Planners develop strategies and design the communities in which we live, work and play.
Balancing the built and natural environment, community needs, cultural significance, and economic sustainability, planners aim to improve our quality of life and create vibrant communities.
As well as assessing development proposals and devising policies to guide future development, planners work in areas as diverse as housing, energy, health, education, communications, leisure, tourism and transport. They create new and revitalise existing public spaces, conserve places of heritage and enhance community value.
City of Mount Gambier Development Plan
Planning Consent involves the assessment of a proposal against the provisions of the Development Plan for the council area. The purpose of this process is to ensure development that:
Development Plans are regularly amended to reflect updated local council or State Government policy, introduce changes to zoning, or to implement a new vision for future development.
Policies contained within Council's Development Plan can only be changed through a formal, statutory Development Plan Amendment (DPA) process, which is prescribed in The Development Act 1993.
The statutory Development Plan Amendment process can be commenced by either Council or the State Minister for Urban Development and Planning. The Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure website contains further information regarding the DPA process.
The Development Act 1993 requires all Councils in South Australia to establish a Council Assessment Panel (CAP) to act as a delegate of Council in accordance with the Act; to provide advice and reports to Council, as it thinks fit, in regard to trends, issues and other matters relating to planning and development; and, to perform other functions assigned to the panel by the Council.
The role of CAP is primarily to determine whether or not to grant Development Plan Consent under The Development Act 1993 for various kinds of development. The CAP makes their assessment in accordance with the requirements of The Development Act 1993, and on the basis of Council's Development Plan applying at the time an application is lodged. In addition to its statuary requirements, CAP is able to provide advice to Council in regard to development trends and issues, Development Plan issues, assessment timelines and other matters that have become apparent through its assessment of applications.
Council cannot influence or overturn any decision made by the Council Assessment Panel. It should be noted that all CAP Members are to fulfil their duties in accordance with the CAP Members Code of Conduct, as implemented by The Development Act 1993.
The Development Act 1993, has determined that all CAPs must be comprised of one independent presiding member, three independent members and three elected members. All Members of the CAP have been appointed by Council.
Elected Members Cr Ian Von Stanke
Independent MembersMs Elizabeth Travers (Presiding Member)Ms Margaret TrotterMr Peter Seebohm
The Council Assessment Panel meets on every third Thursday of each month at the City of Mount Gambier Operational Services Conference Room, Level 1, 10 Watson Terrace, Mount Gambier, commencing at 5:45 p.m (unless otherwise determined).
Please see below links:CAP minutes and agendasTerms of Reference - Council Development Assessment PanelCouncil Development Assessment Panel Code of Conduct
