UTS HELPING SHAPE THE FUTURE OF NSW COMMUNITIES

The Centre for Local Government at the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS:CLG) has entered into a research partnership with the NSW Department of Planning & Infrastructure (the Department) to assist with the design and implementation of  the Department’s engagement strategy for A New Planning System for NSW White Paper.

In partnering with UTS:CLG, the Department has recognised the expert knowledge and specialist skills of the academic sector and UTS in particular to develop best practice and innovative approaches to stakeholder engagement.

Associate Professor Roberta Ryan, the new UTS:CLG Director, is leading the project for the Centre and is one of Australia’s leading social researchers and public policy practitioners.

“It is a great privilege for the University and UTS:CLG to be in partnership with the Department on significant reforms that place local government and community participation at their centre,” said Professor Ryan,

“This is an excellent opportunity to bring the capacity and skills of UTS across a range of disciplines to support and work closely with stakeholders throughout this very significant change to how planning is undertaken in NSW.”

In conjunction with key UTS:CLG staff, Associate Professor Ryan brings a wealth of experience in designing and delivering complex engagement processes that assist stakeholders and government to work together in shaping significant reform packages.

An ambitious program of activities across five engagement strands is being delivered concurrently across NSW to assist all stakeholders work with the Department and provide informed feedback on aspects of the White Paper. The engagement activities include online feedback channels, community forums, independent stakeholder working groups, tailored engagement with the local government sector, a broad based community survey, and an innovative community deliberative panel process.

The longer term aims of the project are to enhance the Department’s capacity to design and implement best practice approaches to community participation. Community participation is a centrepiece of the new planning system, with the Community Participation Charter outlined in the White Paper being a key element of the draft planning legislation.

The engagement process designed by UTS:CLG follows current leading practice engagement principles and provides a potential model for local government to engage with their communities in implementing the reforms.

A/Prof Ryan commented: “The project recognises the skills of UTS academics, and CLG is bringing them together to work in partnership with government on significant planning reforms for the State This will ensure that leading-edge, best practice engagement outcomes for NSW are part of the Government’s reform agenda”

In addition to Associate Professor Ryan, the UTS:CLG team have detailed knowledge in the design and delivery of complex engagement processes. UTS:CLG has a talented team with significant experience identifying and including the full range of stakeholders in large scale government reform processes, including the community, industry and all levels of government.

This knowledge and experience was demonstrated on Monday 3rd June when UTS:CLG assisted the Department host a local government working group at UTS for NSW council executive officers and elected officials. The aim of the session was for local leaders to meet with senior decision makers from the Department and identify key issues and challenges for the local government sector in their role in assisting to implement the new planning system

The working group acknowledged the crucial role of local government in the reform process and was designed to respond directly to key issues and challenges for local government in implementing the reforms.

Mayor of Warringah Council Michael Regan participated in the event and said:

“What we are doing here today is having a constructive discussion where Department staff feel comfortable enough to have a broader discussion and there’s an exchange of ideas. That’s great and I applaud UTS doing this.

“It’s great to be invited and to participate as actively and openly because it is UTS behind it which breeds independence and confidence in the system. I would not have agreed to attend if it was something else, ie a PR firm facilitating a discussion. It’s been an interesting discussion so far. The government genuinely wants some change; they want to fix a broken state. As long as we are having the discussion and they are open to ideas, then it’s a good process.”

Waverley Mayor Sally Betts also commented about the session:

“I found it really interesting hearing other people having the same concerns as we’ve got, and getting some assurances that we can take back to assure our community, and that in fact, we’ll probably all be better off in the end .

“This a really open and informative process and will help us get closer to the Department and be able to work with them in a much better way. In order to deliver the inspirational goals about community, we need to work with state and federal governments, so to be able to work with the Department is really terrific. I think today is a big step forward.”

Another attendee was Colby Farmer, Manager of Development Services at Wagga City Council agreed that it was a good opportunity:

“Wagga’s commitment in attending was to get a better understanding of what the proposed framework is going to be. I felt that I had a voice and the session allowed for some missing detail, not only for Wagga City Council but other councils in regards to the introduction of the new legislation.”

Prior to the briefing, UTS:CLG conducted a number of telephone interviews with key local government decision makers across Metropolitan, Regional and Rural NSW to tailor the session to respond to the needs of the sector. This approach, embedded in stakeholder engagement best practices, worked particularly well and ensured the briefing was able to uncover key challenges for local government and identify workable outcomes for the sector.

Outcomes from the local government working group will further assist both organisations work in partnership with local government to implement this generational change in NSW planning.

These outcomes will also be supported by similar working groups being established across all stakeholder sectors, including community, environment and sustainability, planning and allied professions, and the development and property industries.

A/Professor Ryan: “UTS:CLG brings a wealth of expertise in assisting local government, and governments at State and Federal level implement significant structural reforms. The UTS:CLG approach to assisting government with significant reform is embedded in a detailed understanding and acknowledgement of the role of key decision makers and operational staff alike.

“This once in a lifetime NSW planning reform initiative provides UTS:CLG the opportunity to be the bridge between the NSW local government sector, the community and the Department.” 

More information about the White Paper can be found here: http://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/a-new-planning-system-for-nsw Submissions close 28 June.

Further information:

Associate Professor Roberta Ryan: 02 9514 2643