Shire open to Liberals’ idea of planning “flying squads”

THE Surf Coast Shire says it would be open to a state election pitch by the Liberals for a planning “flying squad” to support regional and rural councils, but does not agree with Polwarth Liberal MP Richard Riordan’s assessment that his electorate is suffering a “land squeeze”.

Mr Riordan says the Liberals’ plan will allocate $5 million to establish the flying squad to provide rural and regional councils with the resources and skillsets they need to assess applications faster, and to speed up and simplify the planning approvals process.

“But when that process is finally done, it’s so hard to get these planning applications across the minister’s desk that councils and developers are finding it near impossible to bring new lots to market,” he said.

“By establishing a planning flying squad and reforming the laws, a Liberal Government will make sure proposals don’t drown in green tape, red tape and bureaucratic speak from government departments.”

The Liberals say their proposal will open up 50,000 new lots of land in rural and regional communities.

“Country Victoria is a great place to live and work, but the influx of home buyers and renters has sent house prices soaring, while rental vacancy rates have plummeted,” Mr Riordan said.

“By making it easier to plan and build new homes, it will free up established properties for individuals and families who are looking to rent.”

According to the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions 2021 Local Government Community Satisfaction Survey, which ranks councils on their service delivery out of 100, the Surf Coast Shire scored 51 on its town planning policy (up one point from last year) – below the average Large Rural council score of 55 and the statewide score of 55.

On building and planning permits, the shire scored 48 in 2021 (down one point from last year) – equal to the average Large Rural council score but below the statewide score of 51.

“Surf Coast Shire council performs strongly in statutory planning, and our turnaround times have ranked with Victoria’s top peri-urban councils for the past two years,” the shire’s acting general manager of environment and development Matt Taylor said.

“At the same time, statutory planning is highly complex and resource intensive – particularly in places like Surf Coast where we must seek to balance pressure for population growth with preservation of very high local environmental values.

“Council is constantly reviewing processes and implementing improvements, and we are always interested in engaging with government about extra assistance.

“Council would welcome consideration of a proposal for a new ‘flying squad’ to assist councils with planning resources to address the delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the increasing interest from urban dwellers wishing to move to regional Victoria.”

The Liberals say “towns across Polwarth and Western Victoria are suffering a land squeeze”, with developers and builders “held up by the glacial speed of the state planning authorities”.

Mr Taylor said towns in Polwarth such as Anglesea, Aireys Inlet and Lorne had significant environmental assets such as the coast and Great Otway National Park and were not identified for urban growth in G21 or local policies, but Winchelsea did have capacity for growth and was identified in plans at a regional and local level.

“Council recently approved a new 72-lot residential development in Winchelsea, with others in the pipeline,” he said.