Canberra red tape already holding back land developers

10/7/07
Commonwealth red tape is holding back development of more than 800 potential residential lots near Mandurah and others in the South-West.
Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan said that at least four proposed developments had gained State environmental approval, but were being delayed by drawn out Commonwealth processes.
Ms MacTiernan said the recently released report by the State's land release co-ordinator had found that Federal environmental protection legislation was being imposed in addition to State and local processes.
"The Federal Treasurer should audit his own government's processes, rather than simply looking for land he can sell off," she said.
"It might help explain why these processes are taking longer than 18 months.
"Part of the answer will be that Canberra has neither the resources, nor the expertise to administer its own legislation in an area traditionally covered by the States."
The Minister rejected the Federal Government's call for audits of land supply as simplistic.
"We monitor land supply in the metropolitan area and report on it annually," she said
"Western Australia has no shortage of zoned land available for development, but we acknowledge that undertaking the necessary planning and environmental assessments of development proposals is a challenge.
"That is why the State Government has committed millions of dollars to improve and accelerate our processes.
"Canberra could be helping local governments improve their processes, rather than setting up new hurdles and high jumps for developers."
Minister's office - 9213 6400