James Coutts Email & Phone Number

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Managing a busy team of 8 staff who assess and respond to planning permit applications, enquiries, and Planning Scheme Amendments. The team covers 13 outer-ring and growth area councils in metropolitan Melbourne - from Wydham in the southwest all the way round to Cardinia and Mornington Peninsula Shire in the southeast. My core tasks include:- Allocation and workload management for my team.- Reviewing/approving responses to planning applications and enquiries.- People management including performance/capability development, HR tasks, and budgeting.- Managing relationships with various internal teams we rely on to make good decisions, as well as with councils and professional consultants who act for applicants.

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

- Assessing and responding to planning permit referral applications with a focus on major developments.- Reviewing/approving other team members' reports and responses to development applications, subdivisions, enquiries, and Planning Scheme Amendments.- Guidance and mentoring for planners and engineers in my team.- Representing DoT at VCAT mediation and hearings.- Allocation including triage/risk rating of new applications.- Regularly acting as Team Leader - Greater Metropolitan region.

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Managing a busy team of 10 staff who assess and respond to planning enquiries and permit applications, Planning Scheme Amendments, and applications for works within the road reserve. The team covers 16 councils in Melbourne's southeastern suburbs. My core tasks include:- Allocation and workload management for my team.- Reviewing/approving responses to planning applications and enquiries.- People management including performance/capability development, HR tasks, and budgeting.- Managing relationships with various internal teams we rely on to make good decisions, as well as with councils and professional consultants who act for applicants.

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

- Assessing and responding to planning permit referral applications with a focus on major developments.- Managing the statutory referral workload for 5 Councils in Melbourne's southeastern suburbs including reviewing/approving other team members' reports and responses.- Providing guidance and mentoring for officers in my team and new starters.- Assessing and responding to, as well as reviewing and approving other team members' pre-application responses for a wide range of developments.- Assessing and responding to, as well as reviewing and approving other team members' responses/submissions on Planning Scheme Amendments that interact with the transport network.- Representing DoT at VCAT mediation and hearings.- Developing corporate/business plan for my team in consultation with my team leader and senior management.

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

- Assessing and responding to planning permit referral applications, ranging from simple alteration of access and small-scale subdivisions to major promotion signs and complex developments.- Assessing and responding to pre-application enquiries and facilitating pre-application meetings with various parties.- Assessing and responding to Planning Scheme Amendments that interact with the transport network.- Representing VicRoads/DoT at VCAT mediation and hearings for development proposals.

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

- Preparing planning permit applications for telecommunications infrastructure facilities throughout Australia, predominantly in Victoria - both new builds and upgrades to existing facilities.- Managing public notification processes for telecommunications projects in accordance with the Telecommunications Act, including media.- Lead planner on the Telstra upgrades program, project managing 100+ active projects across Australia.

Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand

- Assessing and making decisions on planning permit applications, ranging from small developments and subdivisions to complex projects.- Preparing assessment reports for notified applications and presenting decision recommendations at elected member hearings.

Queenstown, Otago, New Zealand

- Assessing and making decisions on planning permit applications, ranging from small subdivisions and visitor accommodation to complex developments, including amenity and landscape considerations unique to the Queenstown Lakes area.- 'Front counter' duties providing advice to members of the public (phone/email/in person) on all planning-related matters.

Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand

- Assessing and responding to planning applications from a transport perspective, ranging from single access requests and business signs to major development proposals and hundreds of lot subdivisions.- Assessing and submitting on proposed amendments to district plans/planning schemes - for both private plan changes and Council-led changes.- Assessing and submitting on Council-wide strategic planning reviews.- Representing NZTA at public hearings on developments or plan changes.- Reviewing and approving consultant reports for NZTA projects to be submitted to Councils.- Team workload management and allocation for the Canterbury/West Coast region.- Involvement in working group for new nationwide planning database design.- Managing road access in accordance with the Government Roading Powers Act.

Master'S Degree, City/Urban, Community And Regional Planning

Bachelor Of Commerce - Bcom, Management (Industrial Relations, Human Resources)

Bachelor Of Arts - Ba, Geography And Economics