$1m to cut VCAT wait on planning cases

Council

29 Feb 12 @ 05:00am by Greg Gliddon

THE State Government has put in extra funds to tackle the backlog of planning cases before the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

Planning Minister Matthew Guy said $1 million had been set aside to fast track cases through the tribunal.

The news means contentious planning issues such as the 590 Orrong Rd, Armadale, development and the recent decision to approve a 26-storey development in Yarra St in the Forest Hill precinct of South Yarra could be held earlier, should developers or residents wish to appeal the council’s decision.

Mr Guy said the extra funding would allow about 800 cases to be completed and reduce the waiting list by up to six months.

“This funding will significantly reduce delays in the planning process and ease the burden on the development sector, local councils and the community as a whole,” he said.

As part of the reform moves, Mr Guy said he would establish a working group comprising members of VCAT and departmental officers to review long-term funding options and other possible reforms to VCAT.

In 2010-11 VCAT received 3775 cases, a 13 per cent increase from 2009-10 and in the first six months of 2011-12 there has been a 9 per cent increase in the number of cases.

Comments

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Cameron writes:
Posted on 1 Mar 12 at 12:53pm: Simply throwing money at the problem is not the answer. Reforming and revising the planning legislation is. More clarity and strong enforcement of the rules will stop greedy developers trying to get approvals outside the stated maximums. They have been having a field day for years with these rules and the community is really sick of it.
Micheal writes:
Posted on 1 Mar 12 at 11:41am: The developers should just be put in their place. If council does not approve a development proposal - that's it. No more. No going around it. It used to be like that once and we were all better off for it.
Veronica writes:
Posted on 29 Feb 12 at 02:40pm: Having to go to VCAT is really tough for your average resident. Developers do it for a living. The planning system does need an overhall so it is clear what is acceptable and what is not. While some areas will remain vague, such as views and natural light being blocked, many other aspects should be open and shut. And not in favour of developers. It should also be noted VCAT does not consider infrastructures ability to cope with development, when deciding. Nor do they provide funding for it.
Petro writes:
Posted on 29 Feb 12 at 01:06pm: Andrew is quite right. Why are residents dragged thru VCAT, often at great expense and pitted against cashed up developers when the rules should be clear cut. Carn't this Government even come up with a planning scheme that takes away all the confrontation and division that has dominated planning for the last decade. That was what many expected and now more than a year later we've seen nothing.
Andrew writes:
Posted on 29 Feb 12 at 08:45am: This simply attackes the simptoms not the cause. If the Baillieu Government actually made an effort to fix the planning act to give certainty to all, this developers kangaroo court would be completely unneccessary. They are letting down the community that elected them and causing huge troubles for many. The Planning Minister needs to grwo up and show some real leadership as the relevant Minister.