Inquiry gives thumbs up to DAPs

A WA Parliamentary inquiry into the operation of Development Assessment Panels has made a number of recommendations that further strengthen the role and effectiveness of DAPs.

The Standing Committee on Uniform Legislation and Statutes Review has submitted its report Review of the Planning and Development (Development Assessment Panels) Regulations 2011. The Committee was required to report on the operation and effectiveness of DAPs as decision making bodies for the purposes of determining applications for planning approvals in WA. 

In presenting to the inquiry the Property Council said DAPs have introduced a professional, independent and consistent development assessment process across all of WA’s local government areas. 

Importantly, the Committee recognised the property industry’s key issue: that the outdated nature of some local planning schemes; their inconsistency with state planning policies and strategic planning frameworks and the inconsistencies of local planning requirements across local governments have contributed to the types of determinations being made by development assessment panels and that there is no penalty imposed in local governments if they fail to review their local planning scheme. 

The inquiry also ruled out introducing third-party appeals to planning decisions. The Property Council is preparing a response to the report and the Government has two months to respond to the Report’s recommendations.