Not quite a month in office and the new Government, through their Minister for Planning Stephan Knoll, has announced the adoption of the Community Engagement Charter.
This is the Community Engagement Charter developed by the previous State Government. Let us hope the new government follows the intent of the Charter.
Many in the community believe the previous Government, while waiving the big stick at Councils, did not practice what they preached. This may well have contributed to their election loss.
The announcement is as follows:
The Minister for Planning has announced the adoption and release of the Community Engagement Charter for implementation commencing on 27 April 2018.
Community engagement is at the heart of the new planning system that will be introduced over the next 3-4 years. The Community Engagement Charter (the Charter) supports new and innovative ways to talk to communities and other interested parties about planning issues.
The Charter changes the way that local and state governments are required to consult with the community during the preparation of changes to planning strategies and policies (such as rezoning of land).
Rather than legislative one-size-fits-all approach the Charter requires those consulting to tailor the engagement to suit the project and the communities who are interested and may be impacted by the proposed changes.
It recognises that with technological advances there are many options to successfully consult with communities. Local and state governments and other bodies consulting on planning matters will be required to meet the following principles in undertaking engagement.
- Engagement is genuine
- Engagement is inclusive and respectful
- Engagement is fit for purpose
- Engagement is informed and transparent
- Engagement processes are reviewed and improved
The Charter has been informed by a staged consultation starting with the Planning Together Panel and input by a broader stakeholder group. The Discussion Draft of the Charter was then released for six weeks of public consultation. Following that the Draft Charter was released for another six weeks of public consultation before final amendments were made. More information on the consultation process can be found on the SA Planning Portal.
It is recognised that the Charter will need to evolve over time. In its first year, it will primarily be applied to the development of the new State Planning Policies, the Planning and Design Code, and Infrastructure Schemes as required under the new Act.
As the State Planning Commission prepares these documents, it will test the Charter and its application to allow for its ongoing evolution. During this time the Commission welcomes ongoing feedback to assist in monitoring and improving the Charter.
A copy of the Community Engagement Charter can be downloaded from the SA Planning Portal http://www.saplanningportal.sa.gov.au/our_new_system/community_engagement_charter:
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