October 11, 2012
The State Government has unveiled local planning schemes to help Indigenous Councils guide the development of their communities – and Cherbourg is one of the first.
Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jeff Seeney today announced the first three draft planning schemes – for Cherbourg, Wujal Wujal and Kowanyama – had been approved for display and public comment.
Mr Seeney and Local Government Minister David Crisafulli welcomed the plans.
“People living in these areas know what they want and need. This will let them take control of planning decisions for their communities for the first time,” Mr Seeney said.
“In many communities, isolation during the wet season and lack of access to professional services have triggered the need for a more practical approach to planning.
“They will now have a clear, considered, user-friendly framework to guide how they develop their communities.”
Planning schemes provide a detailed direction for the area focusing on community aspirations like land use, development and infrastructure, whilst ensuring valuable features and the needs of the state and the regional community are incorporated.
Mr Seeney said the State Government was working with Indigenous communities to ensure development considers local and cultural matters.
“In the past there was a lack of consultation between state agencies, leading to haphazard development and conflicting outcomes.”
Mr Seeney said the Indigenous council planning schemes were essentially simplified versions of those for bigger councils.
He noted that the establishment of Indigenous planning schemes was the result of collaboration across a number of government departments.
Local Government Minister David Crisafulli said much had been made about the State Government’s decision to review Alcohol Management Plans, but responsible use of alcohol was only one part of the puzzle.
“So is home ownership, so is better planning,” Mr Crisafulli said.
“In effect we are acknowledging that there will be challenges along the way but failure to empower these indigenous communities will guarantee generations of hopelessness.”
