COVID-19 OPEN LETTER TO THE PLANNING INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA (PIA)
26 March 2020
Mr Gareth Hately
MPIA
Planning Institute of Australia (Victoria)
Level 3, 124 Exhibition Street
Melbourne VIC 3000
Dear Planning Institute of Australia,
OPEN LETTER TO PIA
Plans in Motion was established in 2014. We are urban planners specialising in urban planning, land use and property development. We advise on town planning, project management of land development and the use of property. We write policy and advise on strategic planning, we advocate at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) and support local councils with their workload.
Importantly, we, like most others in our industry, are work-generators for a large number of allied consultants (architects, designers, traffic engineers, arborists, landscape architects, builders, tradespeople, archeologists, etc.) with whom we work regularly.
We would firstly
like to acknowledge that throughout these uncertain times (the COVID-19
crisis), as a community, our primary focus should continue to prioritise the
health and safety of all Australians.
We would also like to commend many within our industry who, like us, have not
waited for a government mandate and have taken swift and effective action to
update work policies and procedures to limit face-to-face contact by working
remotely, efficiently and legally, while supporting one another.
PLANNING INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA CALL TO ACTION
We write this letter because we form part of the 45 per cent of Victoria’s taxation revenue base, who deliver essential infrastructure to communities. We believe that State and Local government must continue to operate and that the development sector, in particular planning, must remain defined as an essential service and be supported to continue to operate within the evolving health and safety regulations.
We are passionate about maintaining the employment of thousands of Victorians who work in the planning, building, construction and development industry.
Planning will have a vital and essential role within the building and construction industry in lifting the economy out of this crisis. We, as planners, can do this safely, legally and remotely.
We are all experiencing the effects of the COVID-19 crisis and are doing our best to adapt and persevere as quickly as possible. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) are perhaps among the hardest hit by these unprecedented changes in our economy. We are nevertheless well placed to be adaptable and flexible in our working methods.
We pen this open letter as a call to action to the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA), and more particularly PIA Victoria, to step-up and advocate for the interest of its members and the diverse businesses which operate within the planning industry in the face of COVID-19.
Now, more than ever, we need the Institute to provide national and international leadership and advocate in the interest the planning industry.
We commend the Urban Development Institute of Australia’s (UDIA) Chief Executive, Danni Hunter, for swiftly advocating on behalf of the development industry in proposing UDIA Victoria’s COVID-19 action plan, which has outlined proposed measures at state and federal level to keep the development industry on track. We are appealing to PIA to advocate more specifically for the planning industry and prepare a similar response targeted at protecting small to medium-sized businesses in the built environment and local government.
The planning industry and local government should be considered an essential service as our expertise is vital in the building, construction and development industry’s bid to keep the economy moving.
Particular areas in planning and development advocacy we are calling for are:
- Local and state governments to remain open for business and adapt to work from home in order to facilitate social distancing.
- We would like to see the state government bodies continue to operate and innovate to remote decision making including the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP), the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT), the Municipal Association Victoria (MAV), Planning Panels Victoria (PPV), etc.
- PIA and MAV should coordinate and collaborate at this time, advising the Planning Minister and the Government on the best way that decision making can continue to deliver effective outcomes remotely.
- We ask that requests for tenders continue to be posted, tenders continue to be awarded and existing tenders are allowed and encouraged to continue.
- Metropolitan Planning Levy (MPL) certificate fees are reduced by 50% or waived to encourage development and stimulate the economy.
- Reduced, standardised planning fees to encourage development and stimulate the economy.
- Fast track planning approvals across all classes of development.
- Roll out a rapid decision-making alternative to VCAT to adjudicate matters between government and the private sector. This must include all levels of the private sector, specifically SMEs.
- Implement stimulus package to attract investment by first home buyers and new home buyers, as well as tax concessions for Victorian property developers.
These measures would go a long way in supporting all jobs and all businesses in the planning industry, and in turn the broader building, construction, and development industry.
Reduced fees and opening access to the planning system would be an incentive for all businesses to continue to pursue development, despite the adverse conditions we are all currently facing. In the words of Danni Hunter: “now is the time to prioritise efficiency and productivity.”
It is important to recognise the role that planning plays in the development process and in keeping the building, construction and development industry moving through this crisis and helping to kickstart the economy down the track once the immediate threat and economic impacts of COVID-19 has passed.
The planning and development sector employs hundreds of thousands of workers, many of whom are from small and medium sized businesses. The Planning Institute of Australia represents approximately 5300 members nationally and internationally, who look to the Institute for strong leadership and advocacy, and to be their trusted voice on planning.
As members we expect action from PIA in the face of the events taking place. We would like to see PIA be our trusted voice and take a look to the exemplary leadership efforts of UDIA and VPELA in advocating for the interests, rights and wellbeing of their members and professionals practicing in planning across the country.
Early action is needed to ensure our industry gets through the challenges that it is facing. We must be leaders in recovery and use our assets to assist where we can.
We understand the situation is evolving day-by-day and hope to work with PIA to support the industry in the coming months.
Kind Regards,
Plans in Motion