The Premier Denis Napthine recently announced the merging of the Department of Planning and Community Development (DPCD) with the Department of Transport (DOT) on July 1, 2013. The move is aimed at encouraging business and job opportunities in Victoria by cutting red tape and reducing bureaucratic bottlenecks for future projects. The new department will be known as the Department of Transport, Planning and Local Infrastructure (DTPLI). Also merging into the DTPLI will be Land Victoria from the Department of Sustainability and Environment and the Office of the Victorian Government Architect from the Department of Premier and Cabinet.
We can expect a wider role for the DTPLI including responsibility for State planning policy as the metropolitan planning authority and for Places Victoria (formerly VicUrban) which is responsible for State Government Urban renewal projects within Melbourne and regional Victoria. The responsibilities of Places Victoria will include facilitating structure planning for Fishermans Bend Urban Renewal and Docklands. DTPLI will also be responsible for local government, sport and recreation, the Building Commission, strategic transport planning including ports, VicRoads, Public Transport Victoria, VicTrack, and the Victorian Taxi Directorate.
Interestingly the Minister in charge of co-ordinating the new Department will be the Roads and Public Transport Minister Terry Mulder. Other ministers within the Department will be the Planning Minister, Minister for Local Government, Minister for Ports and Minister for Sport and Recreation.
Whilst each department role is connected in some way it is hoped there will be a co-ordinated approach to sustainable transport planning in new urban renewal areas in both metropolitan Melbourne and Regional Victoria.
The proof of this approach, to encourage better planning outcomes by integrating urban and transport planning with local infrastructure, will perhaps be seen in the implementation of the (recently announced) State Government’s Geelong Regional Growth Plan G21; to guide the growth of future planning for the next 30-40 years. Time will tell!