Annual Statement
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Planning Panels Victoria Annual Statement 31 July 2013 Contents Page Foreword to the Minister for Planning ................................................................................. 3 1 About Planning Panels Victoria ................................................................................... 1 1.1 Planning Panels Victoria .......................................................................................... 1 1.2 Staff Update............................................................................................................. 1 1.3 2013 Sessional Member Review ............................................................................. 2 1.4 Chief Panel Member ................................................................................................ 4 1.5 Senior Panel Members ............................................................................................ 5 2 Output and Performance .......................................................................................... 11 2.1 Key Achievements in 2012/13 ............................................................................... 11 2.2 Administration Issues ............................................................................................ 12 3 PPV Internal Activities and Update ........................................................................... 17 3.1 New Member Induction Day ................................................................................. 17 3.2 Chair Training Day ................................................................................................. 18 3.3 Professional Development of Staff and Members ................................................ 18 3.4 Panel Member Interest Groups ............................................................................. 18 3.5 PPV Staff Meetings ................................................................................................ 19 3.6 PPV Regional Visits ................................................................................................ 19 4 Key Projects .............................................................................................................. 21 4.1 Environment Effects Inquiries ............................................................................... 21 4.2 Advisory Committees ............................................................................................ 21 4.3 Other Major Matters ............................................................................................. 24 4.4 Other Matters ........................................................................................................ 27 5 The Year Ahead ......................................................................................................... 29 Appendix A Matters Completed by Planning Panels Victoria 2012/13 Appendix B Current Significant Panels and EES’s Foreword to the Minister for Planning The 2012/13 financial year has been exceptionally good at Planning Panels Victoria. The whole team has continued to provide excellent advice on a wide range of matters with respect to Planning Scheme Amendments, Advisory Committees and Environmental Effect Inquiries. This advice has been undertaken with rigour, timeliness, commitment and without fear or favour. In the second half of 2012, PPV undertook its three year review of sessional members, with a number of members retiring, mainly due to the issue of avoiding the potential for real or perceived conflict of interest by “sitting on both sides of the table”. At the end of year professional development seminar, former Secretary Andrew Tongue acknowledged and thanked the longest standing members, including John Keaney, John Glossop, Robin Saunders, Colin Burns, Megan Carew, Neville Wale, Helen Weston and Craig Czarny. The introduction of Ministerial Direction No 15 relating to timeframes for all aspects of the Amendment process was introduced in October 2012 and has resulted in PPV reviewing and updating its administration procedures. This has added a significant increase in workload for the administration team, but the systems put in place by PPV have enabled a smooth introduction of the new Direction (see Section 2.2(i)). I take this opportunity to particularly acknowledge the outstanding commitment of our administration team – Harry, Sharon, Adrian and Laura. All staff work exceptionally well and the administration team, who have been one position short for just on eight months, have worked really well together to ensure that all administration and financial matters are dealt with in a most timely and committed manner. Recently, a Senior Sessional Member sent an email of thanks to Adrian and Laura which in part said “A quick note to thank you for your support during the recent … Amendment hearing process. I’m not sure that you realise how valuable your efforts are, and how much we appreciate your work. …. Your prompt responses to my frequent requests of assistance made by life so much easier. Adrian, your editing and commitment to get the report out on time was above and beyond the call of duty!” These sentiments are greatly appreciated, and are testament to the work of the whole team. I would like to thank all staff and sessional members for your support to Planning Panels Victoria over the past year and for the contribution made by all. Kathy Mitchell Chief Panel Member Planning Panels Victoria Annual Statement 31 July 2013 1 About Planning Panels Victoria 1.1 Planning Panels Victoria Planning Panels are established under either the Planning and Environment Act 1987 or the Environment Effects Act 1978 and are a means of facilitating public participation in the planning and environment decision making process. They provide a process to independently assess planning scheme changes or development proposals through the consideration of submissions, the conduct of hearings and the preparation of reports. Planning Panels are advisory and make recommendations; with the final decision made by the responsible statutory body or the Minister for Planning. Planning Panels are administered by Planning Panels Victoria (PPV), which is located within the Planning, Building and Heritage Group of the Department of Transport, Planning and Local Infrastructure (DTPLI). DTPLI began operating on 1 July 2013 and comprises parts of the former Departments of Planning and Community Development, and Transport. As at 30 June 2013, PPV comprised the Chief Panel Member, six Senior Panel Members, 73 Sessional Panel Members, a Senior Project Manager/Officer, and five administration and support staff. 1.2 Staff Update In January 2013, PPV farewelled Margaret Baird who completed a 12 month secondment to replace Lester Townsend, who was seconded to assist on the Melbourne Metropolitan Strategy. Lester returned to PPV in January 2013. In May 2012 approval was received to fill the vacant Senior Panel Member position left vacant by Mark Marsden. After advertising and interviewing for the role, a recommendation was made to the Minister for Planning to appoint Con Tsotsoros to the position. Con commenced with PPV on 16 July 2013 and comes with a very strong and diverse background in Planning and Economics. Jessica Cutting was confirmed as ongoing in her role as Senior Project Manager in March 2013. Jessica has been with PPV since April 2010 on a fixed term basis. In November 2012, PPV farewelled Tina Ding who was the Accounts Payable and Administrative Assistant since February 2011. In June 2013, PPV began the process of sourcing an administrative trainee to fill this position for at least the next twelve months. Dylan Cropley was appointed to the role and commenced with PPV in July 2013. Planning Panels Victoria Annual Statement 31 July 2013 Page 1 of 29 The organisational structure for PPV is as follows: Chief Panel Member Kathy Mitchell Assistant Senior Project Finance 3 Senior Director Manager Manager/EA Senior Panel Sessional Harry Mattheas Jessica Cutting Sharon Walker Members Members Trevor McCullough 70 Sessional Cathie McRobert Members Jenny Moles Senior Panels Lester Townsend Senior Project Officer Con Tsotsoros Nick Wimbush Officer Adrian Williams Greta Grivas Business Services Panel Coordinator Officer Laura Agius Dylan Cropley 1.3 2013 Sessional Member Review In August 2012, the Minister for Planning approved a full review of all sessional members to appoint new members for a fixed three year term. PPV began this review in October 2012 and culminated in the appointment of 15 new sessional members in December 2012. As part of the review, 16 sessional members retired from PPV. PPV thanks these members for their contribution and wishes them well for the future. The departing members and the number of years as PPV sessional members are as follows: Departing sessional members John Keaney (24 years) Shane Dwyer (4 years) John Glossop (15 years) Graeme Holdsworth (3 years) Robin Saunders (15 years) Robert Johnson (3 years) Colin Burns (11 years) Jodi Kennedy (3 years) Megan Carew (11 years) Jacqui McLeod (3 years) Neville Wale (11 years) Bob Seiffert (3 years) Helen Weston (11 years) Lorraine Stupak (3 years) Craig Czarny (9 years) Chris McNeill resigned from PPV in May 2013 after 7 years of service to PPV. Planning Panels Victoria Annual Statement 31 July 2013 Page 2 of 29 As of 30 June 2013, the pool of Sessional Members is as follows (with newly appointed members shown in bold): Sessional Members Gordon Anderson Peter Gray Lorina Nervegna Chris Banon Des Grogan Peter