Planning frustrations leads to new watchdog group

Frustrated by ongoing shortcomings of the Baw Baw Shire planning department, a Warragul man has called on the State Government and local government inspectorate to take action.

Ian Honey has asked the inspectorate to investigate why planning applications cannot be handled in a “can do manner.”

Mr Honey said the Baw Baw Shire Ratepayers and Citizens Association also was aware of “very frustrated and disillusioned planning applicants.”

“We all feel powerless to improve the situation.  We need a skilled leadership to get us out of the quagmire,” Mr Honey told the inspectorate.

He also wrote to Local Government Minister Shaun Leane, requesting he provide five senior planners from state government sources, to spend six months at Baw Baw.

Mr Honey said the shire was now a peri-urban area of Melbourne with significant subdivision and residential growth.

While acknowledging this was putting pressure on staff resources, he said there was no continuity of service in planning.

In his letter to the inspectorate, Mr Honey cited his own “unhappy experiences” and frustrations in dealing with planning staff, complaining that communication was one of the biggest failures.

“It doesn’t matter whether the applicant is someone applying for a shed permit or a developer who is applying for a permit for a multi-lot subdivision, the feeling is the same,” he said.

A new community-based group was recently established to act as a watchdog over shire planning decisions.

Auspiced by the ratepayers’ association, the alliance has already called on council to commit more resources to its planning department.

BBSRCA secretary Kerry Elliott said disillusioned ratepayers often contacted the group, frustrated by the lack of communication and delays with their planning applications.

She said the group had regularly raised concerns, most recently during the budget submissions process when they sought more resources to address the community’s lack of confidence in planning processes.

Ms Elliott said the planning alliance had called for more resources to help urgent planning matters to be addressed in a timely manner; other planning matters to be considered within a more appropriate timeframe; and completion of important ongoing projects.

BBSRCA president Robert Sinnett said since 2018, there had been three planning directors.

“This turnover of most senior staff further impacts the capacity and work output of remaining staff.  Staff morale would also be impacted as well as the confidence and support provided to residents of this shire. 

“The assurances, the confidence in anticipated appointments, the reviews both internal and now external, have had minimal impact and the level of work performance is of concern.

“There continues to be a backlog of challenges for the planning department,” he said.

Dr Sinnett said the group was concerned planning director James Reid’s recent resignation would compound the shire’s planning woes.

“The recruitment of a director willing to assume the challenge, understand the region, access the local knowledge within the community and also listen and respond to the community, is critical,” he said.