| This year the new Northern Territory Government have defunded PLan, for many years both CLP and ALP governments have assisted with our modest operational costs. But now no more. https://www.gofundme.com/f/plan-the-planning-action-network-has-been-defunded PLan – the Planning Action Network Inc is a volunteer community group working for better urban and rural planning in the Northern Territory.  |  View this page. |
PLan collaborates with resident and community groups on matters including the built environment, heritage, cultural and environmental values of concern in the Northern Territory and Australia. PLan’s aim is to achieve, for the community, sustainability in terms of social, cultural, environmental and balanced long term economic impacts.
Can you help? Thx Nick
02/03/2025, 15:13 Northern Territory News
FUNDING CUT ‘HUGE’ LOSS TO TERRITORY
THOMAS MCLEAN
Government funding has been ended for the Northern Territory’s
Planning Action Network (PLan), a 30-year-old volunteer community group often outspoken about government and council legislation relating to infrastructure developments.
For nearly three decades, PLan’s operational costs – rent, utilities and insurance – have been supported by the NT government of the day, regardless of the party.
But after years of support, funds are now being withdrawn, according to a letter sent to the organisation by the Lands, Planning and Environment Minister Josh Burgoyne on February 26.
In the letter, Mr Burgoyne said he thought the existing provisions in the Planning Act 1999 were already strong enough and ensured appropriate consultation and input were included in planning schemes.
He then cited budget limitations and the government’s focus on rebuilding the economy, before rejecting the organisation’s request for an operational grant of $25,000 and wishing it success in the future.
PLan convener Nick Kirlew said defunding the group, which was founded in 1995, would be a “huge” loss for the Territory. “The planning department needs to understand what the community thinks about certain projects, and we’re here to represent those views; without funding, we can’t continue service the community,” he said.
“It could mean less input into planning decisions, leading to developments that don’t serve the people.”
“If anyone wants to help, now is the time.” Mr Kirlew said the group was a
key voice. To support the organisation, visit its GoFundMe, https://GoFundMe/ad5916c0
From NT Independent:
‘Wish you continued success’: Volunteer group Planning Action Network defunded by Minister
by David Wood | Mar 5, 2025 | News, Subscriber | 1 comment
Planning Minister Joshua Burgoyne has defunded volunteer community group the Planning Action Network, declaring the provisions of the planning legislation, which he recently weakened by removing third party reviews from, were robust and that there was already sufficient public consultation.
The move to defund PLAN follows the government’s move to also defund two NT environment centres, as well as the Environmental Defenders Office, who have all fought government decisions.
The move to defund also follows the introduction of the Territory Controller role which gives an unelected official special powers to circumvent regulations, as well as the government’s removal of third party merit reviews from legislation covering petroleum, planning and water, and the establishment a lobbyist register that will not require ministers to publicly disclose who they meet with, and will exempt major lobbyists, including from companies that donate to political parties.
In a letter to PLAN last week, Mr Burgoyne said he would be rejecting its application for a $25,000 grant to cover operational costs and outreach, which was for the current financial year.
“I believe that robust provisions exist in the Planning Act 1999 to ensure that appropriate public consultation and input are included in the formulation of the planning schemes and the making of decisions under planning schemes,” Mr Burgoyne wrote.
“Due to budget constraints and government’s focus on rebuilding the Territory economy, your request for an operational grant for the 2024-25 financial year is unable to be supported at this time.
“I do however wish you continued success with your work and look forward to continuing engagement on future planning matters.”
Mr Burgoyne did not respond when asked if the government was scared of scrutiny of its decisions, given its pattern of defunding organisations that have challenged government decisions.
He also did not respond to whether similar organisations have had, or will have, their funding cut, instead giving the same lines to the NT Independent that were in the letter to PLAN.
In was early February when
The government scrapped the third party reviews of agency decisions in early February, which were mostly heard by the Northern Territory Civil and Administrative Tribunal, and which provided a cheaper option than taking a challenge to court. The inclusion of third party merit reviews in the petroleum act was a recommendation of the Pepper Inquiry into fracking in the NT.
PLAN convenor Nick Kirlew said that his organisation began in the mid-1990s and for many years had been given a “modest” amount of money to operate by both the CLP and Labor.
“The minister, while declining funds, recognised that PLAN contributes to rural and urban planning outcomes, and confusingly looks forward to PLAN having continued success with our work and looks forward to continued engagement with PLAN, on future planning matters,” Mr Kirlew said.
“Sadly, the Minister states that the current government believes that the 1999 Planning Act works.
“When a development application appears, many members of the community have no idea of how to deal with the short time frame and the relevant planning legislation to get their voice heard, but they may find PLAN and get independent advice on exercising their democratic rights.
“The most recent version of the Little Mindil hotel development proposal was an over 600-page document that community were given just a few weeks to absorb and comment on.”
Mr Kirlew said there had been many governments come in with the promise of increasing consultation with community over planning issues, but soon went in favour of developers.
“The first petrochemical development in Darwin Harbour was a divisive issue and we never seemed to get the major fishing lobby group involved. Now we hear of the degraded harbour water quality,” Mr Kirlew said.
“The long running Defence Housing Australia developments on Lee Point are a case study of what can be achieved by consultation, the Lyons Community centre and park are a result of DHA and community sitting together before the groundbreaking begins.
“The current flouting of Federal and NT planning and environmental legislation at Lee Point is a clear indicator of how far the shunning of community input has come.
“The current City of Darwin civic centre proposal is so far out of sync with the concept plans for the centre of government in the Northern Territory that shows how our planning legislation fails us.”
The Finocchiaro Government cut a total of $200,000 in funding per year to the Environment Centre NT and the Arid Lands Environment Centre early last month, which Mr Burgoyne said was because of the groups’ legal challenges to government decisions on fracking and water allocations.
The government also announced late last year it was ending $100,000 annual funding to the NT Environmental Defenders Office which was an election promise.
In late November, a Federal Court judge ordered the EDO to pay $9 million in costs to Santos failed legal challenge by a group Tiwi Islanders to the company’s Barossa offshore gas project. Justice Natalie Charlesworth had ruled that one of the EDO’s lawyers, and a cultural heritage consultant, had engaged in “subtle coaching” of Tiwi islanders in their evidence, and found evidence from one expert witness involved “confection”.