Enhancing performance through partnerships

During the year we focused on improving the state's land use and transport planning functions, and delivery of seamless and holistic planning and policy. Our portfolio partners are integral to overall performance. These activities sit within the organisation performance category of our Business Excellence Framework.

The portfolio was created to draw planning and infrastructure together under the one Minister. The Department for Planning and Infrastructure is the lead agency within the portfolio and is the policy body to the 'service' agencies of Main Roads Western Australia, the port authorities, the redevelopment authorities, LandCorp, the Western Australian Planning Commission and the Public Transport Authority.

A portfolio view eliminates duplication, targets resources more effectively and ensures a broad, long-range, cross-agency planning focus.

Within the portfolio
The Department for Planning and Infrastructure coordinates and integrates policy advice across the portfolio. This includes the state's participation in the management and work of national transport, land use and other relevant forums, as well as Western Australia's response to strategic, multi-dimensional issues and national initiatives on transport, land use and other relevant matters.

In 2003-04, we took a collaborative and integrated approach to a number of significant projects, including:

• The New MetroRail project in conjunction with the Public Transport Authority, LandCorp, Main Roads Western Australia and the Western Australian Planning Commission;
• The Dialogue with the city initiative in conjunction with the Western Australian Planning Commission, Public Transport Authority, LandCorp, Main Roads Western Australia, the redevelopment authorities and the port authorities;
• Fremantle Outer Harbour planning in conjunction with the Western Australian Planning Commission and Fremantle Port Authority;
• Improving Perth's freight network in conjunction with Main Roads Western Australia, Fremantle Port Authority and the Public Transport Authority;
• Improving the Perth Bicycle Network with Main Roads Western Australia and the Public Transport Authority; and
• Improving air quality and people's fitness through the TravelSmart initiative with the Public Transport Authority and local governments.

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Read more about Dialogue with the city on the following pages:

• An award-winning agency
• Changing Perth for the better - Dialogue with the city
• People and communities

Working with other agencies
The wide-ranging nature of our work means we liaise and cooperate with government agencies outside the portfolio to achieve our outcomes. For instance, we are working with:

• The Department of Environmental Protection to identify potentially contaminated sites on Crown land - this is a key priority for 2004-05;
• The Department of Employment and Consumer Protection to improve safety and compliance in the maritime industry;
• The Department of Fisheries for the delivery of safety at sea compliance services;
• The Western Australia Police Service and the Insurance Commission of Western Australia to generate and collect information in relation to vehicle licensing;
• The Department of Industry and Resources in relation to mining approvals and infrastructure corridors;
• The Commonwealth Department of Territories for the provision of planning, transport and land administration to the Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Christmas Island;
• The Commonwealth Department of Transport and Regional Services (DOTARS), Main Roads Western Australia and industry to implement AusLink - a new approach to funding land transport infrastructure;
• DOTARS, the Western Australia Police Service, the Department of Premier and Cabinet, the Department of Industry and Resources, industry groups and counterparts in other states to improve transport security across the nation;
• The Office of Native Title (Department of Premier and Cabinet) to give effect to aboriginal land tenure;
• Department of Conservation and Land Management to secure valuable conservation lands for future generations; and
• Fire and Emergency Services Authority of WA to ensure fire and hazard controls on crown lands.

We also provide financial support to the Planning and Transport Research Centre and representatives of the Department sit on the boards of key educational institutions devoted to portfolio and related issues, including the Institute of Regional Development (University of Western Australia), the Centre for Sustainable Tourism (Curtin University of Technology), the Centre for Spatial Science (Central TAFE) and the Curriculum Council's geography team.

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Read more about Main Roads Western Australia, Research Centre and the New MetroRail project under The economy

Read more about Property Council of Australia underFrom the Director General

Read more about Public Transport Authority under About the Department

Read more about LandCorp under Notes to the Financial Statements

On the national stage
We are also closely involved with portfolio initiatives at a national level. For example, the Department has been a significant driver of the National Transport Security Strategy currently being developed to assist with counter terrorism arrangements. The National Transport Commission and the Commonwealth Government AusLink initiatives have significant implications for the state and we provide leadership and representation on behalf of Western Australia.

We have helped implement the recommendations of the national road and rail transport reviews and influenced the design of the resulting National Transport Commission and its Inter-Governmental Agreement and legislation. We also represent the state on the Standing Committee on Transport and the National Planning Officials Group, which respectively address transport and planning issues of national concern. Our Director General is the Chair of the Australian Maritime Group on behalf of the Standing Committee on Transport.

Working with industry
The Department improved the efficiency and effectiveness of land freight transport by working alongside industry through the Western Australian Rail Advisory Council, the Western Australian Road Freight Council and the Grains Infrastructure Group, which replaces the Grains Logistics Committee.

Similarly, we worked with industry on the Sea Freight Council and developed new policies across a range of port, shipping and logistics issues.

We support the Ministerial Fishing Industry Advisory Committee as well as Maritime Advisory Councils at 26 boat harbours.

Pastoralists' involvement in the future of their industry is routinely sought by the Pastoral Lands Board.

To fulfil our role as the state's lead planning agency, we also worked closely with the Urban Development Institute of Australia, the Property Council of Australia, the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia, and the Housing Industry Association.

We also worked closely with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Western Australian Local Government Association and the Sustainable Transport Coalition.

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Read more about Business Excellence Framework under Corporate Management and Governance