“The delays and not having anywhere enough staff are not helping investment. It’s costing hundreds of thousands of dollars to the economy,” Cr Andrew Kennedy told The Free Press.
“People won’t invest in our towns if they can’t get housing. The more people who come to town, the more money they spend and help our businesses.”
The subject was raised by Mulwala-based Cr Kennedy at Federation Council’s latest monthly on February 15.
He successfully asked that reasons for refusal of development applications be provided in Federation Council’s monthly reports.
“I get so many phone calls, people asking for a whole insight into where we are on this subject,” Cr Kennedy said.
Howlong-based Cr David Longley supported Cr Kennedy’s request. “D/As are approved around 30 days but it can take up to three or four months with more questions,” he said.
Introduced to help applicants and speed up the process, portals have in fact not helped “one iota” according to council’s General Manager Adrian Butler, a comment backed by council’s director development and environmental services Susan Appleyard with absence of plans and council only being legally able to seek further information from the applicant and not the developer. Often, it results in refusal of the application.
Cr Aaron Nicholls said being in the construction architecture field he has found the value of a pre app meeting “amazing” and “of benefit”. He asked if many applicants had availed themselves of such a meeting, to Ms Appleyard answered in the negative.
“We see the benefit of meeting first,” she said, then pointed out the challenging council staff/workload situation.
“Our staff are literally drowning in the workload. We’re in for a rough period. Staff are doing their best to get everything done.”
New Federation Councillor David Fahey OAM asked if council promoted traineeships. “When I first started in Federation Council (2017) we had a traineeship scheme. We have two fully fledged staff from traineeships. They are working wonderfully well. We’d be lost without them,” Ms Appleyard responded.
Due to budget constraints, that scheme has stopped, Ms Appleyard advised. “I’d like to see it re-introduced,” she said. “The market is very tight. Currently there are over 500 advertisements in NSW alone seeking planning/building surveying staff.
“I believe if you want people coming to the regions, grow your own. We need more planning/building staff. We’ve tried. We are communicating with Planning Institute Riverina. With planning and building services, kids entering the field of work would never be out of work. If you know of available planning and building staff, send them this way.”
Federation Council’s General Manager Adrian Butler also referred to the state’s “dire straits” situation with building/planning/surveying staff. “It’s a real issue for all councils,” he said.
“Greater Hume Shire is currently advertising for the much sought-after type of staff,” he said. “I wish them well but it’s difficult out there.”
Cr Fahey also enquired if council can approach local secondary schools advising about careers in planning and building fields, and a Local Government career in general.
Cr Nicholls described Cr Fahey’s idea as “great”. Cr Nicholls advised that as Corowa Business Chamber Committee is planning its career expo, he would appreciate council participation.
