Understanding the policy, plan or proposal

What is the policy, plan or proposal; what stage of the process is it at; where does it fit into the planning system and what is it supposed to do?

An initial step is to determine what it is you are being asked to comment on. Is it a policy, plan or proposal? At this stage it is useful to ensure you have a general understanding of where the policy, plan or proposal fits within the planning system and what, in general terms, it is intended to do.  The planning system can be a starting point.

It might be helpful at this early stage to contact the planner who is responsible for preparing the policy, plan or proposal to clarify some of the fundamentals about it. Possible points include:

• clarification of boundaries,
• expected population numbers,
• demographic profile,
• housing type and expected pricing or affordability levels.

This is also an opportunity to confirm what type of feedback the referring planner would find helpful.

Questions to better understand the policy, plan or proposal

Either as part of the conversation with the responsible planner, or as preliminary questions for the user to consider, the following may be used as a guide to understand the context of the policy, plan or proposal:

• Where is it up to in the plan making or approvals process and what capacity do you have to influence the outcome?
• Who created the policy, plan or proposal?
• Who has been consulted during the development of the policy, plan or proposal?
• Why was the policy, plan or proposal developed?
• Why is it being developed now?
• What is the stated intent of the policy?
• Is there an ‘unstated’ agenda? If so, what is it?
• Does the policy relate to any other relevant policies? If so how?
• Can data and information provided in the policy, plan or proposal be verified? Is it accurate? Is it from a recognised source? Can it be reviewed?
• Are there other plans being developed for surrounding areas?

Have you done something similar before?

• Have you, or someone in your health service, commented on a similar policy, plan or proposal before?

What do you know about the area?

• What local government area is it in?
• Where exactly is it located? What is there at present?
• Are you familiar with the area?
• What is in the areas around it?
• Is there anyone in your health service who has experience working in the area and with that community? (If so, try to involve those people in the process.)
• Do you, or your health service, have an existing relationship with the local council?