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.