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Media Release - Minister's Office Sydney: 12 August 2009 CREATING AUSTRALIA'S BEST PLANNING SYSTEM: COUNCILS GET FINANCIAL AND RESOURCE SUPPORT FROM NSW GOVERNMENT NSW Councils receive an additional $1.4 million and support from the NSW Government to complete important planning work.
NSW Planning Minister, Kristina Keneally, today announced 26 councils would share in $1.4 million from the Planning Reform Fund and 67 Councils would benefit from increased support to finalise their comprehensive Local Environment Plans.
Ms Keneally said the 26 councils would receive funding for 24 separate strategic planning projects in the sixth round of the NSW Government’s Planning Reform Fund.
“These funds will greatly assist council’s to progress their Local Environment Plans, complete strategic studies and implement the Metropolitan and Regional Strategies for their area,” Ms Keneally said.
“Councils know their local area better than most which is why the NSW Government is providing additional funding and support to help them complete these important planning projects.
“This is another significant step in creating Australia’s Best Planning System, where decisions are made at there most appropriate level and deliver certainty to local businesses and community.
“These important planning projects will provide the capacity for New South Wales to take on much-needed job creating investment once complete.
“Proper and effective land use planning is vital to ensuring an economically viable and sustainable future for each of the State’s 152 Local Government Areas.”
Ms Keneally said these funds would also assist councils implement particular work that facilitates significant:
• Greenfield residential or employment land release; • Employment proposals; • Affordable housing opportunities, particularly in a high growth location; or • Urban renewal proposal, particularly in a high growth location.
“The Government, through the Department of Planning has been and will continue to work with councils in both metropolitan and regional areas to streamline the delivery of these projects,” Ms Keneally said.
“This latest financial allocation from the Planning Reform Fund brings the total amount delivered to councils to $23 million since 2003.
“And two councils, Cootamundra Shire Council and Mosman Council, have received funding for the first time under the Fund in this latest round.”
A full list of funded projects is attached.
As well as the allocation of funds to 26 councils 67 councils will receive increased support to fast track the completion of their comprehensive Local Environment Plans.
Ms Keneally said the Government had recently conducted a survey of councils regarding the prioritisation of their comprehensive Plans.
“In April this year the Minister for Local Government, Barbara Perry and I wrote to all councils asking about the status of their comprehensive Local Environment Plans,” Ms Keneally said.
“The responses received have allowed the Government to supply additional support to 67 councils whose plans are well advanced, economically important and in high growth areas.
“This is a major planning initiative being undertaken in partnership between the State Government and every council in NSW. It is also another step in creating Australia’s Best Planning System.”
Ms Keneally said the Government is working hard to complete these 67 councils comprehensive Local Environmental Plans (LEP) by 2011, with all other LEPs to be completed as soon as possible.
“Clearly this is a job that won’t happen overnight which is why the Government is focusing a number of important planning resources and energies more specifically,” Ms Keneally said.
“I want to highlight that councils not on the priority list will continue to receive support and advice from the Government through the Department of Planning as they progress their Plans.
“In fact, thanks to additional funding allocated to the Department of Planning in the recent 2009-10 State Budget the preparation of these non-prioritised plans will be able to continue as before.”
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