On Tuesday, 11 March 2025, Parks and Leisure Australia NSW/ACT hosted an insightful webinar on Plans of Management, presented by industry expert Sandy Hoy. The session attracted a diverse audience, including local government professionals, consultants, and academics from across New South Wales, the ACT, Victoria, and Tasmania.
Key Highlights:
- Why Plans of Management Matter: The webinar explored the legislative requirements for preparing Plans of Management (PoMs) under the Local Government Act and the Crown Land Management Act. Participants gained insights into how these plans shape the use, maintenance, and improvement of public land.
- Who Uses PoMs: Sandy highlighted the broad range of stakeholders who engage with these plans, including council staff, elected members, community groups, and state government agencies.
- Types of Plans of Management: The discussion covered different types of PoMs, such as significant area plans, generic plans, and geographic plans, emphasising the benefits of grouping land parcels for efficiency.
- Key Planning Considerations: Attendees learned about land classification, categorisation, and the importance of writing clear, accessible documents to serve both technical and community audiences.
- Community Engagement: Sandy stressed the value of early engagement with stakeholders to understand community values, issues, and potential improvements for public land.
- Public Hearings & Legal Considerations: The session addressed the circumstances under which a public hearing is required and the process for obtaining approvals for Crown land plans.
- Practical Tips & Examples: Sandy shared best practices for developing and updating PoMs, along with references to existing plans that participants can use as templates.
Key Takeaways:
- Writing PoMs in simple, clear language improves accessibility and usability.
- Categorisation of land under the Local Government Act and Crown Land Management Act is essential for transparent land management.
- Engaging native title managers early is critical when dealing with Crown land.
- Public exhibition and hearings play a vital role in the approval process.
- The webinar provided a detailed framework for structuring PoMs, making the planning process more manageable.
A recording of the webinar will be available exclusively to PLA NSW/ACT members. A public release will follow at a later date. Stay tuned for further training opportunities, including a dedicated Plans of Management workshop at the upcoming PLA NSW/ACT Regional Conference on 7-8 May 2025.
For further resources and upcoming events, visit PLA NSW/ACT Resources.