Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution

Background to the Study

In July 1999, the Royal Commission launched an investigation into whether present arrangements for environmental planning are capable of achieving environmental policy objectives. This will involve looking at the current land use planning system, at other relevant legislation and procedures, and the interactions between them.

The Study of Environmental Planning was conducted in two stages:

Phase-1

In the first phase, the Commission is concentrating on identifying more specific issues for investigation. Interested organisations and individuals were invited to send submit views on some key issues identified by the Commission and to provide examples of practical difficulties, or of good practice, in operating the present arrangements, as well as information on gaps or duplications in present arrangements. In addition to being posted on the Commission's website, a letter inviting the submission of information for phase 1 of the study was sent to around eighty organisations in July 1999. Details of the study were also publicised in a news release.

Over forty written submissions were received. A summary of the main issues raised has been prepared. The Commission has employed consultants to prepare five papers reviewing various aspects of environmental planning.

Both the written submissions and the consultants' reports provided valuable background to the Commission when defining the scope and format of its seminar Joining up Environmental Planning. Held on 3 February 2000, the seminar benefited from the active contributions of around sixty participants, representing environmental and planning organisations and interests from both the public and private sectors. A report of the seminar is now available.

Phase-2

Beginning in spring 2000, in the second phase of the Planning Study written and oral evidence on particular issues identified from the first phase of the study were gathered. Invitations to submit evidence were sent in March/April 2000 to a broad range of organisations and individuals, including those who participated in phase-1, as well as being publicised in a news release. Over eighty written submissions of evidence were received.

Publication of the Report

The Environmental Planning Report was published on 21 March 2002. The key messages of the report, the news release, the full report and the summary report are available.