Mayor Kelly said claims that such a system would streamline approvals, create a single point of contact and remove duplication were not applicable to the City of Wanneroo.
“The proposal for mandatory development assessment panels to be introduced, without any regard to the performance, capabilities and track record of each local government, is ridiculous,” he said.
The discussion paper proposes that a broad range of development proposals would need to be referred to a joint Development Assessment Panel for a decision. The panel covering the City of Wanneroo would also serve the cities of Joondalup and Stirling and the Town of Vincent, and would be made up of five members, including three experts and two Councillors.
“Together, these four local governments cover some 900 square kilometres and are home to more than half a million people. How can one panel of five be a substitute for good local governance and be representative of all these communities?” he said.
“In the past 12 months, the City received about 1,100 development applications, of which around 83 per cent were determined at officer level, under delegated authority from Council.
“The total value of development approvals granted under delegated authority during this period exceeds $495 million, with an average monthly approval value of more than $41 million and an average monthly ‘turn-around’ time of 29 days.“
Mayor Kelly said that on average, in the past 12 months, the City has received two to three development applications per month, of the type that would need to be determined by a Development Assessment Panel.
“The majority of these applications have been determined under delegated authority from Council, in line with the City’s planning scheme and adopted Council policy,” he said.
“It is unlikely that referring these matters to a panel for determination would have achieved any different outcome nor resulted in any efficiencies. The panels should only be established where the type of development is of such significance as to truly warrant this approach, or where the existing approvals process or decision-making body is underperforming.
“If panels were introduced on this qualitative basis, I am confident the City would continue to make its own decisions without the need for referral to a panel.”
Mayor Kelly said he also disagreed with the discussion paper’s argument that the panels are necessary, because local governments generally do not have the resources, staff and expertise to deal with “highly complex” development applications, or are too small with low numbers of applications being subject to “overly administrative” decision-making processes.
“This is undoubtedly true in some instances, however the City covers more than 680 square kilometres, is the second-fastest growing local government in Australia and the fastest growing in the State, and employs a large multi-disciplinary team of competent, qualified and experienced staff to efficiently process development applications,” he said.
Council will consider a detailed report on this matter from Administration, at its meeting on 13 October 2009.