Orange City Council is reviewing the way it engages on planning and assessment matters, with the aim of improving the way it works with the community.
The council has placed a new draft Community Participation Plan on exhibition for community comment. The plan is a strategic document that will set the tone for how community participation and engagement will be carried out in the environmental and land-use planning framework of Orange.
Orange City Council's Planning and Development Committee chair, Cr Russel Turner has welcomed the new approach.
"The two key changes in the new approach are to shift our focus towards boosting the level of community understanding about how our planning system works and then engaging with local residents earlier in the planning process," Cr Russel Turner said.
"If residents, across the board, had a better understanding on how our planning laws work, then that knowledge will show them how they can have their say about a planning proposal. It also helps them set some realistic expectations about how a neighbourhood can grow and change.
"For example, if residents were more involved when zonings were established, and when re-zonings were considered, they would have a better understanding of what's possible when a development application for a new direction is being considered in their area.
"Ways of taking on that awareness challenge include better online resources or even a podcast. We're looking at a plain English 'how-to guide' on making submissions. It will be good to try and make it clear what factors residents can make their submissions about and what matters aren't able to be taken into account when determining applications and making planning decisions."
"We also want to find ways to encourage developers to engage with the residents who are likely to be impacted by a proposed new development before they lodge the DA.
Council is planning a six month trial of streamlining DAs from applicants who can prove they have engaged with their neighbourhood, and can show evidence they have considered or implemented changes suggested by residents.
The draft plan and associated documents may be inspected at the Customer Service Counter of the Civic Centre (ground floor), 135 Byng Street, Orange during normal office hours; and online at the YourSay Orange website,
