🙍🏻♂️🙍🏻♀️
I often post about the broken Victorian planning system, but it's ultimately the people who administer it who decide its success. And you might be surprised to hear from me, of all people, that not every experience we have is terrible – and occasionally, quite the opposite.
Yesterday, we received a Notice of Decision to grant a permit for a 127-lot residential subdivision in Wangarrata. The application was lodged in February 2024, but took until now to resolve.
The delay was not due to Rural City of Wangaratta, but rather unexpected complications in finalising our #culturalheritage approvals (CHMP).
In contrast to many Councils we deal with around the country, the planners at Rural City of Wangaratta were a pleasure to deal with. Pragmatic, professional, responsive and timely: • They were prepared to accept and progress the application before finalisation of the CHMP. Many other Councils will flat-out refuse to do so • Internal and external referrals were dealt with expeditiously • RFIs were issued well before the maximum number of statutory days • When we experienced the CHMP delays, planners proactively kept checking in to see how things were going, and did what they could to keep things moving • Objections were dealt with appropriately, including a session with Councillors for all to put their case forward, and with sensible explanations from planning officers about the validity of objections, or how they would be dealt with in the permit • The planning report was finalised for consideration at the very next Council meeting following the CHMP being resolved.
Things moved through the process efficiently, and almost no time was wasted.
🧑🏻⚖️Finally, despite 8 objections being lodged (comprising the usual barrage of unfounded claims), unanimous approval by the Councillors at the meeting took just 3 minutes – no unnecessary pontification, grandstanding or pandering to the locals.
I've seen Councillors debate the size of a verandah for 30+ minutes.
The only real negative is remaining subject to a 28-day Notice of Decision that still allows aggrieved neighbours to appeal to VCAT, irrespective of the merits.
⛓️💥The symptom of a broken system is that you can have an experience like this in one Council, but be caught up in 4+ year exercises for no material benefit within the same State, operating under the same legislation.
🤔Wangaratta has proven it's up for the job. Other council officers and councillors alike should take note.