Question On Notice No. 1499 asked in the Legislative Council on 20 August 2014 by Hon Lynn Maclaren
Question Directed to the: Minister for Mental Health representing the Minister for Planning
Parliament: 39 Session: 1
Question
(1) Within the Department of Planning, is there a dedicated branch devoted to the implementation of State Planning Policy 2.8?
(2) If no to (1):
(a) was there ever an office or unit dedicated to Bush Forever;
(b) why was it disbanded; and
(c) when did it cease?
(3) How many full time equivalent employees are dedicated to the implementation of State Planning Policy 2.8?
(4) Is the Minister confident that the objectives of the Bush Forever policy can be implemented if this policy has no dedicated staff within the Department of Planning?
Answered on 16 September 2014
(1) No
(2) (a) Yes
(b) The Bush Forever Office was always intended to be disbanded once the statutory policy objectives of the Bush Forever Policy (Bush Forever Volume 1) were completed. Its ongoing implementation is undertaken through the normal workflow of the strategic and statutory planning processes of the Department of Planning.
(c) Late 2006
(3)-(4) The Department of Planning allocates resources to the implementation of State Planning Policy 2.8 - Bushland Policy for the Perth Metropolitan Region (SPP 2.8) and the provision of advice on an as needs basis. Departmental officers are responsible for giving appropriate consideration to SPP 2.8 when making any planning decisions within or adjacent to a Bush Forever area. This approach enables the objectives of Bush Forever to be considered on a holistic basis across the agency.