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Rural Council Planning Flying Squad. James Mant and Elke Cummins, DPCD. Background.
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Rural Council Planning Flying Squad James Mant and Elke Cummins, DPCD
Background • Election Commitment in September 2010, the Coalition announced that it will fund a flying squad of ... planners to assist local councils in regional Victoria with future planning measures … the Council Planning Flying Squad will assist country based councils to develop long-term land use plans for their municipality and assist with major project developments. • Established in June 2011 • Funding of $2.8M over a three year period until June 2014. Flying Squad has 2 planners and a support staff member. The remaining, approximately $600K pa is available for consultancy services. • MAV survey
What we help with The Flying Squad will: • Assist with advice, discussions and assessments regarding major project development proposals and applications. • Assist Councils with Wind Farm applications. • Provide targeted advice and / or assistance with longer term land use issues and plans for the municipality. • Help to process planning scheme amendments and authorisation requests in peak periods or when council planning officers are not available. • Provide occasional assistance to help process planning permit applications to enable councils to meet 60 day statutory timeframes in peak periods or when council planning officers are not available. • Prepare draft submissions/presentations to VCAT. • Prepare draft submissions/presentations to Planning Panels Victoria.
What we don’t fund • Funded vacancy backfill. • Strategic studies eg. DCPs or Rural Land Use studies. • Consultancy budget top up.
What we have done so far • Flying Squad Status Report March 2013 • Total Number of Projects: 93 • Total Funds Committed or Spent: $980,718 (at 13 March 2013) • Total permits completed or funded: 220 (approx) • Total amendments completed or funded: 73 • Total Flying Squad Ministerial Amendments completed: 12
What we have done so far Total: 73 Total funded: 61 Total completed by Flying Squad team: 12 (Ministerial Amendments)
How to apply? • Council and Flying Squad discuss the need for assistance • Council completes and submits an application form • Application is reviewed by Flying Squad • Agree funding and council to fill out a scope of works to enable quoting • Flying Squad organises a request for quotes process (1 week) in consultation with council • Quotes assessed by DPCD and consultant appointed in agreement with Council • Flying Squad prepare contract • Consultant appointed • Inception meeting held (at council offices) • Typical timeframe 2-3 weeks from initial contact to consultant starting work.
Resources • All forms on can be downloaded on web page • Example application form • Example projects • Contacts • Interactive map http://www.dpcd.vic.gov.au/planning/projects-and-programs/rural-planning-flying-squad