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Flying squads to support growth in the Valley
Sheridan Bond: Latrobe City Council will be better supported to plan the future growth of our community under an elected Nationals government.
Latrobe City Council will be better supported to plan the future growth of our community under an elected Nationals government, The Nationals Candidate for Morwell Sheridan Bond has said.
Ms Bond said an elected Nationals government will take the pressure off Latrobe City Council and Wellington Shire Council by investing $4.5 million to restore the Council Planning Flying Squad program across Victoria, giving local councils access to expert planning resources.
"Better planning means our local councils can make the most of new investment opportunities and are best placed to help our existing businesses grow," Ms Bond said.
"The former Council Planning Flying Squads program made a real difference in the Valley, with the extra expert resources meaning council could get through more planning work. They also assisted to find ways to cut red tape that was a burden on growth in our community.
"The Nationals have a vision to grow all of Victoria – not just Melbourne – which means we need to make sure our communities are best placed to plan for the future."
Regional councils often do not have the resources and expertise to manage complex issues such as fire, flood and biodiversity conservation when processing applications, preparing reports and in planning enforcement.
The Flying Squads proved to be a success before Labor axed the program in 2015, with more than 140 projects delivered.
An independent review found the program had a cost-benefit ratio of $1:3, while the Australian Productivity Commission described it as leading practice.
Leader of The Nationals Peter Walsh said councils in rural and regional Victoria were under increased pressure from rates capping, rising costs and skills shortages.
"Daniel Andrews axed the planning flying squad in 2015 and continues to reinforce he’s the Premier for Melbourne by failing to develop a plan to grow all of Victoria, not just Melbourne," Mr Walsh said.
"The Nationals have a decentralisation vision to turn Victoria into a state of cities, not just a city state, and that is underpinned by better planning."
Source: www.gippsland.com
Published by: support@gippsland.com
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