Five principles shape Planning: society, environment, economy, infrastructure and governance. They shape strategic thinking and policy making; and produce interconnected, but often competing, policy objectives. Planners must therefore make decisions based on the circumstances at hand.

Society  

Planning is forward looking, responding to the needs of existing and future communities.

• Supports human health, community wellbeing and safety.
• Unlocks access to functional, high quality, diverse and safe communities.
• Protects against adverse impacts.
• Enhances cultural identity, responding sensitively to local character and the surrounding landscape.  
• Protects places with Historic, Aboriginal and Environmental heritage values.

Environment

Planning promotes sustainable development and healthier built and natural spaces.

• Encourages resilient development that adapts to technological innovations.
• Mitigates climate related hazards such as bushfire, flood, coastal inundation risk.
• Conserves biodiversity, landscapes, natural features and resources.
• Minimises waste through resource reuse and recovery.
• Transitions towards net zero greenhouse gas emissions.
• Integrates compatible land use with transport facilities.

Economy

Planning facilitates land use development that delivers growing community benefits.

• Supports diversity and connects different industries to benefit the local economy.
• Satisfies the community’s needs for retail, entertainment, office and commercial services.
• Maintains and protects existing industrial areas.
• Enables tourism opportunities.

Infrastructure

Planning delivers efficient, equitable, accessible physical and social infrastructure.

• Identifies land for future transport routes, energy, communication and distribution systems while minimising impact on the community and environment.
• Maintains existing infrastructure and services.
• Plans for sustainable lifecycle infrastructure funding.

Governance

Planning coordinates policy, development decisions and built outcomes.

• Good governance is inclusive, transparent, responsive and follows the Rule of Law.
• Planning builds confidence and certainty through a clear and consistent framework for land use and development decisions.