Defence is keen to ensure that inappropriate land uses and developments do not occur in the vicinity of its bases and facilities. Incompatible 'urban encroachment' has the potential to significantly impact on the sustainability of the Defence Estate by jeopardising the ability of Defence to carry out its operations.
Examples of inappropriate development might include the construction of a private telecommunications tower near a Defence communications facility which has the potential to impact on operations due to electro-magnetic interference. Conversely, consideration also needs to be given to the potential impacts of Defence's operations on other land uses and developments external to the Estate, such as the impact of military aircraft noise on residential communities. Note, there is a 'two way' relationship here where Defence can impact on others, or, others can impact on Defence. Regardless of which party is creating the problem, it is usually Defence that is forced to curtail its activities to address the impact.
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Accordingly, the key purpose for Defence in undertaking Assessments of External Land Use Applications is to minimise the potential for future urban encroachment and land use conflict, and thereby protect the sustainability of operations occurring within the Defence Estate. This is achieved by ensuring the potential 'two-way' impacts of developments proposed in the vicinity of the Defence Estate are identified and communicated to the relevant External Proponent/Assessor (such as State and Local Governments) for their consideration when assessing various proposals.
An External Land Use Application can be sent to Defence by a number of External Proponents/Assessors such as Local Councils, land developers, State/Territory Government Departments and Public Utility Service Providers. Defence will be approaching these External Proponents/Assessors to request they forward all External Land Use Applications to the relevant Defence Regional Manager in the first instance. The Regional Manager will then follow steps two to seven of the External Land Use Application Assessment Process in order to administer the application in accordance with the endorsed Defence process. |
