National Office
Unit 16
Level 3
Engineering House
11 National Circuit
BARTON ACT 2600
PO Box 5427 Kingston ACT 2604
8 August 2014
A.B.N. 34 151 601 937
Northern Australia Taskforce
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
PO Box 6500
CANBERRA ACT 2600
Leading effective planning
for people and places
Dear Sir/Madam
GREEN PAPER ON DEVELOPING NORTHERN AUSTRALIA
The Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) welcomes the opportunity to make a submission
on the Green Paper on Developing Northern Australia. PIA is the peak professional body
representing 5,000 urban and regional planners across Australia and overseas, who work
to create more productive, sustainable and liveable communities.
PIA supports the development of integrated and responsive policy and strategies that
contributes to and develops a more prosperous Australia.
It is essential that future development is founded on an appreciation of the inherent values
of place and country, informed by the best available evidence based research and guided
by mature, engaging and reflective governance.
Fundamental to the deliberations is a clear understanding of our natural, cultural, social
and economic assets and key industries, an eye for innovation to grow new strategic
opportunities and the resolve to address existing inequities and constraints.
The PIA contends that planning for the future is critical to Australia’s productivity and
liveability. Our cities and regions are a vital part of Australia’s economy, and are essential
to our success as a nation. We refer you to the PIA statement on “What is good planning”
which sets out comprehensively the important of planning (refer Appendix A).
To strengthen and develop the role of Northern Australia will require significant
coordination, commitment and collaboration across government, industry and the
community. In this regard, PIA suggests a framework that sees the Federal, Queensland,
Enquiries: PIA
Telephone: (02) 6262 5933
Facsimile: (02) 6262 9970
Email: info@planning.org.au
Web: www.planning.org.au
Western Australian, Northern Territory Governments and relevant Local Governments
come together to better understand and use urban and regional planning practice to
improve development outcomes, coordinate infrastructure, manage resources, protect the
environment, improve quality of life, and enhance productivity needs to be established.
Without this clear leadership, direction and vision the future of Northern Australia will not
be supported by a true and effective governance framework that will provide the necessary
platform to deliver policy that drives real action and change.
PIA has adopted a set of Planning Systems Principles to guide the planning activities of
the planning profession, which address the purpose of planning: Improve urban form, legibility and coherence to balance and achieve social, economic
and environmental outcomes.
 Foster efficient and effective settlement patterns to promote prosperity, equitable
distribution of resources and opportunities.
 Predict, avoid and ameliorate the adverse economic, social and environmental
consequences of human activities, promote intergenerational equity, prudent use of
non-renewable resources, the sustainable use of renewable resources, and the
precautionary principle.
 Reflect our distinctive national character and nurture vibrant communities and
contribute to our knowledge of ourselves and our built and natural environments.
The adoption of a consistent set of Planning System Principles across each jurisdiction
(refer Appendix B) would facilitate a more cohesive approach to the development of
Northern Australia.
The importance of liveable regional cities as growth and service centres is recognised
within the Green Paper, and it is pleasing to see the importance of planning recognised so
liveability is not compromised by rapid growth, particularly transport infrastructure. This
however, will require a level of master-planning and inter-government collaboration that
should not be taken for granted, and will require specific funding and access to
professional services that are not always readily available in regional centres. Effective
engagement with relevant professional bodies (such as the Planning Institute of Australia)
could assist timely, affordable and complimentary inter-regional service provision. In
addition, liaison between these bodies, government, and regional tertiary institutions could
assist in meeting forward demand, whilst developing the professional networks conducive
to long-term regional careers and improving inter-regional knowledge and experience
sharing.
Fly-in/fly-out workforce impacts are recognised as the subject of extensive community
discussion (and research), but occurs for sound economic reasons that will not change
through government policy, but could (in some areas) through an increasing and skilled
regional population with local community aspirations and values supported by policy and
regulatory settings.
Other key issues that will need to be addressed include:
 Housing quality and availability;
 Key worker accommodation;
 Aged care housing;
 Tourist accommodation;
 Access to health services;
 Retention of population due to lack of services and amenity.
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These issues will need to be addressed in order to retain families, attract new population
growth and support growth and investment in the key centres.
Also, community aspirations need to include all demographics: the families that are
attracted to the lifestyle, challenges and adventure in the north will also need to be
throughout their life. Otherwise, the north could become a place for the fit and able, and
those who can’t afford to leave.
The contemporary boom in mining and energy developments is creating much-needed
infrastructure, but government should ensure this infrastructure is robust, capable of
servicing additional industry and community uses, and accommodate and compliment
future development. This is particularly true for transport infrastructure, as the north is
currently particularly dependent on road freight, and any improvement and alignment of
alternative rail and sea options is generally beyond the capacity of individual regions and
industries.
The impact of high insurance premiums on residents and industry is recognised, as is the
impact of cyclones as a causal factor. However, recent cyclones clearly demonstrate that
current (mandatory) building codes are more than adequate, whilst better weather
forecasting ensures residents have sufficient time to prepare for cyclone events. Northern
communities can therefore be more confident of surviving cyclones than southern
communities faced with bushfire or floods, but this has not prevented unaffordable
escalation of insurance premiums. The low number of northern residents and resultant
reduced business competition could be a factor. Whilst government should not be
expected to subsidise cover, insurance affordability in the north does need to be
addressed as a priority.
The impact of high insurance premiums on residents and industry is recognised, as is the
impact of severe weather events (such as cyclones) as a causal factor. Nationally, recent
severe weather events clearly demonstrate that current (mandatory) building codes are
more than adequate, whilst better weather forecasting ensures residents have sufficient
time to prepare for events. Northern communities can therefore be more confident of
surviving severe weather events, but this has not prevented unaffordable escalation of
insurance premiums. The low number of northern residents and resultant reduced
business competition could be a factor. Whilst government should not be expected to
subsidise cover, insurance affordability in the north does need to be addressed as a
priority.
A one-stop-shop for environmental approvals is proposed, with federal accreditation of
state environmental processes. The paper also specifically mentions issues of
governance, particularly the difficulties some communities face in developing and
maintaining the human, financial and institutional capacity to provide services and support
economic developments. However, the paper fails to connect these issues with the
services currently being provided by regional NRM bodies throughout northern Australia,
and particularly the productive relationships that have been established between these
bodies and agricultural industries.
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A significant concern of many Australians is that northern development will repeat the
environmental damage popularly associated with past attempts, which lends weight to
adoption of the precautionary principle and imposition of limits on development. NRM
bodies demonstrated success in working with agricultural industry bodies to improve
awareness and adoption of better farm management practices provides real-world
assurance against repeating past mistakes.
Northern Australia is also home to a significant proportion of Australia’s indigenous
population, with strong ties to land and a range of issues regarding land tenure. The rights
of indigenous peoples in relation to land needs to be more carefully considered, with the
development of Northern Australia presenting both enormous opportunities and challenges
to the wellbeing of the indigenous population and culture. We draw your attention to the
CSIRO paper Land Tenure in Northern Australia: Opportunities and challenges for
investment.
Again, we thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Green Paper. PIA has active
executive committees within Queensland, Western Australia and Northern Territory and
our elected members would be willing to collectively provide any ongoing support, direction
and input that the taskforce may require. Please do not hesitate to contact PIA Executive
Officer (WA) Emma de Jager xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Yours faithfully,
Signature removed
Dyan Currie MPIA CPP
National President
Appendix A - What is good planning position statement refer to
http://www.planning.org.au/policy/what-is-good-planning-0913
Appendix B - Planning System Principles position statement refer to
http://www.planning.org.au/policy/planning-systems-principles-0713
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