Mark Parnell, LGA call on Planning Minister Stephan Knoll to reverse open space funding
Planning Minister Stephan Knoll is under pressure to reverse a ruling allowing bureaucrats to “plunder” millions of dollars from an open space fund to pay for delayed planning reforms.
Local
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Planning Minister Stephan Knoll is facing mounting pressure to reverse a ruling allowing bureaucrats to “plunder” millions of dollars from an open space fund to pay for the government’s controversial overhaul of its planning system.
Greens MLC Mark Parnell will on July 22 seek support of crossbench MPs to disallow regulations Mr Knoll brought in without warning last month giving the government the ability to use its planning and development fund to administer the new planning and design code and an ePlanning system.
Developers last week criticised the regulations saying they go against the intent of the fund – financed by developer subdivision levies – to create open space in areas undergoing urban infill and regeneration.
Local Government Association SA president Sam Telfer on Monday weighed in writing to Mr Knoll asking him to justify the variations.
“ … the LGA is deeply concerned that during a time when parks and recreational areas are needed to support community health and wellbeing, the Government appears to be diverting funds which have been provided by those subdividing their land, to fund the operations of a government agency,” he wrote.
EXPLORE OPEN SPACE PROJECTS IN YOUR AREA
He said funding for the planning and design code and new online planning system should come from general revenue.
He also questioned why in the 2018/19 financial year that $5.34 million was used from the fund for “costs associated with the implementation of the state’s planning reform process”.
Budget papers show that in the 2017/18 and 2018/19 financial years the government used up to $10.1 million from the fund explicitly for the planning reforms.
The Protect Our Heritage Alliance SA convener Professor Warren Jones dubbed the variations an act of “breathtaking opportunism” by Mr Knoll to “prop-up his moribund planning process”.
“Here we have a minister, with carriage of a proposed new planning system,
predicated on crowded infill and high rise over-densification, plundering the fund
designed to address the consequences of vanishing green space for more of his
bureaucratic misadventures,” he said.
“The public deserves to know details about the financial management of the code … and a realistic indication of timelines and outcomes, in particular relating to the troubled ePlanning system.”
The Australian Institute of Architects also weighed in saying the use of the fund for the ePlanning system was of “considerable concern”.
“Our experience this year has reinforced the need for well-designed green space and community facilities,” SA branch president Tony Giannone said.
“The decision to redirect funds the for implementation and ongoing delivery of the planning system is contradictory.
“We should maintain the Planning and Development Fund for its intended purpose and build on this legacy to ensure that our reputation for livability continues into the future.”
Mr Knoll in an emailed statement repeated previous defence of the regulations the previous Labor government had “earmarked this fund to help progress the planning reforms and the State Government is following through with this”.
The rollout of the planning and design code and online planning system has been delayed due to concerns over the implementation of the ePlanning system.
The government has said it will be in place for metropolitan Adelaide and larger regional centres later this year, after originally setting a July 31 deadline. It is due to be switched on in smaller towns at the end of the month.
The code will replace all council development plans and allow residents to search an online tool to find out development rules affecting their property.