Just wondering what qualifications/experience does one have to have to be regarded as a town planner and what should I be asking a town planner to produce / show me before engaging their services. There is the Planning Institute of Australia but is there a governing body or licensing associated.
I ask this because I came across one town planner who orginally told me (twice) that my concern about removal of a significant tree was not an issue and that tree could be removed without a permit or an arborists report....eventually the planner came around and agreed that it was an issue and I'd have to get a permit. I was suprised as I would have thought the removal of significant trees required a permit in the vast majority of council these days and would be high on any developers list of hurdles.
I ask this because I came across one town planner who orginally told me (twice) that my concern about removal of a significant tree was not an issue and that tree could be removed without a permit or an arborists report....eventually the planner came around and agreed that it was an issue and I'd have to get a permit. I was suprised as I would have thought the removal of significant trees required a permit in the vast majority of council these days and would be high on any developers list of hurdles.