THE STRATEGIC PLANNER ROLE DESCRIBED

What-is-urbanism

Strategic Planner[i] (commonly known as Town Planner)

-Other incorrect names Urban Planner, and City Planner should be avoided-

Town planners are professionals who ensure that the development is planned strategically. They work with landowners and developers as advisers[ii] and create assessments, reports, and strategies related to developments. Planners deal with various types of developments and work towards the best possible outcome.

Ultimately, the goal of the planner’s work is to make local council approvals easier to get. 

The key factor in a town planner’s job is knowing the future community plans as well as current needs. In particular, they are well familiar with the Planning Scheme – the rules and regulations that local councils impose on developments. Since developments must comply with the legislation, this makes the role of town planners as project advisers crucial.

What’s a Town Planner’s Job?

The first task of a town planner is to review a development plan, assess it, and create a strategy. The goal of this strategy is to make the development more likely to be accepted by the local council.

To that end, the town planner will use their extensive knowledge of standards and requirements when working with local councils. They’ll take care of report planning that will meet all of the particular regulations.

These standards are grouped under the local council’s Planning Scheme. And a detailed understanding of the Planning Scheme is vital for the town planner’s work.

After the assessment of the development proposal is done, the town planner starts acting on the developer’s behalf and takes on the role of a coordinator. In this role, the town planner communicates with various consultants, including architects, engineers, and surveyors. Through the professional input from these consultants, the town planner can demonstrate whether the proposal is compliant with the regulations.” [iii]

Town planner is commonly engaged in all projects that require some form of council, local, regional, or national planning approvals.

The successful town planning candidate will be responsible for managing, advising, and securing planning and environmental approvals for key government and private sector clients.

Key day-to-day tasks:

  • Applying Commonwealth and Victorian planning and environmental approval legislation to prepare approval strategies, development applications, options assessments, planning scheme amendments, and strategic planning reports.
  • Interact with internal and external clients, providing sound advice that meets client needs

Required Education

  • Relevant tertiary qualification in Town Planning.
  • Membership of PIA or VPELA.
  • Accredited PIA town planning accreditation.
  • Knowledge of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 and planning processes.
  • Thorough knowledge of the Victorian planning legislation framework.

Required Skills

  • Great written and verbal skills including the ability to prepare comprehensive reports and make recommendations
  • Ability to analyze and interpret a wide range of information and issues
  • Ability to represent the Planning profession at public forums
  • Anticipated statutory planning experience in a similar planning environment
  • Client representation at VCAT
  • Significant experience in the application of Victorian Planning Legislation,

Key Responsibilities

  • Make robust, high-quality planning decisions by way of thorough analysis, good technical understanding of the legislative and policy framework, strategic thinking, and exercising of good judgment.
  • Resolve statutory and strategic planning issues through innovation, problem-solving, and stakeholder management to facilitate development and seek positive outcomes.
  • Provide a high level of customer service in a timely, prompt, accurate, and courteous manner when dealing with internal and external customers whilst always seeking positive outcomes.
  • Mentor a team of planners to ensure service standards are met and workloads are monitored and managed effectively and efficiently.
  • Manage complex VCAT appeals and Advisory Committee submissions, including reviewing submissions and negotiating outcomes.
  • Encourage an environment where innovation, continuous improvement, and achievement are emphasized and rewarded.

Prepared by Tatjana Medvedev BSc Eng. Arch.; MSc Eng. Arch. and Urb.


[i] Official vocational title that should remain as Degree or Diploma title.

[ii] Town Planner is not a designer and will not draw any plans.

[iii] https://www.archistar.ai/blog/whats-the-role-of-town-planners-in-australia-and-why-do-property-developers-need-them