Good strategic planning can be used in almost any situation to resolve a dispute or problem. It is a way of thinking, as much as it is a process that can be applied to determine the values and priorities and as a basis for decision-making about the use and development of land and natural resources.
‘Good’ strategic planning has been identified as one of the key areas that underpins development assessment processes. The Development Assessment Forum (DAF) is a partnership between the Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments, Local Government, the development industry and relevant professional associations. DAF is an agent for change for planning processes across the nation. Since its formation in 1998, DAF has worked to harmonise Australia’s various development assessment systems to benefit both industry and government. The DAF charter includes promoting ways to improve the development assessment processes, with a view to reducing red tape without sacrificing the quality of decision-making.
A Good Strategic Planning Guide demonstrating effective strategic planning has been developed by DAF to cultivate and promote ‘leading practice’ land use planning within the context of fairness and equity, ecologically sustainable development and good governance. The Guide should prove an effective and useful tool for Local Government that assists in the delivery of ‘leading practice’ and emphasises the importance of strategic planning within the framework of decision making by all spheres of government.
The publication will stimulate wide discussion about the notion and application of strategic planning, which should lead to a further refinement of the Guide. To apply the model outlined in the Guide, approaches to strategic planning need to be tailored to serve a particular purpose or situation. In other words, it is not always necessary to apply each step in the model in every circumstance, but rather to adapt the process to the problem or situation.
Consistent with international approaches to leading practice, a range of case studies have been selected that have a demonstrable impact on improving people’s quality of life. They provide good examples of effective partnerships between the public, private and civic sectors of society and address social, cultural, economical and environmental sustainability.
The case studies documented in this guide are a first point of contact. Readers are encouraged to communicate with the individual case study contacts to gauge the effectiveness of the particular strategic planning exercises. The different approaches to strategic planning are discussed in more detail in the Final Report for this project (available from the National Office of Local Government).
Further information visit the DAF web site at www.daf.gov.au.
