Reviewing policies and targets

The key elements that need to be considered in the review of policy include:

• Are the policies being applied effectively? If not, is this because the policy is not right and needs reviewing? or is it because the application of the policy through development management needs to be changed?

• Are policies achieving their objectives? – ie delivering the renewable energy targets

• Have policies had any unintended consequences? – ie hindering appropriate or certain types of development

• Are the assumptions and objectives behind policies still relevant? As an ongoing process, it is important for you to regularly review and update the assumptions on which the national, regional and local policies have been based. This is because there are likely to be number of assumptions within the evidence base that are dynamic and will change over time – eg relating to the efficiencies of different technologies.

You should note that meeting the regional renewable energy targets does not mean that further reviews and revisions to targets and policies are not necessary. As stated in PPS 22 (paragraph 3), targets should be reviewed on a regular basis and revised upwards (if they are met) subject to the region’s renewable energy resource potential and the capacity of the environment in the region for further renewable energy developments. You should also be aware that, as a region, we are currently not achieving our targets.