), State policies, and the planning development regulations of 2015 and 2011. Among these reforms is the need to focus on strategic planning, improving governance of the region, and reducing and or minimizing the bureaucratic procedures in serviced delivery. Further, the development plans need to integrate consultations for different stakeholders and improved levels of transparency. These reforms’ primary objective is to minimize the state’s burden and emphasize the essence of local planning strategies. This is set to improve the region’s economic potential, thereby improving standards of living.
Conclusion
The primary concern in Australia has been the concept of regional planning. In particular, the issue has been the dominant discourse in Western Australia. The main concern of regional development in Western Australia stems from the fact that it is one of the largest states in austral with a significant contribution to Australia’s economy. The region primarily relies on natural resources such as lands and minerals for economic development. As a result, the tension on distribution and uses of land are likely to emerge. In order to manage such tensions, the Western Australia planning commission exists. The planning commission draws its mandates, power, and control from different legislative and regulatory frameworks, e.g., the planning and development act (2005) and the Western Australian Planning Commission act (1985). Given these responsibilities, it is clear that the commission has excess power. This is evident in its ability to affect different aspects of the region—for instance, the choice of projects to supervise and the economy’s support and aspects to develop. Further, the commission tends to shape land uses and planning and development policies through its advisory role to the minister for planning. Despite the power and control, the question arises on the effectiveness of such powers in enhancing the economy’s regional growth and sustainability.
Bibliography
Government of Western Australia. 2019. “Action for Planning Reform: Better planning, better places.” Perth.
Government of Western Australia. 2019. Annual Report. Perth: Western Australian Planning Commission.
—. 2020. Land management complaints in Western Australia. March 6. Accessed November 03, 2020. https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/land-use-planning/land-management-complaints-western-australia.
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