ACT Planning System Evaluation Framework

Evaluation is an important part of delivering any policy, program or system. Setting up good monitoring and evaluation processes takes time and collaboration.

The planning system has impacts on a range of outcomes and areas across government, industry and the community. This means it’s likely a range of monitoring and evaluation activities will be needed to tell us how well the planning system is performing.

Having an evaluation framework will help to make sure work happening across different areas of government contributes to our overall aims, including to guide future planning decisions.

The ACT Government developed the framework from January to May 2024. This included working closely with evaluation specialists, planning technical experts and representatives from the Environment and Planning Forum.

We did a review of what was heard during consultation for the Planning System Review and Reform Project (PSRRP) to help shape the framework. The PSRRP spanned 4 years from 2019 to 2023 and involved extensive consultation with Canberrans.

Other sources of feedback were also used to make sure the framework’s scope and outcomes were right. This included comments received through the ACT Legislative Assembly’s Inquiry into the Territory Plan and other associated documents and feedback received in workshops with users of the previous and new planning systems.

We used what we heard during consultation to make changes and refinements to the final version of the framework.

A summary of the main themes emerging from consultation is provided below.

More detailed information about monitoring and evaluations

We heard the framework needs more detailed information about what will be evaluated, how and when. Some stakeholders suggested indicators, targets and evaluation sub-questions on specific components of the planning system.

Evaluation frameworks and evaluation plans serve different purposes. An evaluation framework can be used to provide guidance and direction for different evaluations of a single program. This often includes higher-level guidance on data sources, management and reporting processes and principles.

Evaluation plans typically include more detail about what component of a program is to be evaluated, the data that will be collected, how and when, how data will be analysed and how and when results will be reported.

With this difference in mind, the framework was updated to incorporate further detail about monitoring and evaluation approaches, including incorporating headline indicators. However, feedback of this nature will be used and most valuable to inform evaluation planning.

Making information accessible

We heard that for evaluation findings to be useful for community, industry and government, information released about the framework should be easy to understand. We also heard that, where possible, technical evaluation terms and concepts should be explained or simplified.

To respond to this feedback, more definitions were added to the framework to explain terms like evaluation, monitoring, program logic and baseline data.

Information collected under the framework will be a useful tool to help Canberrans have their say on the planning system. The framework’s principle of ‘Good, diverse and accessible engagement’ reinforces the importance of making reporting and communication about the framework clear and easy to understand.

Long-term outcomes and links to other policy targets

We heard it’s important for the framework to link to and complement other relevant
ACT Government policies and strategies. This was seen as an important way to maintain a view of longer-term outcomes the planning system may contribute to over time. It was also seen as a useful way to make use of related work that is already happening across government.

A list of related policies was added to the framework under ‘Other government policies.’ Significant work has been done to set appropriate targets and measures in related policies. Reporting, data collection and indicators for related government policies will be considered under the framework. This information is expected to be used to improve our understanding of how well the planning system is enabling related policy outcomes and long-term outcomes.

Transparency and engagement

We heard that stakeholder perceptions of how well the planning system is working should be a part of evaluation. We also heard that external involvement in evaluations and regular reporting will build transparency.

Proponents, community and government will have opportunities to provide feedback on the planning system through new channels, like surveys and interviews, and existing channels, like feedback and complaint processes.

Regular reporting on development statistics and indicators relating to the planning system will continue, including on the planning website and in EPSDD Annual Reports. Further annual evaluation framework reporting is planned to build on, and bring together, relevant data and information.

Planning for evaluations early

We heard that work should start early to evaluate planning outcomes.

The framework proposes an early evaluation of process outcomes and a later evaluation of planning outcomes. This is because it will take longer to see change in areas like design, built form, housing and nature conservation.

While evaluation of planning outcomes is proposed for later in the life of the framework, work will start early to prepare. This will include working collaboratively across government to identify baseline data and consider indicators that will support evaluation of planning outcomes.

You can submit requests, questions, comments and suggestions about the planning system at any time by using the Land, Planning and Building enquiries form.

Over the life of the framework, there will be more opportunities for stakeholders to provide feedback on how the planning is performing. This will include surveys, focus groups and interviews. Opportunities to be involved will be posted on the planning website.