LIGHT Regional Council has finalised its submission on the State Government’s draft Planning and Design Code, claiming the resulting loss of local policy in the name of consistency is disappointing.

The P&D Code is the state’s new single book of planning rules which will replace all individual Development Plans when it comes to assessing development applications across the state.

Phase Three of the draft code, which includes urban council areas and councils with regional towns and cities has been out for public consultation since October and is planned to become operational in September 2020.

In his submission to the State Planning Commission, Light Regional Council chief executive Brian Carr said an opportunity for real, inclusive and contemporary policy change has been missed.

“Should there have been adequate time allocated for the code preparation and real engagement with practitioners living and breathing their Development Plans early and consistently, the code could have provided a robust policy framework which was both contemporary and benefiting of practical local experience,” he said.

He goes on raise concern with the way consultation on the Code has taken place, highlighting that significant oversights were made with the engagement with Light Regional community.

There has also been a lack of opportunity for face-to-face learning for professionals needing to use the code going forward.

“Council considers that the engagement process has lacked local input from council representatives (both Elected Members and officers) and the community; and left the community of Light with limited opportunity for face-to-face engagement and genuine input, making it flawed from a local viewpoint,” he said.

“Council wishes to highlight concern with the lack of face-to-face opportunity for learning.

“…the changes that have and continue to be brought about are generational in nature; and to now consider such a shift with the absence of DPTI facilitated training, particularly relating to elements such as the planning portal, is cause for concern.”

Included with council’s submission was a 29-page table listing more than 50 issues, errors or anomalies it considered within the code.