ACT improves on planning in latest Property Council report card

The latest report card on planning in Canberra shows the ACT is performing third best in Australia across a range of categories, and also shows an increase in performance since the last snapshot in 2011, Minister for the Environment and Sustainable Development, Simon Corbell said today.

"I am very pleased to see an improvement in the way our planning system is working, according to this report card produced by the Property Council of Australia, from 6.2 to 6.5 and look forward to working hard on ways to further improve the planning system in the ACT," Mr Corbell said.

"There is always room for improvement, but overall, this snap-shot of the ACT planning system is a good result and one that is a strong base to continue to build on.

"I acknowledge particularly the commendation of the Property Council on the positive aspects of the report including a ‘track-based' system and high take up of easy to use e-DA lodgements."

Since the beginning of 2012, 100% of development applications have been lodged through the online e-development system.

Mr Corbell said that the ACT Government had recently added precinct codes to the Territory Plan for most suburbs across the ACT.

"Precinct codes will continue to be added and detailed over time, and it is important to point out that given the recent actions to introduce these codes, they may not have been developed in time for the Property Council to consider them when finalising their 2012 report," Mr Corbell said.

"The Planning and Land Authority is working hard on reviewing the existing policies with the Community Facility Zone Code now completed, the Residential Zone Codes well advanced and the Commercial Zone Codes which will be released for public consultation later this year.

"Consultation on the Draft ACT Planning Strategy has been completed and the government is considering a range of views on the best way to create a planning strategy that caters for a growing and vibrant city into the future.

"It is disappointing to see the Canberra Liberals again jump to the few negatives and I call on Mr Seselja to outline his detailed plans for the future of planning in the ACT, after all he has only had nearly four years to do so."