PARLIAMENT has already passed the Town and Country Planning (Amendment) Bill 2016 last week.

The amendment in the existing Act seeks to amend the existing Town and Country Planning Act (CAP 154) that was passed in Parliament in 1978.

As the existing Act is an old legislation, it has not kept up with the pace of modern day planning practices.

It seeks to make reforms including the changing of the title to the more relevant terminology as stated in an authorised press statement, ‘Planning and Development’.

The Minister of Lands Housing and Survey Hon Moses Garu, told Parliament before the Bill was passed, that the Bill is out of date and in dire need of an overhaul.

He further added in Parliament that the changes in the Bill would control development activities in our towns and urban centres.

He added that the proposed plans for planning and development boards will see to positive changes to development on registered lands.

The Minister of Lands told Parliament that although it is impossible to change the development in Honiara to date, his Ministry will ensure to turn things around hastily to comply with new regulations and standards.

Chairman of the Bills and Legislation Committee (BLC) Hon Connelly Sandakabatu said his Committee came up with seven recommendations in its report on the Bill.

Members of Parliament debated on the Bill and raised doubts on some of its proposed achievements.

However, the Bill went through the Committee of the Whole House without amendments after going through it clause by clause and passed in the third reading.