Town & Regional Planning

Determining and drawing up plans for the future physical arrangement and condition of a community.

Town planning can take a variety of forms including strategic plans, comprehensive plans, neighbourhood plans, regulatory and incentive strategies, or historic preservation plans. Strictly speaking however, in Australia, town planning relates to the interpretation of local and state government planning regulations and statutes regarding the development and use of land and real estate. Town planners are professionals who provide statutory and strategic guidance about planning matters.

The municipal council is usually the responsible authority for issuing planning permits and administering the planning scheme and should be contacted for local and property specific planning advice. Metropolitan and regional offices of state and territory planning departments support planning across the State and work in partnership with councils and key stakeholders in a region to deliver State government policies and programs. They assess planning scheme amendments and provide planning advice and guidance.

Under each state’s planning system, local councils and the state government develop planning schemes to control land use and development, and to ensure the protection and conservation of land. Councils make most of the planning decisions that affect their local government area. For example, they decide whether or not to grant a planning permit for a new use or development, and what permit conditions are appropriate. Town planners have a comprehensive knowledge of these permit conditions and use the knowledge to assist their clients.