ALL spheres of government must revolutionise its planning systems, according to new research from the Residential Development Council (RDC) and the Property Council of Australia (Property Council).
The RDC/Property Council Development Assessment Report Card 2012 said that despite recent reforms, Australia is still not delivering efficient, fair and consistent planning and development assessment systems.
AUSTRALIA'S first Urban Policy Forum last week held its inaugural meeting in Canberra, bringing together a former Deputy Prime Minister and a recently retired Premier with experts from across government, industry and academia.
Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese said the gathering of individuals with extensive experience and expertise in all facets of urban policy marks the beginning of the next stage in the Federal Government's efforts to make cities and large regional centres more productive, sustainable and liveable.
A NEW transport taskforce that aims to develop a plan for Australia's future based on better planning, better land use management and better transport systems was welcomed by Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese at the Bus Industry Confederation Annual Dinner in Canberra last week.
Members of the Moving People 2030 Taskforce include the Australian Local Government Association, the Australian Logistics Council, Australasian Railway Association, Bus Industry Confederation, Cycling Promotion Fund, National Heart Foundation, International Public Transport Association and the Planning Institute of Australia.
A NEW research report investigating traffic growth in Australia's states and capital cities has been released by the Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics.
The report, Traffic Growth in Australia, describes an overview of the different patterns of traffic growth and their determinants.
PROPERTY industry group Urban Taskforce last week said the draft National Airports Safeguarding Framework currently open to public comments is "a recipe for planning chaos" that could threaten 134,300 new dwellings valued at $33.5 billion.
The draft Framework, also released last week, is being developed to improve community amenity by minimising aircraft noise-sensitive developments near airports and improve safety outcomes by ensuring aviation requirements are recognised in land use planning decisions.
NEW homes worth hundreds of millions of dollars are being approved in Australia's coastal zones under local government planning controls that haven't been updated to account for climate change impacts, according to a report released last week.
The report, titled Planning for climate change adaptation in Coastal Australia: State of practice, was commissioned by the National Sea Change Taskforce and undertaken by a research team at The University of Sydney.
HOUSING and property industry groups have welcomed the appointment of Brendan O'Connor as Minister for Housing and Homelessness and applauded the Federal Government for retaining the role of Housing Minister as a Cabinet position.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced the changes to the Cabinet and Ministry last Friday, saying she had "put together a team that will best equip my Government to pursue our priorities for the nation."
THE number of dwellings approved rose 0.9 per cent in January 2012, in seasonally adjusted terms, following a revised fall of 0.8 per cent in December, according to the latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
Dwelling approvals increased for the month of January in New South Wales (37.6 per cent) and South Australia (6.9 per cent) but fell in Queensland (-22.1 per cent), Tasmania (-3.0 per cent), Victoria (-2.7 per cent) and Western Australia (-0.4 per cent), in seasonally adjusted terms.
FEDERAL Minister for Regional Australia Simon Crean last week launched the Regional Australia Institute (RAI), a new, independent institute devoted to regional growth and development.
Mr Crean said the Regional Australia Institute will help regions recognise their strengths and diversify their economic base through rigorous scientific research and debate.
A NEW infrastructure sustainability rating scheme, developed and administered by the Australian Green Infrastructure Council (AGIC), was launched last week by Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese.
According to AGIC Chairman, David Singleton, the Infrastructure Sustainability rating scheme (IS rating scheme) is designed to drive innovation, contribute to risk reduction and validate industry achievements through independent certification.
RESPONDING to media reports claiming that planning flaws promote obesity, the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) said recent planning efforts demonstrate that modern planning is creating healthier places to live.
According to PIA, planning practice across Australia over the past decade and recent moves by the Federal Government to better implement urban policy show that the planning sector can contribute towards creating healthier communities.
THE number of dwellings approved fell 1.0 per cent in December 2011, in seasonally adjusted terms, following an upwardly revised rise of 10.1 per cent in November, according to the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
Dwelling approvals decreased for the month of December in Victoria (-16.7 per cent), South Australia (-9.1 per cent) and New South Wales (-5.0 per cent), but rose in Queensland (24.6 per cent), Tasmania (15.6 per cent) and Western Australia (6.0 per cent) in seasonally adjusted terms.
AUSTRALIA'S principal planning body, the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA), has begun a long-term program to better prepare remote area planners for natural disasters.
Former airport redevelopment manager, Megan Dugdale, has been appointed by PIA as Project Coordinator to set up and manage the initiative 'Supporting Post Disaster Planning in Flood Affected Areas'.
