Town Planner

**Position Title**: Town Planner

**Location /Branch/ **Katoomba office: Environment & Planning
**Department**: Services Directorate

**Position Classification**:Band**:3 **Level**:2 **Grade**:1&2

**POSITION PURPOSE / OBJECTIVE**

To facilitate development that protects the environment and contributes to the character of the Blue

Mountains through the provision of development assessment and related services.

**RELATIONSHIPS**

**Reports to**:Program Leader***

**Staff responsibility**:Nil.

**Key internal relationships**:Town** **Planners, Environmental Health & Building Surveyors,

Engineers, Environmental Scientists Landscape Assessors,

Technical Assistants and Customer Service staff.

**Key external relationships**:Residents and other members of the community; Government

authorities, applicants for development, consultants, Council’s
legal advisors.

**SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES**

**Development assessment**

Contribute to the protection of the environment and enhancement of the character of the Blue

Land and Environment Court appeals may be required from time to time.

The position may also rotate through or contribute to the following areas:
**Development advice**

Provide verbal and written development advice to prospective applicants.

**Workplace Health & Safety**

Ensure compliance with WHS obligations and responsibilities as outlined in Councils policies and

procedures and under the relevant WHS legislation. These include but are not limited to identifying

potentially unsafe situations or work practices and notifying your Supervisor or Manager (or the

Health, Safety Manager/Area Safety Representative); never performing a task that you believe is

dangerous or for which you do not have the experience, or have not received appropriate

instructions and training or where the correct equipment to carry out the task safely is not available;
always work in a safe manner and in accordance with safety instructions, where applicable; use

the work equipment supplied for the job, in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions), and

any personal protective equipment, which the Council deems necessary and has provided; be

safety aware and report any actions to your line manager which will assist the Council to meet its

legal workplace health and safety obligations. You have the right to cease or direct cessation of

Page | 1

unsafe work. In addition you are required at all times to comply with Councils Asbestos

Management Plan and Policy.

**Compliance & Risk**

You are responsible for ensuring that you conduct your risk management responsibilities as

described in council's Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) Policy and Procedure (the ERM

Framework) with the goal of ensuring that potential issues are identified and reported in a timely

manner.

In undertaking your work should you identify contaminated land or potentially contaminated land,

including but not limited to Asbestos contamination you are required to notify your supervisor

immediately.

**COMMUNICATION**

The person will communicate with a wide range of people in a variety of internal and external

settings. The person will receive, interpret, and act upon written and verbal information and provide

a response in both written and verbal forms. The person will need to be able to carry out

negotiations and make representations in areas of functional responsibility. The role will require

persons to represent and clearly articulate Council’s position in negotiations and discussions with

external parties and organisations.

**JUDGEMENT & PROBLEM SOLVING**

**Grade 1**

The person in this position will need to develop and review workflow procedures to ensure the

timely, accurate and consistent delivery of tasks associated with the functional areas of the

position. This will involve the person having a sound knowledge of relevant legislation, Council

policies and the ability to resolve problems within clearly defined guidelines. The person will

implement and review procedures and provide input and advice to the Branch and the Directorate

within the functional area of responsibility.

**Grade 2**

Positions have a high level of independence in solving problems and using judgement in resolving

issues. Problems can be multi-faceted requiring detailed analysis of available options. This will

require the person to possess an extensive knowledge of relevant legislation and Council policies.

The person will implement and review procedures and provide input and advice to the Branch and

the Directorate within the functional area of responsibility.

**AUTHORITY**

Delegation to act as an authorised officer to undertake a wide range of tasks and duties on behalf

of Council in accordance with relevant legislation applicable to the functional areas of responsibility

for the position. The person will also undertake a professional advisory role to people within or

outside of Council. Decisions and advice may commit the council and ha