National criteria to determine development of major cities
The planning and management of Australia’s major cities will be determined by the development of national criteria which will ensure the cities are globally competitive, sustainable, liveable and socially inclusive.
The Council of Australian Governments has commissioned the states and territories to produce capital city strategic plans by 2012 that will meet national criteria for transport, housing, urban development and sustainability.
COAG says the plans are needed to lift economic productivity, respond to climate change and ensure that Australia is geared to meet the needs of 35 million people by 2049.
A joint statement issued by Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, and Infrastructure Minister, Anthony Albanese, after the COAG meeting says the criteria will deliver better integrated and longer term – 30 year – infrastructure and land use plans.
Mr Rudd and Mr Albanese say the criteria require better evidence-based land release to improve housing affordability; better transport planning to tackle urban congestion; and new urban development to be better linked to transport, jobs and services.
Work will begin on the plans in 2010 with an initial report on each state and territory’s plan to be completed during 2011. A formal inter-governmental agreement will provide details of the arrangements.
From the beginning of 2012, the Federal Government will link the infrastructure funding to states and territories that meet the national criteria. Mr Rudd and Mr Albanese say the government “must have confidence in the integrity of a capital city’s strategic planning system if it is to invest in that city”.
They say the Federal Government has agreed to contribute to the reform process through its own property, assets, service delivery and approval services.
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