The influx of stimulus funding for national building projects has given a jump start to plans to streamline Development Applications across Australia, but the process is still moving extremely slowly, according to international property and development consultants Davis Langdon.

Davis Langdon Principal for Urban Planning, Maureen Jackson, said the process of private certification in planning in Australia had been under consideration for 12 years and to date only three of the eight states or territories had introduced any legislation to fast-track applications.

“Following a meeting of key stakeholders in 1998, the Development Assessment Forum  was formed to streamline the processes used for development approvals, in particular, encouragement of private sector involvement in the development assessment process,” said Ms Jackson.

“This is seen to have the potential to improve the quality of applications, speed up the decision making process and reduce the pressure on council planners".

“Overall we are moving very slowly in terms of certification in planning but the current example of certification at a higher level has now been undertaken in the nation building projects, and there are prospects that the streamlining process will move forward more quickly".

"Currently SA, Tas, WA, NT and the ACT do not have legislation allowing private certification of planning applications".

“However WA is reviewing its Planning Act with a proposal to adopt a ‘risk-based’ approach to development assessment – similar to what is currently proposed in Vic – whereby low risk development applications are streamlined and approval timeframes reduced.”

Ms Jackson said that overall QLD is in front of the other states in terms of the planning process and the role of the private certifier.

“This is because they have recognised that in critical parts of the process, the emphasis should be put on the applicant to ensure procedures are undertaken".

“This is exemplified in the process of gaining comments from referral authorities so that the onus is on the applicant to consult and facilitate written advice to the local authority.

“Victoria is undergoing a review of its Planning Act which will introduce a new process to assess permit applications but there are currently no plans to implement private certification of planning applications.

"The Victorian ‘code assess track’ will be assessed against specified technical criteria with no requirements for public notice or review of the decision, with a reduced statutory time period of 14 days.

"The ‘merit assess track’ will be used when applications do not fall within the ‘code assess track’ and will follow the current permit application and review process.

"At present, private building surveyors in Victoria can certify compliance with the building code for specified classes of development."

Ms Jackson said there had been changes in NSW, but planning was still uncertified and complex.

"The introduction of a 'fast track' approval process under new State Environmental Planning Policies allows for more exempt and complying development projects," she said.

"Private building certifiers are then able to issue complying development certificates based on an assessment against the acceptable solutions of the relevant planning scheme."

Ms Jackson said a major step forward had been the process used in Victoria for nation building housing projects.

"This involved the certification process by which planning consultants were registered by the Department of Human Services to certify that proposals complied with State and local government policies and regulations," she said.

"These applications were assessed and approved by the Department of Planning and Community Development.

"There are some important lessons learnt from this model that could be put to good use in the future, and a more detailed review of the process should be undertaken to see how it could be applied elsewhere in Australia."

For further information, contact Meaghan Jones on +61 3 9933 8800 or email mjones2@davislangdon.com.au