Planning Act 1999

The purpose of this Act is to establish a system to facilitate planning for the orderly use and development of land to achieve the following objectives:

to ensure that strategic planning is applied to planning schemes and implemented in individual planning decisions;

to ensure that strategic planning reflects the wishes and needs of the community;

to ensure that appropriate public consultation and input are included in the formulation of planning schemes and the making of decisions under planning schemes;

to ensure that the planning system is clear, comprehensive, effective, efficient and accessible to the community;

to promote the sustainable development of land;

to promote the responsible use of land and water resources to limit the adverse effects of development on ecological processes;

to maintain the health of the natural environment and ecological processes;

to protect the quality of life of future generations;

to assist the provision of public utilities, infrastructure and facilities for the benefit of the community;

to promote the good design of buildings and other works that respects the amenity of the locality;

to assist the conservation and enhancement of places, areas, buildings, other works and landforms that are of cultural, aesthetic, architectural or historical value;

to respect and encourage fair and open decision making.