Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate

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Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate
Directorate overview
Formed17 May 2011 (2011-05-17)
Preceding agencies
  • Department of Environment, Climate Change, Energy and Water (DECCEW)
  • ACT Planning and Land Authority (ACTPLA)
Jurisdiction Australian Capital Territory
Headquarters16 Challis Street, Dickson
Ministers responsible
  • Mick Gentleman, Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Minister for Planning and Land Management
  • Shane Rattenbury, Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability
Directorate executive
  • Ben Ponton, Director-General
Child agencies
  • ACT Conservator of Flora and Fauna
  • ACT Heritage Council
  • ACT Parks and Conservation Service (PCS)
Key document
  • Administrative Arrangements 2018 (No. 2) NI2018-523
Website https://www.environment.act.gov.au (Environment)
https://www.planning.act.gov.au/home (Planning)

The Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate (EPSDD) is a directorate of the Australian Capital Territory government. It was formed from the merger of the Department of Environment, Climate Change, Energy and Water (DECCEW) and the ACT Planning and Land Authority (ACTPLA) on 17 May 2011, after Katy Gallagher was elected by the Legislative Assembly as Chief Minister the day before. [1] [2]

Katy Gallagher 6th Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory

Katherine Ruth Gallagher is an Australian politician who has been a Senator for the Australian Capital Territory since the 2019 federal election, representing the Australian Labor Party (ALP). She previously served in the Senate from 2015 to 2018, and was Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory from 2011 to 2014.

Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly Unicameral legislature of the Australian Capital Territory

The Legislative Assembly for the Australian Capital Territory is the unicameral legislature of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). It sits in the Legislative Assembly Building on Civic Square, close to the centre of the city of Canberra.

Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory position

The Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory is the head of government of the Australian Capital Territory. The leader of the party with the largest representation of seats in the unicameral Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly usually takes on the role. Unlike other states and territories, the Chief Minister of the ACT is not nominally appointed by an administrator or viceroy, but elected directly by the Assembly. Since there are no local governments in the territory, the Chief Minister's role is not only roughly equivalent to that of the Premiers of the states of Australia, but also that of the mayor of a local council.

Contents

History

The directorate was formed on 17 May 2011 as the Environment and Sustainable Development Directorate (ESDD), replacing and taking over: [2]

The Transport Canberra and City Services Directorate (TCCS) is a directorate of the Australian Capital Territory government of the Australian Capital Territory, responsible for managing roads, footpaths and cycle paths and managing public transport in Canberra including ACTION buses and the Canberra Light Rail through its Transport Canberra division.

The Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate (CMTEDD) is a directorate of the Australian Capital Territory government, which advises the ACT Chief Minister, currently Andrew Barr.

The directorate was later renamed Environment and Planning Directorate (EPD) before it was finally renamed to its current name in late 2016.

Structure

The directorate is responsible for developing and implementing a wide range of policies and programs across city planning and development, climate change and the environment. As of September 2019, it reports to a number of ministers: [3]

Yvette Berry Australian politician

Yvette Simone Berry is an Australian politician and Deputy Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory. She has been a Labor Party member for the seat of Ginninderra in the ACT Legislative Assembly since the 2012 ACT election. Berry is the daughter of Wayne Berry who was a Member of the ACT Assembly for Ginninderra from 1989 to 2008, Deputy Chief Minister from 1991 to 1994, Opposition Leader from 1997 to 1998 and Speaker from 2001 to 2008. Berry is the first family member of a current or previous member to be elected to the ACT assembly.

Suzanne Orr Australian politician

Suzanne Orr is an Australian politician. She has been a Labor member of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly since October 2016, representing the electorate of Yerrabi. She worked as an urban planner before her election.

Mick Gentleman Australian politician

Michael David Gentleman is an Australian politician and is a member of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly representing the electorate of Brindabella for the Labor Party. He was first elected to the assembly in 2004, but lost his seat in the 2008 election. He was re-elected to the assembly at the 2012 election. In July 2014, Mick Gentleman was elected by the Labor Caucus as the sixth Minister for the ACT and has portfolio responsibilities for Planning, Community Services, Ageing, Children & Young People, Workplace Safety and Industrial Relations.

As of September 2019, the Director-General is Ben Ponton. [3]

Activities

Former ACT Planning and Land Authority

Under the Planning and Development Act 2007, [4] the former ACTPLA was required to:

  • administer the Territory Plan; [5]
  • continually assess the Territory Plan and propose amendments as necessary;
  • plan and regulate the development of land;
  • advise on planning and land policy, including the broad spatial planning framework for the ACT;
  • implement sustainable transport planning;
  • maintain the digital cadastral database;
  • make available land information;
  • grant, administer, vary and end leases on behalf of the Executive;
  • grant licenses over unleased Territory land;
  • decide applications for approval to undertake development;
  • regulate the building industry;
  • make orders under the ACT Land (Planning and Environment) Act 1991, part 6 (approvals and orders); [6]
  • provide planning services, including services to entities outside the ACT;
  • review its own decisions;
  • provide administrative support and facilities for the Planning and Land Council;
  • ensure community consultation and participation in planning decisions; and
  • promote public education and understanding of the planning process, including by providing easily accessible public information and documentation on planning and land use.

The Authority stated that it performed its functions independently, free from day-to-day political influences. However, in practice under the then Minister for Planning, Simon Corbell, the Authority often followed direct instruction from the Minister. [7] [8]

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References

  1. "New Ministerial Arrangements". Chief Minister, Australian Capital Territory. 17 May 2011. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
  2. 1 2 "Environment and Sustainable Development Directorate: Annual Report 2010-11" (PDF). Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 April 2013. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
  3. 1 2 "Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate: Annual Report 2018-19" (PDF). Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  4. "Planning and Development Act 2007". Australasian Legal Information Institute. Archived from the original on 27 March 2007. Retrieved 15 November 2006.
  5. "Territory Plan". ACT Planning and Land Authority. Archived from the original on 4 October 2006. Retrieved 15 November 2006.
  6. "Land (Planning and Environment) Act 1991". Australasian Legal Information Institute. Archived from the original on 19 December 2006. Retrieved 15 November 2006.
  7. "Annual Report 2005-06" (PDF). ACT Planning and Land Authority. Retrieved 15 November 2006.[ dead link ]
  8. "Statement of Planning Intent". ACT Planning and Land Authority. Archived from the original on 17 October 2006. Retrieved 15 November 2006.