The state and federal governments have launched a strategic environmental assessment of the metropolitan area with the aim of providing long-term planning certainty and cutting red tape.
Federal Environment and Communities Minister Tony Burke announced the initiative today, which will identify areas suitable for future development and secure protection for areas with environmental and heritage values.
“Once the Strategic Assessment is complete business will no longer have to go through a year long process to conduct an Environmental Impact Statement,” Mr Burke said.
“The strategic assessment effectively establishes an environmental docking station that developers can plug directly into without having to start the approval process from scratch each time.”
Individual developments will no longer need federal environmental assessment once the plan for the metropolitan region is assessed and endorsed under national environmental law, Mr Burke said.
“This process will reduce red tape, and provide long-term certainty to the community and developers for sustainable urban development and improved housing supply,” he said.
“This is a sensible and flexible approach to urban planning. It’s a logical way of balancing the development needs of a growing city with environmental protection.”
Mr Burke also said the Gillard government had committed $29.2 million to support strategic assessments of seven growth and coastal regions.
