The Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate (EPSDD) is a directorate of the
Australian Capital Territory government. It was formed from the merger of the Department of Environment, Climate Change, Energy and Water (DECCEW) and the ACT Planning and Land Authority (ACTPLA) on 17 May 2011, after
Katy Gallagher
Katherine Ruth Gallagher (born 18 March 1970) is an Australian politician who has been serving as the Minister for Finance, Minister for Women, Minister for the Public Service and Vice-President of the Executive Council in the Albanese Gover ...
was elected by the
Legislative Assembly as
Chief Minister
A chief minister is an elected or appointed head of government of – in most instances – a sub-national entity, for instance an administrative subdivision or federal constituent entity. Examples include a state (and sometimes a union terri ...
the day before.
History
The directorate was formed on 17 May 2011 as the Environment and Sustainable Development Directorate (ESDD), replacing and taking over:
[
* Department of Environment, Climate Change, Energy and Water (DECCEW)
* ACT Planning and Land Authority (ACTPLA)
* transport and conservation planning functions from the Department of Territory and Municipal Services (now Transport Canberra and City Services Directorate)
* heritage functions and the ACT Government Architect from the Chief Minister's Department (now Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate)
The directorate was later renamed Environment and Planning Directorate (EPD) before it was finally renamed to its current name in late 2016.
]
Structure
The directorate is responsible for developing and implementing a wide range of policies and programs across city planning and development, climate change and the environment. , it reports to a number of ministers:Gordon Ramsay
Gordon James Ramsay (; born ) is a British chef, restaurateur, television personality and writer. His restaurant group, Gordon Ramsay Restaurants, was founded in 1997 and has been awarded 17 Michelin stars overall; it currently holds a tot ...
* Minister for Planning and Land Management, currently Mick Gentleman
* Minister for Urban Renewal, currently Rachel Stephen-Smith
Rachel Stephen-Smith (born 1971) is an Australian politician. She has been a Labor member of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly since 2016, representing the electorate of Kurrajong. Stephen-Smith grew up in O'Connor in Canb ...
.
, the Director-General is Ben Ponton.[
]
Activities
Former ACT Planning and Land Authority
Under the ''Planning and Development Act 2007'', the former ACTPLA was required to:
*administer the Territory Plan;
*continually assess the Territory Plan and propose amendments as necessary;
*plan and regulate the development of land;
*advise on planning and land policy, including the broad spatial planning framework for the ACT;
*implement sustainable transport
Sustainable transport refers to ways of transportation that are sustainable in terms of their social and environmental impacts. Components for evaluating sustainability include the particular vehicles used for road, water or air transport; th ...
planning;
*maintain the digital cadastral database;
*make available land information;
*grant, administer, vary and end leases on behalf of the Executive;
*grant licenses over unleased Territory land;
*decide applications for approval to undertake development;
*regulate the building industry;
*make orders under the ACT ''Land (Planning and Environment) Act 1991'', part 6 (approvals and orders);
*provide planning services, including services to entities outside the ACT;
*review its own decisions;
*provide administrative support and facilities for the Planning and Land Council;
*ensure community consultation and participation in planning decisions; and
*promote public education and understanding of the planning process, including by providing easily accessible public information and documentation on planning and land use.
The Authority stated that it performed its functions independently, free from day-to-day political influences. However, in practice under the then Minister for Planning, Simon Corbell, the Authority often followed direct instruction from the Minister.
External links
EPSDD - Environment websiteEPSDD - Planning website
References
{{Government directorates of the Australian Capital Territory
Planning and Land Authority