Traditionally
those who owned land had a right to control its use and also the
resources on or in it such as forests and minerals. However, in
more recent times there has been more recognition of the fact
that the community should have a say in such matters because the
impacts of the activities of one landowner may reach beyond the
boundaries of his/her propertor may affect future generations.
Legislation
therefore seeks to restrict the activities of those who control
the land and activities which occur on it or in it to ensure that
the community as a whole and the environment do not suffer unduly.
In Australia, such legislation is generally the responsibility
of local and State governments.
The
idea of planning controls are that, although decisions are made
on the basis of whether individual projects should go ahead, those
decisions are made with respect to wider plans and criteria decided
in advance. Land-use planning seeks to achieve a balance between
competing demands for use of the land and to segregate incompatible
uses such as some types of industry and residential housing. Environmental
planning in particular aims to identify environmental hazards
so that they can be prevented or their impacts reduced.
Planning
is also necessary when it comes to building public infrastructure,
that is, public services such as roads, dams, hospitals, sewage
treatment plants and ports. Planning ensures that the needs of
the community are met in a timely, cost-effective and appropriate
way.
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Additional
Material:
Department
of Environment and Planning, Manual for Environmental Impact Assessment,
Sydney 1985, reprinted 1990.