The legislation enabling the creation of Development Assessment Panels (DAPs) in Western Australia came into operation on the 24 March 2011. This formalises the process for establishing DAPs, with the first DAP meeting scheduled to sit from 1 July, 2011.
The creation of DAPs and the associated planning reforms represent the most important changes to WA’s development approvals process in decades. The Property Council of Australia played the leading role in representing the property sector in advocating for the creation of DAPs as the solution to the State’s cumbersome approvals process.
The Minister for Planning, the Hon John Day, and the relevant agencies the WA Planning Commission and the Department of Planning, were very effective in creating a broad-based consensus for the creation of DAPS.
The WA Parliament should also be recognised for its timely support of the enabling legislation for DAPs.
The WA model for DAPs is now the benchmark for legislation covering independent and expert development application approvals processes in Australia.
An overview of how DAPs will operate and the relevant legislation is contained in Planning Bulletin 106/2011 issued today by the WA Planning Commission.
Source: Property Council of Australia, http://www.propertyoz.com.au/Article/NewsDetail.aspx?p=16&id=4217
