Leading Practice Model for Development Assessment

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Leading Practice Model for Development Assessment

• Local Government Managers Australia National
  Congress 2nd May 2007

Daniel Owen General Manager Local Government and
Natural Disaster Relief Australian Government
Department of Transport and Regional Services
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• Introduction
• Development Assessment Reform
• Leading Practice Model
• Current Work Programme
• The Way Forward

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• Harmonising and improving Australia's
  development assessment system is a long term
  focus for both the development industry and
  government. Reduced compliance burdens and more
  flexible regulatory systems will improve business
  efficiency, stimulate growth and help business
  generate employment.

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• Recommendation 29 of the Commonwealths 1996
  Time for Business report proposed that the three
  levels of government develop a reform strategy
  for referral and concurrence procedures in the
  building and development industry.

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Development Assessment Forum

• Development Assessment Forum (DAF) formed in 1998
  to reach agreement on ways to streamline the
  processes used for development approval and cut
  red tape - without sacrificing the quality of the
  decision making.

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(No Transcript)
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DAF Members

• Includes the three spheres of government, the
  development industry and related professional
  associations.
• Commonwealth representative
• State/Territory Governments
• Local Government
• Australian Local Government Association
• Local Government Managers Australia
• Engineers Institution of Australia
• Planning Institute Australia
• Royal Australian Institute of Architects
• Australian Council of Building Design Professions
• Building Designers Association of Australia
• Housing Industry Association
• Master Builders Association
• Property Council of Australia
• Urban Development Institute of Australia

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The ten leading practices

• Effective policy development
• Objective rules and tests
• Built-in improvement mechanisms
• Track-based assessment
• A single point of assessment
• Notification
• Private sector involvement
• Professional determination for most applications
• Applicant appeals
• Third-party appeals

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The six development assessment tracks

• Exempt
• Prohibited
• Self assess
• Code assess
• Merit assess
• Impact assess

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DAF's current projects include

• The promotion of the DAF leading practice model
  for development assessment (DA)
• The development of guidelines for effective
  policy development
• The development and implementation of a national
  electronic data exchange standard for DA
• Developing performance standards and benchmarking
  for planning and development systems.

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• Electronic Development Assessment (eDA)

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• Comparative Performance Measuring and
  Benchmarking Program

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COAG Meeting 13 April 2007

• COAG noted the continuing significance of the
  current DAF work program as part of the National
  Reform Agenda.

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The Way Forward

• DAF is continuing its work on the leading
  practice model to make the model even more
  effective and will continue to be the source of
  innovative ideas and best practice for
  development assessment in Australia.
• This will guide the Forums continuing work
  program on initiatives to streamline development
  approval processes and cut red tape without
  sacrificing the quality of decision making.

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• For more information on DAF and its activities,
  visit the DAF website at
• www.daf.gov.au
• or call the DAF Secretariat at the Department
  of Transport and Regional Services 02 6274 6070.